99 yz400,should I buy?

[otomanone]

I'm new to this forum.I need some advise.I want

to start racing again.It's been 24 years.I have

limited funds(ie wife).I have the chance to buy

a 99 yz400 for 2,800.It's in a neighboring state

and I'm going Saturday to check it out and

hopefully purchase.The price seems low so I'm

nervous the bike is whooped.The party selling it claims its in good shape.What should I look for?

What do you think about the price?

[gettin2old4this]

The price is great but you made a very valid point, if the bike is beat than it wouldn't be worth it if it was free. I have bought cheap bikes in the past to save some $, but by the time I was done with repairs and parts, it would have been cheaper to buy a new one. It could be a smokin' deal, you just have to check it out. Does he have any pics he can send you before you drive out of state?

[Hick]

One good trick to help gauge a bike’s hours is kick starter wear. The caveat is that on YZ 400s these were known to break, so your seller may have replaced it. But if the nub or pad on the kick start (where it collides w/ the foot peg) is worn all the way down that probably corresponds to about 100 hours, if not more. That wouldn’t be excessive at all for a ’99, just something for you to go by.

Ask the owner about maintenance, i.e. how many oil changes, linkage servicing, valve clearance check/adjustment, new rings, etc. Put the bike on a stand and check for hang-ups or extra play in the rear linkage.

Try to ignore what the plastic looks like, that can be easily replaced, focus on the frame, if it doesn’t look like it has been repainted and only has paint rubbed off in a few areas that is a good sign. If it has been raced hard, and often, this will usually result in some damage/wear to the underside of the frame rails. You can also look at the inside of the sub frame, sometimes the chain rubs it here.

Not an exact science, but you can at least corroborate the owner’s story, i.e. if he says “barely ridden” and the paint is gone everywhere, the nub on the kick starter is worn off, the chain has almost worn through the sub frame and chain buffer (but it has new plastic and graphics ? ) then maybe you should keep looking.

$2,800 seems like a reasonable price for that bike, provided it is in fair condition.

Hope this helps.

[John_Lorenz]

Sell Your Wife and Get a nEw Bike ?

Ditto's no not much of the 400's but becarfull

[SMP]

I have a 00' 426 for only 1k more and can have it delivered to you, depending on what part of Wyoming you are from (I have friends that drive back and forth for the weekends). I posted a week or so ago with the details of the bike.

[rmarion]

Price sounds reasonable. Little on low side, but hee, who knows? (I'll be selling mine in the range of $3200)

What I'd check...

1. Put bike on stationary stands, check for true wheels?

2. Remove seat, check air filter, if never cleaned, RUN don't walk! out of there.

3. Check oil dipstick stick?

4. Check bottom of frame, paint wear or thrashed.

5. Check steering head frame. If paint has flaked off, maybe bent frame.

6. Have owner start bike, it should start 1-3 kicks.

7. Listen to running motor, should not make any weird noises (lifters, knocking, rattling), should be strong deep sounding.

Just a few items I can think of.

Good Luck.

[Boit]

I guess I'm the only one who thinks the price is too steep. Personally, I think $2500 is more inline with that particular machine. It's a 4 year old MX bike and MX bikes take abuse. It's the nature of the intended design. Racing and/or riding heaps on abuse for these machines.

[twej]

In Northern CA, I can still get 3500 to 4k for my '99 400 and it's been raced hard since it was bought.

I also agree with the above advise on what to look for.

Wej

[YZFLORIDA]

LAST AUGUST I BOUGHT A 99 YZ 400 IT HAD BEEN 25 YRS. SINCE I OWNED A DIRT BIKE, THE PLASTICS LOOKED RATTY BUT ITB RAN AND STARTED GOOD. THIS IS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE MADE IN A LONG TIME MY SON AND I HAVE BEEN RACING HARESCRAMBLES SINCE MARCH AND THE BIKE HAS BEEN PERFECT. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL AND IT HAS MOR POWER THAN I CAN USE. I PAID $3000.00 AND ALL I HAVE DONE IS REPLACED THE PLASTIC IT ALREADY HAD NEW BARS AND TRIPLE CLAMPS.

TRY IT OUT IF IT SOUNDS GOOD AND STARTS EASY GO FOR IT AND YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY ?

[otomanone]

Thanks alot for the great info.I'll let you know

what happens.