Topic: Is this the fugliest Yamaha ever made? Property of MoMo the MoeRon sort of FINI

[MoMo]

How does it run Larry ?

Well enough, like most every 400 twin from that era as far as speed/power.  Speedo is way off though, says i'm only doing 40 mph at 5000 rpm in 6th gear.  I'd like to replace the ugly instrument cluster with round gauges.

Motor is a tad noisy on start up but quiets down when up to operating temp.  Tempted to keep it and use it as inexpensive to and from work transportation.


Have you moved Bill?   >Larry

[grcamna2]

I have moved to this little town of Winters,CA.,it's laid-back and low stress which is good for me.

[MoMo]

I have moved to this little town of Winters,CA.,it's laid-back and low stress which is good for me.

Good to hear, moving is good as it most often winds up with a better life opportunity

[Stev-o]

I have moved to this little town of Winters,CA....

Near Napa Valley, right?   Was there a few years ago, love that area. I seem to remember a Lake Berryessa too....

[grcamna2]

I have moved to this little town of Winters,CA....

Near Napa Valley, right?   Was there a few years ago, love that area. I seem to remember a Lake Berryessa too....

Yes 
 I rode by the lower end of Berryessa ,I'll ride around some more too.

[MoMo]

Rustoleum Peelable Primer does not work all that well.  I tried peeling the paint off and it came off in tiny chunks so I called the company, who said the paint  needed to be rolled off rather than peeled.  That did not work either so I had to spend hours removing the experimental colors.  Not too happy    ...Larry

[Terry in Australia]

What do they mean "rolled off" Larry?

[MoMo]

What do they mean "rolled off" Larry?

One is supposed to peel back an end and then roll it.  Didn't work peeling or rolling.  I had scuff sanded the tank-that could have prevented the "peelable" primer from being easily removed. On the can it implies that it can be  removed.


I also used a filler primer, which came out textured.  Now have to resand the entire tank.  BTW, I am not a painter 

[RAFster122s]

Larry, Personally I think the silver looks like poo.  If you had sprayed it in Plastidip as a base you could have a peelable primer coat.

I like the white or yellow and white. 

Could hit it with Citristrip.
Put some plastic wrap over it after applying and it slows evap allowing the chemicals to work longer.  I found thick coats of it are no better than just a painted coat film and doing multiple coats to get it off. A scraper ( plastic) and a wire brush help get it down to metal faster.

Wear gloves and change them often when they swell up.  I usually wear a few pair so I can peel them off one by one.

[MoMo]

Larry, Personally I think the silver looks like poo.  If you had sprayed it in Plastidip as a base you could have a peelable primer coat.

I like the white or yellow and white. 

Could hit it with Citristrip.
Put some plastic wrap over it after applying and it slows evap allowing the chemicals to work longer.  I found thick coats of it are no better than just a painted coat film and doing multiple coats to get it off. A scraper ( plastic) and a wire brush help get it down to metal faster.

Wear gloves and change them often when they swell up.  I usually wear a few pair so I can peel them off one by one.

 The peelable label implies the primer can be peeled off.  However, I think they mean the top coat can be peeled, which it can. Think I had a MoeRon moment reading the label. 

 PlastiDip would have worked for what I wanted to do and given me waaaay less headaches.


David,  white and yellow was my first choice.  Rear tail fin and side covers are done. White on the tank is also finished, need to mask off and spray yellow.  Then wet sand and clear coat with 2K gloss.  I painted one of my 400 fours with white pearl and 2K clear.  Gas did not harm it

[RAFster122s]

A pressure washer might have stripped the paint quickly for the "peelable primer" 
So basically they are selling a primer that whatever you top coat it will not stick for long...
That was easy to make...

Glad it has come together.  I would be tempted to put a different rear cowl on it, something that looked better than that splitter.

Good luck with it, whether you keep it or flip it.

[MoMo]

Decided on white/yellow with newer style logo.  Looks good from 10 feet but shows orange peel at close range.  Rattle canned with 2K clear. Not a painter for sure.  Is the final step wet sand with either 1500 or 2000 and then buff with 3m Buffing Compound?  I saw a video of a guy doing that  and it seemed to come out quite nice. (it was on the internet so it must have been true ).









Thinking of painting the exhaust black to mask the dented left muffler.  Would most likely just paint the mufflers.  Or maybe try to locate a heat shield that would go over the dents?

[Geeto67]

there is a local guy with one of these:



painting a yamaha Kenny Roberts colors instantly makes it more attractive.

These are actually neat little bikes. useless to me at my size (6'5") but with that funky tail design I betcha it would make a nice 1980's road racer replica if you hung a full fairing on the front of it.

[MoMo]

^^^great minds think alike      Actually, it is a fun bike and fast enough for the 10 mile round trip commute.  I have a 1991 Ninja 600 on the back burner.  If I ever get the body parts repaired it may replace the Yammie.  My  choice everyday is between the Concours, Katana 1100 and Seca. Notice, no Honda sohc

[RAFster122s]

So, you want the squirtable power to get out of those rundown feelings that arise from time to time.

Hope it is fun for a longtime.
Probably would have been good to color sand the paint before the clear but color sanding the clear should remove the orange peel.  Might be a job for a rainy day when bored and not feeling like wrenching.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That ain't so pretty but not nearly as fugly as the BMW R1200C cruiser in the James Bond movie Forever Never Dies. That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

[Geeto67]

That ain't so pretty but not nearly as fugly as the BMW R1200C cruiser in the James Bond movie Forever Never Dies. That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

I don't understand the hate for these. They are actually nice bikes to ride (except for the rotational force almost knocking you over when revving at a stoplight).

I don't think they are ugly, they are interesting and different. Maybe if your entire sum of looking at bikes is whether it fits into the stereotype of the market segment it is selling then then I can see how shortsightedness could make you think it is ugly because it doesn't look like a harley or an indian or a vtx or some other done to death cruiser type.  People think moto guzzi's are ugly too so there is no accounting for taste among the masses.

It's like ice cream, some people only want chocolate, some vanilla, and some want Whiskey & Pecans ice cream (https://shop.jenis.com/ice-creams/whiskey-pecans-pint/) because our pallets are complex and interesting and demand something better than vanilla. Enjoy your vanilla.

[MoMo]

That ain't so pretty but not nearly as fugly as the BMW R1200C cruiser in the James Bond movie Forever Never Dies. That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Not one of my favorite designs either(or is that eyether?)  Too futuristic for my taste buds(but I like vanella, or is that vanilla?)  Maybe we need to bring back Ella and Louis to decide

[seanbarney41]

I do like me some oddball #$%* at times...the lil Yammie twin looks killer...the Beemer?...anyone who would pay for that abomination deserves to be seen on it.

[Terry in Australia]

The 1200C was an ugly pig and almost drove BMW to the wall, they fired their CEO of the motorcycle division and the new guy brought in the S1000RR and all of the good looking new BM's. (Not "Bimmers", that's a term used by yuppies who Drive BMW cars because they don't know sh1t about cars)

I've got an R1100GS, and while it's not pretty, it's beauty is in it's function. The "new" Boxers are brilliant engines, and some dedicated BM owners have clocked up hundreds of thousands of miles on them. I've owned two R100RS, which were much prettier, but not a patch on the new boxers, in performance, or build quality.

[RAFster122s]

That ain't so pretty but not nearly as fugly as the BMW R1200C cruiser in the James Bond movie Forever Never Dies. That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Then you must be going gaa gaa over there new BMW Cafe bike.
Such a lovely abomination thread bike...

Don't badmouth to 1000r as Cal might take exception...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That ain't so pretty but not nearly as fugly as the BMW R1200C cruiser in the James Bond movie Forever Never Dies. That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

I don't understand the hate for these. They are actually nice bikes to ride (except for the rotational force almost knocking you over when revving at a stoplight).

I don't think they are ugly, they are interesting and different. Maybe if your entire sum of looking at bikes is whether it fits into the stereotype of the market segment it is selling then then I can see how shortsightedness could make you think it is ugly because it doesn't look like a harley or an indian or a vtx or some other done to death cruiser type. People think moto guzzi's are ugly too so there is no accounting for taste among the masses.

It's like ice cream, some people only want chocolate, some vanilla, and some want Whiskey & Pecans ice cream (https://shop.jenis.com/ice-creams/whiskey-pecans-pint/) because our pallets are complex and interesting and demand something better than vanilla. Enjoy your vanilla.

I understand you don't share my opinion about that BMW.  I think your comments (above) are off base, at least as to me, and patronizing.  You have no idea what ice cream I like to eat, and I don't judge you for drinking before 9 am.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The 1200C was an ugly pig and almost drove BMW to the wall, they fired their CEO of the motorcycle division and the new guy brought in the S1000RR and all of the good looking new BM's. (Not "Bimmers", that's a term used by yuppies who Drive BMW cars because they don't know sh1t about cars)

I've got an R1100GS, and while it's not pretty, it's beauty is in it's function. The "new" Boxers are brilliant engines, and some dedicated BM owners have clocked up hundreds of thousands of miles on them. I've owned two R100RS, which were much prettier, but not a patch on the new boxers, in performance, or build quality.

I think the GS bikes are heavy but don't feel as heavy when your eating up miles on them  Great do everything touring bike.

I am a big fan of the S1000R but torn between it and the Aprilia Tuono.

I've ridden the RNineT and with an Ohlins suspension swap, it's a fun bike -- comparable to the Thruxton 1200R.  The "café" RNineT was a let-down by downgrading so many of the regular model's components. 

I also like weird bikes like Bimotas. 

[Terry in Australia]

Nothing wrong with that mate, my friend John has a Bimota DB1 that is better than the Ducati 750F1 that the engine came from, and if I could find a HB1 in a barn I'd be a happy man. I haven't ridden an RNineT, but I do love my R1100GS. I don't notice the weight, only the pleasure.......

[MoMo]

All this BMW talk has lost me, guess I'm "Living In The Past"....Larry