Brand New: 1979 Yamaha RD 400 Daytona Special with 1 mile!
Posted on August 20, 2011 by Mike
In the late 1970s there was only one major motorcycle manufacturer still importing two-stroke streetbikes into the United States. Yamaha, with a long and storied racing history, kept the RD series of parallel twin smokers alive until 1979. With emissions awareness and enforecement on the rise, it became impossible to certify these two strokes in the US with current technology.
Thus, the Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special – named to commemorate their dominance of that venue in GP racing – was destined to be the last of the factory two strokes.
Today’s particular bike is as brand new as one is ever likely to find. Having never been started and showing barely 1 mile on the odometer from being moved around, this is a rare time machine of yesteryear. This bike comes with a blank MSO (meaning that it has never been titled, and therefore in the eyes of most governing bodies is still brand new), has never been kicked over, has a battery that has never been filled with acid, and is sitting on the stock tires with all stock componentry just like you would have found it in a dealership back in ’79!
From the seller:
The title says it all, this is an as new 1979 non restored original unridden bike! I bought it from the original owner who bought it new in 1980, then stored it in his living room until I bought it several years ago. Yes, that is my television above the bike, as its in my living room. This bike has never even seen the light of day aside from loading or unloading. It is pristine, and only as perfect as it came from the factory!
There is only one tiny mark in the paint about the size of the end of a ballpoint pen, on the end of the tank. As you can see by the picture next to the pen, it will not even show up. Everything is original, even the battery that has never had acid put into it from the dealership. The original Yokohamas still have the hairs on them, sand all the factory yellow paint marks are in place, as they should be.
The tool kit and manual remain untouched in their original plastic wrapping. There are no heat marks, dents, dings or scratches on the exhaust! To my knowledge this bike has never even been started, except bench tested at the factory.
Has 1 mile from being rolled into the dealership, out of the dealership, into the 1st owners house, out again, into the warehouse, then intto my house. Original MSO and all factory paperwork come with the bike, new owner will need to fill out the MSO to get a title for the bike. The MSO has never been filled out, so overseas buyers will have no problems at all. I will assist in any way that I can, including storage for a month or so.
The other side of the bike is in the same condition, there are no hidden problems! I just didnt want to hurt the bike by moving it without some help, just to get more pictures. Dont fool yourselves, there will not be another opportunity to buy a bike of this caliber.
This was the height of two stroke air cooled bikes, and it is a true landmark in motorcycles!
I must admit that I don’t really understand collectors who park a perfectly good motorcycle without riding it. Sure, I’ve owned bikes with low miles before, but that was my fault for not getting out and riding enough. No bike I’ve ever owned has ever been more valuable to me parked than screaming through the gears as the designer intended.
Still, when I see a zero or 1 mile bike I am impressed by the restraint of the owner.
As to value, the seller has this bike listed for a cool $15,000. That is more than double what a clean (and improved/modified) RD would normally run – but in many ways the condition warrants the asking price. You do not come across these RD400 DS models often, and this the first ever I have seen with only 1 mile.
The seller is open to offers however, so to check out all of the details and plan how you might be the next caretaker of this amazing little rocket, click on the link and jump over to the auction. Special thanks to eagle-eyed reader Rod who pointed this bike out to us!
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