I couldn't believe it....

[planedick]

Was at the Honda/Yamaha store in Brea, CA today and there was an old 1968 Honda 300 Dream out front with the used MC's. Deffinately looked it's age. Looks like they replaced the seat cover and washed it, but they want $3000. for it!!! Do you suppose those old Honda's are really worth that kind of money?

[JWSanders]

There's a dealer here that had a 80 XS400 who wanted 1700 for it. It wasn't even it that great of shape. I got a nicer one on Ebay for 500.

I've seen a couple of the old Honda dreams go on Ebay for under 1000 lately. One looked really nice, but only netted 1100.

I haven't been to a dealership around here yet that had a fair price on anything in their store. I rarely go to them now.

[xs650mike]

Dealers ask ridiculous prices for used iron. Thing is somebody will come in who used to have one (or wanted one) back in the day and buy the thing on impulse.

I saw a really nice Honda 305 Superhawk (6k miles) at the local trader lot last summer, guy was only asking $1500. Dunno what it went for. I only paid $400 for a cherry XS400SJ Heritage with 4,000 miles on it in 1991. It was stolen in San Francisco in '92 and when it was recovered in Healdsburg a year later it had about 3k more miles on it and was kind of beat up looking. It's got 58k on it now, refuses to die.

[randy]

While we're on the subject of old iron, my brother is looking for an 81 XS400 SH (Special) it's like a clone of the 1100 only shrunk! Anyway, his wife used to own one but it's long gone and he would like to give it back to her. Wonder if anyone here has one to sell?

[JWSanders]

That's what I just bought. 81 XS400SH. And it is XSactly like my 11, only in perfect miniature. I'm really happy with it so far. There were several on Ebay last week, but most were too far away for me to get. Had to drive to Indiana to get mine.

Little thing scoots pretty well for it's size. After a little love and tweaking it's going to be a fun bike, methinks.

I've been tossing around the idea of naming the 400 "My Baby" and the 1100 "My baby's daddy"

[xs650mike]

I'm a lightweight guy and I have run my 400 in stoplight races a couple of times against loud piped Harleys. it'll easily stay with them up to about 50 mph if I take it to redline through the gears. I shut it off at 50 since the speed limit was 45 mph and I don't want any tickets. The engine is absolutely bulletproof. I've overrevved mine by 1000 or more rpm many times, no problem. I often forget to shift to 6th gear for a couple of miles on the highway.

Here's pics of my XS650SJ and the XS400SJ as published in the Yamaha 650 Society Newsletter. Don't have any better pics.

As you can see the styling details are the same. The 400 Heritage actually has a drum front brake! With cast alum wheels and chrome fenders, would match my XS11 too.

[mro]

Honda 300 Dream

Value is what someone is willing to pay

Had one
My first street legal scooter.
Same model Elvis rode in a movie.
Except an over charging problem it ran great.
Think they have a following like the XS.


mro

[JWSanders]

Here are a couple of pics of mine. From the Ebay listing.




It's just so cute...

[JWSanders]

This is a hijack!!

Since we're on the subject of 400's....what tire do you run on the back Mike? I'd like to put Dunlops on it but I cant seem to find a 120/90 16 in the Elite series. Do you think a 130/90 would fit ok?

[xs650mike]

Re: This is a hijack!!

Originally posted by JWSanders
Since we're on the subject of 400's....what tire do you run on the back Mike? I'd like to put Dunlops on it but I cant seem to find a 120/90 16 in the Elite series. Do you think a 130/90 would fit ok?

I'll check out some catalogs and get back to you on the Dunlops. The rim's way too narrow for a 130 section tire. I'm currently running Cheng Shin Marquis, nice and sticky but I don't recommend them. The rear is OK but the front has terrible steering feel. Off the top I'd say the Cheng Shin Hi Max (Metzler Lazer copy) are good, I've run them in the past on the 400. I've also run Metzler Lazers on the bike and liked them a lot which is why I got the Metzler copies. The copies feel just like the originals so why pay more?

The XS400 handles really well, I've embarrassed a few guys on bigger bikes in the twisties. Ran away from 2 guys on GS BMWs last summer up on Cobb Mt. They hung with me for a couple miles but got tired and dropped back. Stopped and waited for them at the junction. They were really surprised when they saw what I was riding.

[planedick]

Dream 300

The old Dream 300 had ugly square fenders, light etc. I always thought it looked really ugly. Nothing at all like the one JWSanders pics...

[xs650mike]

That's 'cause JW's bike's an XS400.

[xs650mike]

Dunlops for XS400 Special?

Did some checking around and I don't find any Dunlops available sized to fit the XS400 Special. If you've got your heart set on a non-Taiwanese tire, Continental makes a 120/90H16 in the Blitz series. I ran one of these a few years back but it's a bit smaller in section than the same nominal size Cheng Shin. Good tire though.

[Jerry]

I had a '82 XS400 Maxim, took the same rear tire as my XJ: 130-90-16. Had no problems finding tires for it. Put a lot of miles on that bike, was excellent, sold it before I moved from Wisconsin, wouldn't mind finding another.

Was at a Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse in Grand Junction, Colorado last Wednsday, they had a full-dress XS11 for $1,200.00. Vetter fairing, saddlebags, trunk, no lowers. Had 11K miles on it and looked pretty decent. Non-stock seat, looks like the one E. Liberty has on his bike, definitly a '70s design! Wish I had the space for another bike......no garage is a real bummer.

[xs650mike]

Originally posted by Jerry
I had a '82 XS400 Maxim, took the same rear tire as my XJ: 130-90-16. Had no problems finding tires for it.

The XS400 Special and XS400 Maxim are two entirely different animals. I can't figure out why Yamaha didn't call the 400 Maxim and Seca XJ which is what they actually are.

XS400 Maxim:


XS400 Special:


The Maxim is a dohc design like an XJ and the Special is an older sohc design similar to the old Honda CB350.