500 vs 400

Ok. I own a 400 (2003 model), but I would like a 500 as well.

I see it like this:

The advantage of the 400 is that there have been some improvements made to it, like internal lubrication system and various other little things on the bike. They're easy to find (Deus) if you're ready to pay the asking price.

The advantage of the 500 is that it's "the real SR" (if that matters to you) and 400 parts can be retro fitted to it anyway. With patience you could probably get more for your dollar when buying a 500 too.

Other asides maybe worth considering: The newer 400 have the Yamaha immobiliser as standard and a modern ignition system and a nice and neat little battery, but that in turn means you can't put a battery elliminator on them.

Wotavidone: The 400 in standard form is roughly 160kg and puts out 27ps and I've found that it's very easy to make them lighter. I've knocked nearly 12kg off mine.

Every so often I go out to the Deus site, and it always makes me think life there in Australia must be pretty good.

Australia must be one of the few places (if not the only place) you can still pick up a new SR. I can't think of any other new bike I'd rather have, so even at Deus prices an SR looks to be a deal from north of the equator.

I have to agree with others here, that all else being equal there isn't much difference, and I'd be just as happy with either one.

My understanding -- and I'm sure I'll get set straight if I'm wrong -- is that Yamaha quit making 500s because of the tier-system of Japanese motorcycle licenses. In Japan (where the largest SR market has always been) anything over 400 cc requires a license that is much more difficult to get, and I'm guessing plates and insurance are a lot more for bikes above that size.

Anyone who is going to pay for the classes (You have to take classes.) and jump through all the hoops to get the over-400cc Japanese license, isn't likely to do all that just to gain 100 cc. Most riders who put up with that are looking for a litre or more, so Yamaha probably didn't lose any sales by going to 400 cc only.

If the Japanese lawmakers had set 350cc or 450 cc as the cut-off point, that's what SRs would be, and they'd still be great bikes.

So much in life is so arbitrary.

Good man. If it's your everyday transport it sounds like the 400 is the go. I've put over 13,00k's on mine now and the only problems I've had is with some of the bolt on stuff.

Dooooooooooooo it.

Chase,

I generally ride my stock(ish) SR500 to work 4 days a week, weather permiting. About a year - 18 months ago, I fitted a second hand 400 engine that I had picked up from a wrecker into the 500, to see what kind of condition it was in, and left it fitted for about 6 months as it ran perfectly. Performance wise, it reved a bit quicker, and was probably a little bit smoother running than the 500 engine (both engines are in stock condition), other wise not a lot of difference.

As to reliability, a late model imported 400 or 500 will always have to be more reliable than a original 30 year old 500. But having said that any second hand bike is only as good as the maintenance/treatment by it past owner(s). Treated with a little TLC, the old SR's are quite a nice daily ride as long as you don't have any long freeway riding to do.

CJ

If I get another SR, I'd probably like to try a 500 from Import Motorcycle Centre Qld

www.importmc.com.au/

Sometimes they come in with trick pieces on them already, usually less than 10,000kms on them

eg, $5,500 with 7,858km


I should probably fix my 78 first though

He actually just had a testicle removed.

I like the looks of that 500, Milkman...