YAMAHA XT 400 (1981-1995) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Yamaha XT 400 was a trail motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha in 1981. The bike was, in fact, an XT 500 model fitted with a reduced displacement engine and was rapidly dropped from production to make room for the new Yamaha XT 400.

The bike was marketed six months after the XT 500 model, and despite everything, both machines lacked the success of the XT 600 version that was introduced at the end of 1982. The bike was built around a single cradle frame and packed a 399cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine.

In 1981, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Yamaha XT 400, a motorcycle fitted with standard features, such as a high-mounted front fender, a round headlight with two gauges mounted on top, a one-piece dual seat, a high-mounted exhaust system, and wire-spoke wheels.

Suspension-wise, the bike was built around a single cradle steel frame with a telescopic fork on the front and a single shock absorber on the rear, offering optimum handling capabilities. As for stopping power, the bike was fitted with a front and rear drum braking unit.

In the performance department, the Yamaha XT 400 had installed a 399cc four-stroke single-cylinder air-cooled engine fed by a carburetor, delivering an output power of 31 hp at 7,000 rpm and 31 Nm (23 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.

The bike's engine was coupled to a five-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch that sent the power to the rear wheel through a final chain drive.