Buying an XR400
 

I'm planning to buy an XR400 and will be gratefull for any help with what I should be looking out for before I buy. Apart from routine maintainance, what can I expect to wear out/break ? I hope to be able to afford a later model, 2003 onwards.
thanks
Kev

When I had an XR400 I remember Internet discussion centering around the lack of grease on the steering head bearings from the factory. So this seemed to be a common issue. Other than that... leaking forks?

They're pretty hard to break. Enjoy.
Stephan

I have an XR400 for sale, December 2005 '55' registration with just 1525 miles on the clock and lots of extras for £2450. You can see details at UKGS'er.com

I'll be out of the country from 5 Jan until sometime mid/late Feb.

Tim (tel 07976 683999)

Oh, just in case there's some nefarious person browsing the forum, the bike's in a locked alarmed garage on a gated estate with CCTV.

Stephano, thanks for the info.

Tim, I'm very interested in your XR. Unfortunatly I'm in SE Asia until 15th Jan, I'm guessing you're going to Morocco until mid/end of Feb., If I'm still looking when you get back perhaps I can come and have a look. By the way, excellent post on the BMW site re: Info on Morocco.
Kev

Hi Kev

Yes, another pilgrimage to pay homage to the wonderful roads and pistes of the Maghreb.

I doubt if the XR400 will be sold before I leave, but I need to make space in the garage by the beginning of March for something else...

Tim

Usual stuff really - wheel, swing arm, head stock bearings.
Check to see if it's been re-bored to a 440 if so it probably blew up.
make sure it's cold when starting and see how easy it is to start and soon as it starts look for smoke.
With these it's the owner you look for, if someone has raced it, then good it's probably been looked after. A young chap/girl is probably too thrify to buy all it needs - there are exceptions however.

On the whole pretty unburstable, just make sure it starts from cold easy

Having a clear out today and found the Aug07 TBM (Trail Bike Magazine) which has an XR400 buyers guide. At the risk of summarising an eleven page article into one para...

What goes wrong? If there ever was a dirtbike that could be described as 'bulletproof' it's the XR400, except... the type of oil is crucial--needs to be bog standard 10w40 with the least synthetic content possible as anything else can cause clutch slip... the standard clutch can give problems if abused... early '96/97 machines suffered from caburetion problems... there was a recall to sort problems with the tappets on '97 machines... beefed up countershaft in '99... uprated gearbox from '00 to sort second gear problem.

Suggested prices for private sale with average mileage and standard spec
2002: £1950
2003: £2250
2004: £2450

Tim

Mobil 1 Racing 4T
 

Not to disagree but just as a point of interest; following local advice I switched over to Mobil 1 Racing 4T fully synthetic when my XR400 was run in and never experienced any problems. Checking the Mobil web site it says 'Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 has no friction modifiers, which could lead to clutch slippage.'

I don't know about other brands but I was very happy with Mobil synthetic in the heat here.
Stephan

i use full synthetic shell rotella and i ADD moly powder to all 5 of my bikes for years. no clutch slip.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is "moly powder"

Kev

Tim,
"but I need to make space in the garage by the beginning of March for something else..."


Not making room for a new Tenere by any chance...... :mchappy: