XS 400 history taken from a german xs400 website and translated through google
After some preliminary skirmishing with the XS 360 (1976), which instantly became a best seller has been on, and the XS 250 (1977), which in our friends was less, Yamaha introduced in 1978 XS 400 out (in the U.S., it was as early as October offered in 1976 as an XS 400 D). It was up to the radius of the cylinder bore with the XS 360 is identical, ie, single overhead camshaft and a perceived by many to be too small 11-liter tank equipped and is with us today as type "2A2" known. In general Yamaha followed in the XS-series a modular design to its machines in good quality to offer attractive prices to be able to. The XS 400 was Germany with 27 hp / 20 kW offered to new drivers license with leistungsbeschränktem to address. In other countries it was 38 hp / 28 kW offered. The reduction was mainly on the camshaft. 1978, the XS 400 at once the best-selling motorcycle in Germany.
End of 1979, the XS had a first facelift undergo 400th The often perceived as too small tank grew to 16 l, the swingarm was extended by 40 mm, the rider was 10 cm at the rear to the rear wheel and brake drum was now delayed by. In parallel, the growing popularity of tribute paid to soft choppers and XS 400 SE to the market brought. She drew a 16''-rim in the rear, a drop tank, a different exhaust system and other cosmetic changes made by. Just stopped, the XS 400 by the end of 1981 in the program, even the SE to 1982.
In other countries, the XS 400 per legislation and consumer tastes, some with different characteristics extradited to. There were, for example, models with spoke wheels, with duplex drum brake in front and without electric starter and main stand (XS 400 2E).
The sales figures for Germany are summarized in the following table.
Sales figures 1977 - 1987
Year Number Note
1977 6156 XS 360
1978 4842
1979 3813
1980 5695 incl SE
1981 4664 incl SE
1982-87 <6000 only XS400 dohc (12E)
For 1982 was then a completely new engine developed to date XS 400 is essentially the only name in common with and today was the XS-type friends as "12E" is known. Technically, this was the highlight of the XS 400 XS series. It came with dual overhead camshafts, 399 cc displacement, a cantilever arm (shock absorber) and an entirely new look, therefore, of the classic motorcycle style from the '80s and turned to. For example, here the pointed tail is called. The engine was now black, and does in the open version 45 hp / 33 kW, in Germany, but retain the camshaft throttled over 27 hp version available. In addition to the second camshaft Yamaha donated the engine with a balancer shaft and the so-called yics (Yamaha Induction Control System), the help should the machine to reduce consumption. The generator was installed over the transmission to the engine to make narrower.
Also from the new XS 400, there was a soft chopper version XS 400 Maxim This was. But not delivered in Germany and is with us accordingly rare. When customers came the new XS 400, presumably because of their unusual designs, not good and this failure in 1987 led to the withdrawal from the Yamaha XS series and the entire two-cylinder family.
Today, the machines between 20 and 30 years old and are due to their sound as simple technique of many DIY enthusiasts and classic car fans estimated to. Because of its then sales success they many other classics apart from are still plenty of motorcycles and spare parts on the market and an XS 400, accordingly, a relatively cheap classic cars.
Coinciding with the release of the XS 400 Yamaha said in Germany in 1978 the Yamaha XS 400 Cup to life.
3. 400 On the Origin of XS
Beginning of 1979 flew the motorcycle-author Robert Poensgen to Japan for the start of production of the '79 model, the XS 400, and the emergence of a XS 400 observe up close to. Below are in there a Zusammenfassug his experiences in the land of the rising sun. The full report is in the "motorcycle", issue 7 of 4 be read April 1979.
The XS 400 was in Iwata in Hamamatsu, the center of Japan's motorcycle production, produced. In addition to Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki were sitting here. The Yamaha factory was in the late 70s, about 5,000 workers in an area of almost 400.000 square.
From the order of the distributor in Germany to shipping it took 3 months. So much time was necessary and reasonable supplier to coordinate the production. Normally sent Yamaha / Mitsui one ship per month to Europe, if necessary, for example at the beginning of the season, also 2 Production XS managed 150-200400 per day, the total production was estimated at about 100,000, depending on sales .
In the final production was produced from about 1000 parts of an XS. Not included here are various preparatory work by suppliers, such as the production of wiring harnesses, alternators, carburetors and fittings and delivered built were completed. The manufacture of parts, such as the manufacture of the frame, the pre-assembly of forks, the casting of engine parts and the production of crankshafts and gears at the time of installation also completed already.
In a first assembly line, first the engine was assembled. The engine assembly line was for the XS 400 has a length of 125 meters. 59 Workers were working on this volume. Every 40 seconds, the tape went a step further. This resulted in a production time of just over 56 minutes. To the production engine was followed by a test on a dynamometer also a band going on. The test lasted 5 to 10 minutes. If the engine had been found to be good by the test engineer, he was released for final assembly into a motorcycle.
Final assembly took place on another assembly line to a length of 140 meters instead. 87 employees sat here in exactly 53 minutes and 1 second to complete together XS 400th The first area was the engine on an engine number of the proposed smashed. Then the installation was carried out in the frame and the assembly of other parts. Were not mounted the front fender, turn signals and license plate holder.
After mounting the motorcycle was almost finished a further test for light, brakes and wheels. After a successful test, the XS 400 partially disassembled and shipped in a crate for packing. The removal band (108 meters) minutes took 60 workers 20 at the machine to make ships. Then machine the parts were disassembled and packaged examined by customs, freight forwarding company over to a port and taken to the. The subsequent shipping to Hamburg then took about 29 days.
