OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Graeme M on January 18, 2008, 08:42:28 pm

Title: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Graeme M on January 18, 2008, 08:42:28 pm
When I first got interested in vintage, I was real keen on all the pre 75 stuff. But my era was really post 75, and so my first actual vintage racer was an RM400N I bought from Andrew George. Back then, around 1999, there were plenty of these things around. I recall nearly everyone in VIPER rode one. Now, I rarely see them featured in any website or race report anywhere. US vintage sites seem to feature mainly Hondas and Yamahas, and here in Oz the most common bikes appear to be Huskies, Yamahas and Maicos. What happened to the RM400? Where did they all go? Do you guys that used to race them just park them? Are there garages full of idle RM400s out there?
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: holeshot buddy on January 18, 2008, 10:25:02 pm
i know up here in queensland the poor old rm400s had to race evo and got fairly well
smashed by yz465s and maico 490s so they gradually thinned out shame really not a bad bike 8)







it ran last time i started it ;D
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Doc on January 19, 2008, 12:51:24 pm
 ;D Still got mine thankfully..not an N or T but race ready excepting it needs new rear tyre..as usual  ::)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/2100661122_62b4d9f7ec_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Viper79 on January 19, 2008, 05:43:50 pm
I still have my 400, its just had a freshen up for this years racing.
http://www.ozvmx.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_Classic_dirt_4_003.jpg

Viper 79
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Graeme M on January 19, 2008, 07:13:43 pm
Seems, there are still a few around! Here's Gator's 400. He didn't say whether it's still being raced tho?

(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/rm400.jpg)
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: gator on January 19, 2008, 07:19:52 pm
Hope to be racing viper this year graeme and going to cd5 but did wreck my knee 6mths ago  . :'( :'(
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: All Things 414 on January 20, 2008, 11:36:38 am
Me knee!(sob).Me kneeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: LWC82PE on January 20, 2008, 11:39:48 am
isnt the availability of rear hubs the problem?
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: All Things 414 on January 20, 2008, 12:54:44 pm
I know Gator's bike had to run a B or C hub. Can't the N hubs just be rebuilt?
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: gator on January 20, 2008, 01:12:06 pm
That's right 414 my hub's out of a RM370b pick up a brand new hub this guy had 2 new one's and with my knee you should be feeling it up your ars on the track this year Be afraid very afraid :D :D :-*
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: paul on January 20, 2008, 01:28:31 pm
hey gator if the knees no good then how much do you want for the rm   ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: gator on January 20, 2008, 01:52:55 pm
The knee will come right if it was a 414 montesa i would sell it paul to you cheap l ll keep the RM ;)
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: paul on January 20, 2008, 04:19:46 pm
looks like  the next chapter  off the pomerian  wars  comeing up  :D
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: LWC82PE on January 20, 2008, 04:37:25 pm
i believe they have chain derailment problems and this causes the sprocket mounting tabs to break off, therefore making the hubs a big paper weight. this is why rear hubs for 400 N are very hard to find.
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Doc on January 20, 2008, 05:32:10 pm
yup not only that Leith the brake hub side bearing carrier also breaks/collapses and causes bulk probs. Saw this happen to 2 400N's locally. A good wheel to fit is a DR500. Cush drive mellows the chain snatch and they have about 4 bearings in total so failure is rare  ;) 'tis the wheel I have fitted in the pic above
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: gator on January 20, 2008, 05:59:39 pm
Hey Doc what year DR500 hub for RM400N ??? ???
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: oldfart on January 20, 2008, 06:48:44 pm
Being a DR 500 and 400 hoarder , they are very similar and thats were you need to be carefull  ;)on the 500 the nuts & bolts go all the way thru the cush drive in a close pattern were as the 400 are located on lugs and are held on by countersunk allen heads  with nuts 
the legs are longer but don't pose a problem ......Dr 500 years   1981 - 83

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Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: Doc on January 20, 2008, 07:13:44 pm
I can't argue with the oldfart as he's the man for the DR's. I was going to say about 82. Rear sprockets maybe a little bit of an issue. I'll have a look at what teeth I run..flat 3rd gear starts are still possible on the 400C with my piddly weight :D scares the absolute piss outa me these days but they're still possible :P
Title: Re: Where'd the RM400s Go?
Post by: bingil 6 on January 21, 2008, 08:18:25 am
thehttp://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-RM400N-79-Model-VMX_W0QQitemZ290199942865QQihZ019QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemre is one on ebay at the moment.