2015 Yamaha SR400

Rider Magazine, September 2014

When was the last time you kickstarted a motorcycle? How about a new motorcycle? Well, if the up-and-down ritual tugs at your heart strings, Yamaha’s SR400 might be for you. Although new in the lineup for 2015, it’s one of the most genuinely old-school bikes you can buy.

With retro-styled bikes all the rage these days, the SR has returned with an even more classic look than the original, rolling on 18-inch spoked wheels with tube-type tires and a rear drum. One of the only concessions to the modern era—apart from some unsightly emissions plumbing—is fuel injection, which, along with the handlebar-mounted compression release, makes kickstarting the SR400 a snap. Once you get the technique down, it’s usually a one-kick affair. And if you need to cheat, there’s a sight glass located on top of the cam’s right side that reveals a silver tab when the crank is ready to be kicked over.

The motorbike offered

The 2015 Yamaha SR400 on offer here, was purchased new and immediately shipped to Los Angeles restoration shop, Glory Motorworks for a custom makeover of the rather stodgy machine. The work included:

Custom paint and graphics
Wheels built
Heidenau tires
Ignition switch relocation
Motogadget instrumentation
Custom rear rack
Alloy fenders with custom stays
Laser cut front stays
Renthal bars
Hagon rear shocks
LED Bates Tail Lamp
LSL Headlamp
MX style footpeg conversion
Custom Levers
Ceramic coat header/exhaust
Custom seat upholstered by 187 Killer Pads
Custom exhaust manufactured by Ellsworth Engineering in Escondido, California

The result is this fabulous retro-custom sled.

Having covered a mere 6,620 miles, the custom, in as-freshly built condition is ready for its new owner.