YAMAHA SR400 (2014 - 2018) Review

Highlights

  • Characterful single from Yamaha
  • Genuine classic bike thrills
  • Retro commuter with style

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £220
Power: 23 bhp
Seat height: Medium (30.9 in / 785 mm)
Weight: Low (384 lbs / 174 kg)

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

When launched, the Yamaha SR400 retro could really have done with the original’s extra 100cc or 8-10bhp more; for anyone over 5ft 10in it’s too cute to be cool and, at £5200 I can’t help feeling it was a bit rich, too.

After all, the SR had no more moving parts than the YBR 125 and yet its development costs were surely wiped out an ice age ago. So why did it cost £2350 more?

If they made the SR nearer £4K, gave it the old 500 barrel and reintroduced the larger, cooler XT trailie version and I’d have been down my local Yam dealer before you could say ‘thumper’.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
3 out of 5 (3/5)

My first ride was a nine-mile commuter thrash home through the Peterborough rush hour gridlock, and the SR400 was both brilliantly effective and such a charismatic giggle it left me beaming from ear to ear.

Once you’ve mastered the kick-start procedure (no ‘leccy start here, natch), ie key-on, kicker out, use the decompressor under the clutch to pump the piston to top dead centre (you can see it through the crafty sight glass on the right hand side of the head), let go decompressor, clutch in and whump on the kicker and you’re away – it’s not difficult, honest – the SR is an absolute doddle to ride.

Yamaha SR400 cornering quickly with Phil West on top

The narrow, light and low dimensions are more 125 commuter or something like Suzuki’s VanVan than full-on 400/500, which makes the SR completely unintimidating – so much so I reckon I could teach my kids to ride it round the garden.

The downside of ‘nimble, unintimidating and thrummy’ is, at 60mph+ (or, what you need to survive on modern ring roads) twitchiness, vulnerability and vibes. Those dinky proportions had me feeling like a gorilla mounting a chimpanzee; its 65mph top whack (70 on a good day, 60 uphill) would be outstripped by even the 250 Inazuma on which I braved last year’s winter and after just a mile or two of that my nads were numb.

That doesn’t make me dislike the little SR – anything but. You just need to understand what you’re getting into. As an authentic classic the SR is a charmer; as a cross town commuter, a delight and as a blank canvas for a customiser (Yamaha are planning a whole raft of ‘Yard Built’ accessories for it) it has appeal.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
3 out of 5 (3/5)

The 399cc single just thrums along no matter where the needle’s pointing with steering so light and precise you feel you could wiggle between parked cars. The front disc’s enough, considering the SR weighs less than me (or feels like it, anyway) and the rear reminds why drum back brakes on lightweights used to be so good, providing oodles of feel. 0-50mph or so with lots of manouvring thrown in is the SR’s hunting ground.

Give me one of these over a commuter scoot any day. But get it on a dual carriageway and it's a bit scary. It struggles above 60 and really could do with a little more guts.

Yamaha SR400 left bar with switchgear

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
4 out of 5 (4/5)

First off, that ‘authentic classic’-ness, in the flesh, is simply dizzying. Forget the smooth (should be ribbed) seat and dull, modern, satin grey paintjob for a moment (why Yamaha didn’t paint it ’70s colours is beyond me, this is just wrong), and take in the details.

The metal switchgear is authentic late ‘70s/early ‘80s Yamaha fare – in fact it’s identical bar the stickers (I checked) to my own 1980 RD350LC. The old school grips take me back to sitting on showroom Suzuki GTs and TSs in the Seventies, the chromed bars remind of my first 17-er road bike, an S-reg CB125 with a gazillion miles on its green clocks.

Yamaha SR400 should be a reliable bike

There’s more. The big, old-fashioned orange and chrome indicators are like something from Motorcycle Mechanics; the big (also chrome) tin mudguards are the sort of stuff that’d normally have grown men fighting over at autojumbles. And I haven’t seen new tyres so narrow and 18-inch since 1984.

Our Yamaha SR400 owners' reviews show very positive scores. People love the value and the simplicity of design, but bemoan the lack of equipment.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Okay, so £5200 may not seem like a lot, but then this is not really a lot of bike. It's simple and effective but from new it was the same price as a 2014 Yamaha MT-07 and that seems very odd. If this was a grand less, you'd be in business!

Yamaha SR400 clocks

As a used buy the Yamaha SR400 has held its value well due to its classic-style nature, but it's out-gunned by more recent retro rides like the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 or Fantic Caballero Rally 500.

As for day-to-day running costs, the SR400 is very reasonable thanks to its relatively low-performance engine and simple design. None of the consumable parts are under particularly high stress.

Equipment

3 out of 5 (3/5)

The old school twin dials and switchgear are, to someone of my generation, completely natural and intuitive; the lack of any sort of electronics (not even a little LCD panel on the clocks), is somehow completely refreshing and the presence of an old fashioned petrol tap, backed up by a bonus low fuel warning light inset into the tacho, is reassuring.

Custom Yamaha SR400s

There's a popular scene for tuning these bikes and turning them into things Yamaha would barely recognise. Over the years we've reported on CMBL's Bike Shed show-stoppers, Krugger Motorcycle's MotoGP inspired supercharged SR400, and the award-winning Ziller Garage bike.

Specs

Engine size 399cc
Engine type air-cooled SOHC two-valve
Frame type Tubular steel, double cradle
Fuel capacity 12 litres
Seat height 785mm
Bike weight 174kg
Front suspension None
Rear suspension Pre-load
Front brake 298mm disc with twin piston calipers
Rear brake Drum
Front tyre size 90/100 x 18
Rear tyre size 110/90 x 18

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 60 mpg
Annual road tax £55
Annual service cost £220
New price -
Used price -
Insurance group -
How much to insure?
Warranty term 2 year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 23 bhp
Max torque 20 ft-lb
Top speed 80 mph
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 160 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

Yamaha’s new (old?) SR400 is a Proper Old Bike or, as Yamaha themselves proclaim: "an authentic living classic constructed to virtually the same specification as the original model". And that original model? The SR500 introduced in 1978, right from its ‘70s metal switchgear to its fuel tap and its wire wheels…

Other versions

None

Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA SR400 (2014 - 2018)

4 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA SR400 (2014 - 2018) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your YAMAHA SR400 (2014 - 2018)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Engine: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Equipment: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £220
4 out of 5 Slow but great fun
30 August 2023 by Sr400boi

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £350

The bike is overall a gteat little commuter. Its power is lacking though. Ive put almost 7,000 miles this year. I get a lot of compliments on the bikes vintage look. Anyone saying the bike is competent on the highway is delusional. The speedometer will say its going 90 but the speedo is about 8mph fast at that speed. 90mph is more like 82-83mph and that is bumping against the redline (not exactly sustainable). A healthy actual cruising speed is 60-65mph (about 5000rpm).

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

The brakes are adequate for a vintage motorcycle. However, compared to a new motorcycle they are terrible. New cars can stop faster making riding close dangerous. Handling is zippy and fun especially after installing aftermarket clubman handlebars. The bike feels very nimble and sporty with the aftermarket bars.

Engine 2 out of 5

I would like to meet the engineers that designed the engine and ask how they accomplished getting so little power from it. Other than the being underpowered. Its simple to work on and maintain.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

The bike has not left me stranded over 7k miles of travel. However, it has become a bit rattly and noisy at the top and bottom of the engine. I dont know if yamahas air cooled engines are naturally noisy and clunky but the sounds are a bit unsettling. Otherwise its been reliable and well built.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

⁰ is 85$ per year! Gets 60- 80mpg depending on octane and riding style. Otherwise oil change and oil/air filters + tires are all youll need to do.

Equipment 5 out of 5

The kickstarter is divisive but i love it. I think all motorcycles the can -should have a kickstarter. It is a very cool look and feel throwing your leg over a motorcycle and giving a swift kick with the bike coming to life beneath you.

Buying experience: Private Paid $3500.00 usd. 2015 yamaha sr400 with windscreen and 7,400miles on the odometer

5 out of 5 Reliable and fun to ride
08 September 2016 by Rui

Year: 2014

Brilliant bike. Reliable and fun to ride! It does 90mph not 80mph as mentioned here, and is really comfortable up until 70mph on highway, take the stock exhaust and put an aftermarket on and you get some atention to put those fears mentioned away. :D

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5
08 August 2015 by Phil Hamilton

Year: 2015

Great little fun bike to ride

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 Perfect mid-size bike
09 June 2015 by Craig

Version: American non-California version

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £100

This is a fun, beautiful machine that gets a lot of attention, especially from people old enough to remember the original.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

The bike has a comfortable seat and is good for two hours or more of sustained riding. The bike is light and feels a strong cross wind, but is not dominated by it.

Engine 5 out of 5

I can get, on a trip, over 74 miles per (American) gallon using non-ethanol 88 octane gasoline at about 4600 ft above sea level. I do not know what the top speed is, but I have exceeded 85 mph on the freeway. At freeway speeds the bike is smooth and willing. I feel that a sustained speed of 70-75 mph is well within the performance envelope of this machine.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Absolutely beautiful build quality. I have owned almost 40 motorcycles in my life, and not one was this well crafted.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Have only had this bike for seven months, so am not yet sure of it's total running costs. Full coverage insurance runs me $70 a year, and routine maintenance is no more than it would be for any other standard.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Love the kick start. I wish the tires were of a more modern design that didn't follow pavement grooves and were more readily available.

Buying experience: Bought from Carey's Cycle Center of Riverdale, Utah. An absolutely stellar buying experience.

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