Yamaha SR400 (2010-2021) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Yamaha SR400, a throw-back classic that was sold between 2010 and 2021 (in its most recent fuel injected form), when Yamaha stopped production.
The SR400 has been made since 1978 and is still made through 2021, unchanged physically in most ways. These days, it’s considered a retro motorcycle in Europe, the US, and Australia/NZ, where it has been sold since 2014. Yamaha re-released the Yamaha SR400 with a fuel-injected engine since 2010, and that’s the version shown here.
The Yamaha SR400 is powered by a 399cc air-cooled 4-stroke single cylinder SOHC 2-valve engine. Oil is stored in the downtubes of the motorcycle’s frame, which means it doesn’t even have an undercarriage oil sump nor an oil cooler.
Final drive is via a 5-speed gearbox and a chain drive.
The Yamaha SR400 was retired from most markets in 2021. It was retired a little earlier in Europe.
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What you need to service the Yamaha SR400
To service the Yamaha SR400, you need the following consumables. These items meet Yamaha’s recommended spec.
| Item | Yamaha SR400 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Yamaha recommends Yamalube 10W-40 engine oil. |
| Oil filter | Use a HifloFiltro HF145 oil filter. |
| Spark plug | NGK BPR6ES |
| Brake fluid | Castrol DOT 4 |
| Air filter | Use K&N YA-5008 for the fuel-injected SR400. |
| Cable maintenance | Protect All Cable life to grease control and meter cables |
| Chain maintenance | Motul Chain Paste for mess-free and convenient chain maintenance |
| General grease | Use both silicone grease and lithium soap-based grease |
Yamaha SR400 Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha SR400.
The Yamaha SR400 has different maintenance requirements in the US and European manuals, as is common with many Yamaha motorcycles.
In the US, the SR400 has 4000 mile / 6000 km or 6 month maintenance intervals.
Yamaha SR400 Service Intervals
The Yamaha SR400 has
- 4000 mile / 7000 km or 6-month service intervals in the US
- 10000 km / 6000 mile or 12-month service intervals in Europe and the Asia-Pacific
At every service, change the oil and clean the oil filter element. You also need to either check or replace the spark plug.
Yamaha says you have to check the valve clearances at every service (with every oil change). Luckily, there’s just one cylinder and it’s a naked motorcycle, so access is easy.
The SR400 has a cable clutch and hydraulic brakes. So maintain the clutch line, and keep the brake fluid fresh.
Finally, be sure to regularly check the chain drive. Keep it clean, lubed, and correctly tensioned.
Yamaha SR400 North America Maintenance Schedule
| mi x 1000 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 31 | |
| months | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | Every |
| Change engine oil — Yamalube 10W40 (warm engine before draining). | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clean engine oil filter element (HF145) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check spark plug condition, adjust gap and clean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plug (BPR6ES) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Replace air filter (YA-5008) | 12000 mi (19000 km), or more often if riding in rain/dust | |||||
| Check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check and adjust engine idle speed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check timing chain tensioner. Adjust if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check decompression system. Replace cable if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check chain slack/alignment and condition. Adjust and thoroughly lubricate chain (Motul Chain Paste) | 300 mi / 500 km, or if it gets wet/dirty | |||||
| Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate control and meter cables (Protect all cable life) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check throttle grip operation and free play. Adjust the throttle grip free play, and adjust if necessary. Lubricate the throttle grip housing. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Adjust break lever free play and replace brake pads if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear brake operation. Adjust cable and replace brake shoes if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | |||||
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4), and rubber parts of master cylinder/caliper | 2 years | |||||
| Check wheels for runout, spoke tightness and for damage. Tighten spokes if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check tire tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check swingarm bush assemblies for looseness. Lubricate with lithium soap-based grease until new grease shows. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check steering bearing assembly for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Repack steering bearings (Lithium soap-based grease) | 12000 mi (19000 km) | |||||
| Check all chassis fittings and fasteners. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate clutch lever and brake pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check centerstand and sidestand pivot operation. Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly as necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild / replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild / replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check operation of front and rear brake switches | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check operation of lights, signals, and switches. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Adjust headlight beam. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check crankcase breather hose for cracks and damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check evap control system (if fitted) for damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ |
Yamaha SR400 Europe Maintenance Schedule
In Europe, the Yamaha SR400 has with 10000 km / 6000 mile or 12 month service intervals.
| km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | |
| Change engine oil — Yamalube 10W40 (warm engine before draining). | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clean engine oil filter element | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check spark plug condition, adjust gap and clean | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plug | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace air filter | 20000 km (12500 mi), or more often if riding in rain/dust | ||||
| Check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check and adjust engine idle speed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check timing chain tensioner. Adjust if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check decompression system. Replace cable if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check chain slack/alignment and condition. Adjust and thoroughly lubricate chain (Motul Chain Paste) | 500 km / 300 mi, or if it gets wet/dirty | ||||
| Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate control and meter cables (Protect all cable life) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check throttle grip operation and free play. Adjust the throttle grip free play, and adjust if necessary. Lubricate the throttle grip housing. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Adjust break lever free play and replace brake pads if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear brake operation. Adjust cable and replace brake shoes if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | ||||
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4), and rubber parts of master cylinder/caliper | 2 years | ||||
| Check wheels for runout, spoke tightness and for damage. Tighten spokes if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check tire tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check swingarm bush assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate swingarm with lithium soap-based grease | 50000 km (30000 mi) | ||||
| Check steering bearing assembly for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Repack steering bearings (Lithium soap-based grease) | ✓ | ✓ | 20000 km (12000 mi) | ||
| Check all chassis fittings and fasteners. Correct if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lubricate clutch lever and brake pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check centerstand and sidestand pivot operation. Apply lithium-soap-based grease lightly as necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild / replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check rear shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild / replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check operation of front and rear brake switches | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check operation of lights, signals, and switches. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Adjust headlight beam. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check the air cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage. Replace damaged parts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
About the Yamaha SR400
The Yamaha SR400 is a retro motorcycle. It has an upright naked riding position and is quite comfortable, and very easy to ride.
The SR400 is powered by an air-cooled four-stroke single cylinder 2-valve engine with a dry sump. It’s fuel-injected, but that’s about the only technology you’ll find on it these days. No, it doesn’t come with ABS.
In fact, the Yamaha SR400 doesn’t even come with an electric starter — just a kick start. Some people see this as a pro (you can start it when the starter dies! Also, there’s no sprag clutch to renew), but many owners find that there are times when kick starting can get a litlte old.
The engine is no monster, producing 24 horsepower (around 15 kW). However, most of the 15 Nm (21 lb-ft) of torque comes on early, with near maximum torque at 2,500 rpm, making the Yamaha SR400 very easy to ride in traffic, pottering about at low speed.
In 2021 Japan announced a “final edition” of the SR400, meaning it was being retired.
Maintaining the Yamaha SR400 is very easy thanks to its single cylinder, fully exposed engine, and affordable parts. You mostly have to change the oil and keep the chain lubricated.
There is a mandatory valve service every 4000 miles or 10000 km (depending on whether you follow the North American or European maintenance schedule), but doing your own valve service is not hard for the vaguely maintenance-minded considering it only has one cylinder and two valves.
Manual for the Yamaha SR400
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the Yamaha SR400. We compared the 2017 manual from the US and the 2016 manual from Europe with manuals for other years.
See the screenshots to observe the differences between the USA and Europe maintenance schedules.
You can download the manual for the Yamaha SR400 from Yamaha’s website here.
