MotoFiaccone RD400 Chopper/Cafe build--for real this time.
- Thread starter chrisf
- Start date
Hi All:
I have really gotten a ton of work done on the RD400 over the past few months. And I really need to because ModsvRockers Dallas is coming up very soon. The things I’ve done are:
1.) Replaced the reeds. The stock reeds are stainless and I went with composite reeds. This really made the power snappy; well worth the $30
2.) Changed to electronic ignition. This was the best purchase I’ve made for the RD400 thus far. What happens—for those that don’t know 2-strokes—is that it is a HUGE pain in the ass to get the timing right. I fought it and fought it for months, and she still never ran right. I went through the carbs a dozen times; I replaced the coils; nothing worked. So I installed a $300 electronic ignition and it literally fixed the problems…sorta. I still had a low speed buck/burble. But Jesus Christ she is fast now
3.) So to fix the burble, I installed a cross-over tube (not pictured). This completely smoothed out the low speed burble that happened at certain RPMs. Completely worth it.
4.) But then my petcock started leaking all over the place. So I had to pull it and rebuild it. I’m stuill not 100% certain it worked, but we’ll see.
5.) Then I replaced the taillight. I never really liked the old one and the wheel smacked it if I hit a big bump. Not good. So I bought a Crime Scene Choppers taillight. It looks really good and it very bright, but some of the build quality is not worth the $200—or whatever I spent on it. Plus, it was a pain in the ass getting the thing. Anyway, I made a new mount that raised the light and the plate up a bit, and I sent it to Joe to powdercoat it. I think it came out perfectly. It does look crooked in the pictures (and real life). There is some wiggle room with all the bolts and I need to align everything.
Thanks for reading along. the next pics will be from the Mods/Rockers event in late March.
--Chris
I have really gotten a ton of work done on the RD400 over the past few months. And I really need to because ModsvRockers Dallas is coming up very soon. The things I’ve done are:
1.) Replaced the reeds. The stock reeds are stainless and I went with composite reeds. This really made the power snappy; well worth the $30
2.) Changed to electronic ignition. This was the best purchase I’ve made for the RD400 thus far. What happens—for those that don’t know 2-strokes—is that it is a HUGE pain in the ass to get the timing right. I fought it and fought it for months, and she still never ran right. I went through the carbs a dozen times; I replaced the coils; nothing worked. So I installed a $300 electronic ignition and it literally fixed the problems…sorta. I still had a low speed buck/burble. But Jesus Christ she is fast now
3.) So to fix the burble, I installed a cross-over tube (not pictured). This completely smoothed out the low speed burble that happened at certain RPMs. Completely worth it.
4.) But then my petcock started leaking all over the place. So I had to pull it and rebuild it. I’m stuill not 100% certain it worked, but we’ll see.
5.) Then I replaced the taillight. I never really liked the old one and the wheel smacked it if I hit a big bump. Not good. So I bought a Crime Scene Choppers taillight. It looks really good and it very bright, but some of the build quality is not worth the $200—or whatever I spent on it. Plus, it was a pain in the ass getting the thing. Anyway, I made a new mount that raised the light and the plate up a bit, and I sent it to Joe to powdercoat it. I think it came out perfectly. It does look crooked in the pictures (and real life). There is some wiggle room with all the bolts and I need to align everything.
Thanks for reading along. the next pics will be from the Mods/Rockers event in late March.
--Chris
agree that 200 is a bit wild, but when it makes the ass end of the bike, sometimes it is worth it! i know i just paid a little over 280 for the light i am frenching in on my harley... and that was just to cut it up and powder and completely change it... sometimes it is easier to buy something and make it diff than to make it out of nothing... chris that looks great man! snap a few pics of the bike and i will toss them on our website in the customers prictures... your wheels are soaking in our degreaser bath as i type!
glad that color looks to be a spot on match!
glad that color looks to be a spot on match!
alpinaclone
Been Around the Block
Now that you have a few miles on it, how did that PC hold up on the rear sprocket? I am thinking of doing he same with mine but don't want it to look like shit in 200 miles.
bananaclip
Been Around the Block
Chris you can defiantly put together some nice scoots. Love the blacked out thing.
With a heavy heart, this bike is now for sale. I hate to do this--it's gut-wrenching--but she needs to go. The ask is $4k, which I realize is a little steep. But y'all see all the work and money I've poured into her. Please also understand that she needs a crank rebuild, which will cost around $1k from a highly reputable 2-stroke builder. Contact me with any questions.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/3094254167.html
--Cheers (not really, sadly), Chris
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/3094254167.html
--Cheers (not really, sadly), Chris
You're mostly correct. If does not have any port work. The reeds are stock size, but are composite (not carbon). I forget exactly, but the but it's a common conversion using reeds from a newer Yamaha dirt bike. The bore size is 1 over--from memory.
Keep the questions coming.
--Cheers
Keep the questions coming.
--Cheers
