1981 Yamaha XS400 Special

My first bike in 1981. Salesman told me not to exceed 1200 rpms for 500 miles. Half an hour later I was racing out to the lake with my buddies at about 85 mph.......LOL. Took it on many trips out of state and the thing ran like a sewing machine for years. Fantastic bike.

That was my first bike. Bought it and rode home with it without even having a license.

I'm French and I've got one in 1981, it was my first motorcycle and it was exactly the same and i made more of 45000 km with her ! It's incredible...👌😉

I had a Yamaha 400 in the late 1970s. It was great! It could hang with a big block Harley up to 70mph from a standing start. It was my second bike after the Twin Jet- 100 in college.

I had a black one, my buddy had a maroon one and my cousin had a blue Special ii. Loved that bike!

My first bike .I put many a mile on it.i was 19 years old lol.ive had many motorcycles over the years .I'm 55 now lol wish I had the years back.but I'm still in the wind

My first bike. Bought it brand new in San Diego. Oh, how I loved that bike!!

Nice find... I had one of these, same year, was the third owner... when I got it, it had 420 miles on the odometer, by the end of that summer it had over 9,000... this bike with the factory tires handles exceptionally well in the rain, gas mileage is fantastic, and if you're tucked in on the interstate you can come close to 100 mph... the seat is wide enough, and well padded so long trips are reasonably comfortable... I don't know why the gold pin striping was added to the tank on the bike in the video because that is not proper for a 1981 xs400 Special: the tank should be all black with only the gold Yamaha medallions on it, however, it is a lovely piece of machinery.

My first street bike back in 82 was a red one. These things were a dime a dozen back in the day. Can't find them anywhere now. I loved that bike

Air brush flames, chop the rear, spin the pipes to the sky, add ape hangers, let sit in a barn for 20 years and you will have my twin I picked up from a drunk for 250.00 Love this bobber

I just bought one last week for 1850 with about 6000 on it, everything’s original and it’s been taken great care of, Best Buy I ever made

I have one of these running and riding all the time.

I purchased that bike new in 1980s but mine had a rear disk brake and I payed $1500.00 for it had it for a few years and sold it , I should have keep it , it had maybe 2000 miles on it !

That's nice I like these bikes

Indeed an interesting model this 1981 Yamaha SX400, I wonder how many units were built! It is for sure a mini brother of the SX650 being a mix by built but still its own of riding character I place bet . Having an 18 inch rear wheel of the early SX 650 models then the likes of the last years of the SX 650 Heritage Limited Special mostly ! The complete from front forks up to the handle bar, head-pipes to mufflers and chain guard, from the rear part of frame behind the carbs to include trail arm and rear shocks. Even the gas tank and saddle seat to rear grab bar. A sweet little machine, I need to research for the differences by weight and measurements of heights and length. It would have been nice to be in one setting switching between them to feel the difference in ride.

I just picked up a one owner 1978 XS400 with 361 original kms on it also in pretty mint condition. Sweet ride

My first bike a 1978 I think after I graduated from university

Just bought one today.

Take me to that place NOW!!!

2nd bike I owned...moved up from RX50-MK. Replaced the XS with an 85' GPz550, and even though the Kawasaki eclipsed the 400 in every possible way, I remember NOT wanting to let her go...she had such 'soul' to her...it was like breaking-up with someone I still loved.