Yamaha SR400 & SR500

Yamaha SR400 & SR500

Yamaha SR400 at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show
Manufacturer Yamaha Motor Company
Parent company Yamaha Corporation
Production 1978−1999
Assembly Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Class Standard
Engine 4-stroke 499 cc (30.5 cu in) air-cooled, SOHC, single-cylinder, 2-valve
Bore / stroke 87 mm × 84 mm (3.4 in × 3.3 in)
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Top speed SR500: 146 km/h (91 mph)[1]
Power SR500: 23.5 kW (31.5 hp) @ 6,500 rpm[2]
Torque SR500: 36.3 N·m (26.8 lbf·ft) @ 5,500 rpm[2]
Ignition type CDI
Transmission 5-speed
Frame type Half-duplex cradle
Suspension

Front: 35 mm telescoping fork, 150 mm (5.9 in) travel

Rear: 105 mm (4.1 in) travel, 5-way adjustable preload
Brakes Hydraulic disc or mechanical drum, depending on model year
Tires F: 3.50-19 or 3.50-18
R: 4.00-18
Rake, trail 27.5 deg, 117 mm (4.6 in)
Wheelbase 1,405 mm (55.3 in)
Dimensions L: 2,105 mm (82.9 in)
W: 845 mm (33.3 in)
H: 1,155 mm (45.5 in)
Seat height 810 mm (32 in)
Weight SR500: 158 kg (348 lb)[2] (dry)
Fuel capacity 12 or 14 litres (2.6 or 3.1 imperial gallons; 3.2 or 3.7 US gallons)
Oil capacity 2.4 litres (2.5 US quarts)
Fuel consumption 4.8 L/100 km (59 mpg‑imp; 49 mpg‑US)[3]

The Yamaha SR400 (1978-) and SR500 (1978-1999) are single-cylinder, air-cooled, two-passenger motorcycles manufactured in Japan by Yamaha Motor Company as a street version of the Yamaha XT500 — with a standard riding posture and styling resembling the Universal Japanese Motorcycles of the 1970s. The two models differ by their engines: the SR400 engine has a lower displacement, achieved with a different crankshaft and shorter piston stroke[4][5] and both models feature only kickstarting, i.e., no electric starter.

The SR400 has been marketed in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) since 1978 and was introduced to Europe, the Americas and Oceania in 2014. Its engine capacity complies with JDM 400 cc licensing restrictions.

The SR500 was marketed in Asia and Oceania (1978-1999), North America (1978-1981); and Europe (1978-1983) — and was not marketed in the Japanese market.

The SR was originally developed under the design credo "easy to use",[6] and when Yamaha's Technical Director wrenched his ankle while testing a prototype, easier starting became a priority — and Yamaha developed a decompression lever and sight glass system.[6]

The SR was styled by Atsushi Ishiyama with Yamaha presenting a pre-production prototype to US dealers in late 1975.[6] Ishiyma said of the bike's styling: "Our choice was to design the new SR500 with a strong family image and a strong link to our first four stroke, the XS 650 twin, which was also inspired by British design."[6]

SR400

Yamaha SR400 (2014) fitted with an EVAP canister to reduce emissions.

Yamaha has marketed the SR400 in the JDM since model year 1978 — with a production hiatus for model years 2008-2009. Beginning with model year 2010, the SR400 had fuel injection and a catalyst muffler to comply with tighter emission restrictions. Yamaha began marketing the bike in Europe, Australia and the US in 2014.

The SR400 has an air-cooled 4-stroke single cylinder SOHC 2-valve engine with a dry-sump — with the downtubes of the motorcycle's frame serving as the engine's oil reservoir and cooling system[7] — thereby eliminating the need for an external oil cooler, reducing engine pumping losses, and allowing increased ground clearance as well as reduced overall width. The bike's semi-double cradle frame uses high-strength steel.[7]

The SR400 had a kick-starter and no electric start. To aid with starting, the bike had a sight glass on the right side of the cylinder head indicating the optimal cylinder position for starting, as well as a decompressor lever on the left handlebar.[7]

The fuel injection system has a throttle position sensor on the throttle body; O2 sensor in the top of the exhaust header-pipe; temperature sensor; thermo unit at the upper rear of the cylinder head; and a lean angle sensor to interrupt the fuel injection pump — should, for example, the bike be on its side. The air filter is a disposable oil-coated paper type held in place by the airbox cover. The electrical system had an automatic cut-out to stop the engine when left idling longer than 20 minutes. The exhaust system has an exhaust pipe coated with a nano-film to prevent discoloration[7] and includes a 3-way honeycomb-type catalytic converter to meet EU and US (50 state) emission requirements.[7]

The instrumentation are a cable-driven analog speedometer and tachometer with a stainless steel bezel, fuel low-level indicator, engine-trouble warning, turn signal, neutral, and high beam light indicators. The left-side handlebar controls include hazard, horn high and low beam control, flash-to-pass switch and turn indicator controls. The right side controls include the hazard light switch as well as the engine kill switch.

With 18" front and rear tires, the SR400 has spoked wheels with lightweight aluminium rims, front disc and rear drum brakes as well as a center stand, chromed fenders, headlight pod and grab bar.[7] A sealed Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery is located underneath the seat — on its side. Earlier models had CDI ignition; post-2010 models have transistor controlled ignition (TCI).

SR500

The 1978-1979 US version of the SR500 had front and rear disc brakes while the 1980-1981 models had a front disc and rear drum brake, while the European 78-79 model had TLS drum brakes front and rear. Cast aluminum wheels accepting tubeless tires were standard equipment on all US models (1978-1981)[8] By the end of 1981, the SR500 was discontinued in the US market, while continuing in Europe and Japan. The model ended production in 1999.[5][9]

The SR500 employed a slightly modified version of its large single-cylinder from the XT500/TT500[10][11] and had electronic ignition as well as an automatic compression release to make kick starting much easier.[5][12][13]

Yamaha SR500
Modified 1985 Yamaha SR500 café racer

The SR500 won Moto of the Year award — twice — from Motorrad, the German motorcycling magazine.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Yamaha SR 500 1978 Specs and Photos". motoprofi.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "1978 SR500". Corporate Information. Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2013. The SR500 was a model that brought the know-how of the 4-stroke enduro model XT500 to an on-road sport model.
  3. ↑ "Yamaha SR 500 1999 Specs and Photos". motoprofi.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Another Japanese Gem - The Yamaha SR400 (SR500)". Return of the Cafe Racers. September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2013. Aesthetically the bike hasn't changed much since its conception and as such oozes retro classic appeal in todays market.
  5. 1 2 3 Siegal, Margie (March–April 2006). "1980 Yamaha SR500". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 18 July 2013. Durable and easy to maintain, the Yamaha SR500 became a cult favorite among classic motorcycle fans.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "THEY DID IT THEIR WAY: WHEN THE BIG THUMPER RETURNED". Yamaha Motor Corporation, Design Cafe.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The iconic SR400, 35 years heritage". Yamaha Press Release, MCNews.com, 04-11-2013.
  8. ↑ 1978-1981 Yamaha SR500 sales brochures
  9. ↑ Smith, Jerry (8 April 2013). "2013 Yamaha SR400 Anniversary Edition". Motorcyclist Online. Retrieved 17 July 2013. Yamaha's SR500, a modern incarnation of the legendary British singles of old, debuted in the US in 1978, but slunk off the stage a few years later, thanks to the riding public's apathy toward a slow, vibey bike that required a master's degree in kickology to start.
  10. ↑ "Highway Motorcycles -- Exhaust Emission Standards". Office of Transportation and Air Quality. US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "California: Motorcycles: Emissions". Transportpolicy.net. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Product Planner Profile: Masahiro Inumaru". Yamaha Design Cafe English. Yamaha Motor Europe. 1 April 2002. Retrieved 18 July 2013. His first project was the SR 500 and the TT500.
  13. ↑ "SR500 (1978)". Yamaha Community (in French). Yamaha Motor France. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2013.

References

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