'78 Yamaha IT400?

KevinD · 09-10-2012, 10:12 PM

I've a lead on a 1978 Yamaha IT400, but know nearly nothing about it, other than it's a 2-stroke thumper "International Trials" that's supposed to be street legal.
The owner says it hasn't run in about 5 years.

Anyone know any more? Like anything I should look out for?

KevinD

cool1442 · 09-11-2012, 02:35 AM

I used to sell Yamahas of that vintage. As they came out of the box, they were NOT street legal as they had only a mediocre trail headlight and tailight..that did not include a brake light. As a street bike, any IT woud need a lot of parts and work to get it there.. probably more what its worth. As a trail bike, for its time, it was a pretty good unit. atho it got outsold by YZs 10:1 because they were a little lighter and had more zip. If you want a two stoke street legal bike of that time. look for DT400. At 1976 Yamaha brought out XT AND TT 500 4strokes and they pretty much took over that segments sales. I hope this helps. Contact me if you need more info.

04cbrf4i · 09-11-2012, 02:51 AM

I had a 78 dt400 two stroke, street legal. Basiclly a detuned yz 400 with lights, I don't know if they made it400 till 79 or 80 may be wrong though. Super fun in town siezed on the freeway but easy to rebuild, man the cops would give me the stair but never pulled over.

dragracer1951 · 09-11-2012, 03:12 AM

Had a 79 dt400
Fun bike
Zero issues with it.
ITs are pretty good big two strokes

KevinD · 09-11-2012, 08:17 AM

The owner says it has an ID plate on it.
I know WA has cracked down in recent years on licensed trail bikes, so once I get the VIN, I'll call the DMV & ask.

KevinD

PeteN95 · 09-13-2012, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by KevinD

...it's a 2-stroke thumper

FYI, this is an oxymoron, as "thumpers" are 4 stroke singles.

tod701 · 09-13-2012, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by KevinD

The owner says it has an ID plate on it.
I know WA has cracked down in recent years on licensed trail bikes, so once I get the VIN, I'll call the DMV & ask.

KevinD

If a WSP inspection is required, they will not even look at it.

mjn · 09-13-2012, 06:29 PM

I had one back in the 80's. Great bike. Lots of power... went like hell.

But definitely not street legal. Headlight & tail light only, just an enduro.

KevinD · 09-13-2012, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by mjn

But definitely not street legal. Headlight & tail light only, just an enduro.

Yeah, that's what I discovered.

So I'll keep lookin'

Thanks for the input!

KevinD

subeng · 09-13-2012, 09:33 PM

A friend of my father had a 465. There was no way in hell I was getting behind him on my YZ80 because that thing threw huge chunks of turf anytime he was on the throttle. Awesome machines for their time, there never seemed to be alot of 400's and up around, but the 175's and 200's were all over California back then.

I'm not sure in this state how difficult it would be to get one licensed now days. I don't remember if they classified them as "off road use only" back then.

Headrope · 09-24-2012, 10:08 AM

I just purchased a '78 IT400 and got a license plate for it. What I found is that the 1978 IT400 is street legal according to the DMV, but needs additional stuff to be street ridden, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The 1978 IT400 is a factory road/offroad bike according to a printout I got off the DMV's own computer BUT there is a Washington State RCW that requires motor vehicles to have a headlight, turn signals, brake light, mirrors and a horn to make them street legal (among other things).

I'm putting blinkers and mirrors on it off a DT400, and fabbing up a brake light solution.

PeteN95 · 09-24-2012, 10:56 AM

The DMV's list of street bikes is FAR from accurate!

james1300 · 09-25-2012, 04:19 PM

So? Its an off-road bike. Make it legal. Get it inspected and ride it with a plate.

james1300 · 09-25-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Headrope

I just purchased a '78 IT400 and got a license plate for it. What I found is that the 1978 IT400 is street legal according to the DMV, but needs additional stuff to be street ridden, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The 1978 IT400 is a factory road/offroad bike according to a printout I got off the DMV's own computer BUT there is a Washington State RCW that requires motor vehicles to have a headlight, turn signals, brake light, mirrors and a horn to make them street legal (among other things).

I'm putting blinkers and mirrors on it off a DT400, and fabbing up a brake light solution.

You can buy a rear brake pedal switch for < $20.00.

tod701 · 09-26-2012, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by james1300

So? Its an off-road bike. Make it legal. Get it inspected and ride it with a plate.

If it does not already have a street title, going through the RCW46.61.705 conversion process will likely cost more than what you paid for the bike.

james1300 · 09-26-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by tod701

If it does not already have a street title, going through the RCW46.61.705 conversion process will likely cost more than what you paid for the bike.

For turn signals, a battery, a brake switch, a couple of mirrors and, a horn? Oh and, a $75.00 inspection?

mcjunky · 09-26-2012, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by james1300

For turn signals, a battery, a brake switch, a couple of mirrors and, a horn? Oh and, a $75.00 inspection?

....I believe current orv tags are required and must be kept up, title adjustment and re issue fees.

james1300 · 09-26-2012, 04:21 PM

Maybe in some ORV parks. But, where we have been riding we got away with street legal plates.
As far as re-issue fees go they are not much.

fastfoodfred · 09-26-2012, 05:55 PM

Did you bishes notice that Kevin left the building?

Headrope · 09-26-2012, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by james1300

You can buy a rear brake pedal switch for < $20.00.

Yep. I've got to fab up the tail light though so that it can support a bulb with two filaments. Right now it's just a single 6v running light.


09-10-2012, 10:12 PM	#1
KevinD Joined: Mar 2009 From: Spokane Valley I Ride: Suzuki Boulevard C90, Suzuki DRZ400E, My Wife's Scooter	'78 Yamaha IT400? I've a lead on a 1978 Yamaha IT400, but know nearly nothing about it, other than it's a 2-stroke thumper "International Trials" that's supposed to be street legal. The owner says it hasn't run in about 5 years. Anyone know any more? Like anything I should look out for? KevinD __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by KevinD; 09-10-2012 at 10:14 PM..


09-11-2012, 02:35 AM	#2
cool1442 Licensed Joined: Jul 2009 From: tad north of CDA I Ride: KTM 950 Super Enduro...what kind of sick freak would ride a 100 HP dirt bike?	I used to sell Yamahas of that vintage. As they came out of the box, they were NOT street legal as they had only a mediocre trail headlight and tailight..that did not include a brake light. As a street bike, any IT woud need a lot of parts and work to get it there.. probably more what its worth. As a trail bike, for its time, it was a pretty good unit. atho it got outsold by YZs 10:1 because they were a little lighter and had more zip. If you want a two stoke street legal bike of that time. look for DT400. At 1976 Yamaha brought out XT AND TT 500 4strokes and they pretty much took over that segments sales. I hope this helps. Contact me if you need more info. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-11-2012, 02:51 AM	#3
04cbrf4i Licensed Joined: Feb 2011 From: clackamas I Ride: cbr600f4i	I had a 78 dt400 two stroke, street legal. Basiclly a detuned yz 400 with lights, I don't know if they made it400 till 79 or 80 may be wrong though. Super fun in town siezed on the freeway but easy to rebuild, man the cops would give me the stair but never pulled over. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-11-2012, 03:12 AM	#4
dragracer1951 Joined: Sep 2005 From: Bremerton I Ride: 05 KTM 625smc, 03 Are See fiddy one, 05 DRZ470SM, 95 FZR1040, 69 Combat Commando Roadster, 73 Commando Interstate, 67 BSA B44, 71 BSA B50	Had a 79 dt400 Fun bike Zero issues with it. ITs are pretty good big two strokes __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-11-2012, 08:17 AM	#5
KevinD Joined: Mar 2009 From: Spokane Valley I Ride: Suzuki Boulevard C90, Suzuki DRZ400E, My Wife's Scooter	The owner says it has an ID plate on it. I know WA has cracked down in recent years on licensed trail bikes, so once I get the VIN, I'll call the DMV & ask. KevinD __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-13-2012, 06:29 PM	#8
mjn Joined: Jul 2005 From: Tri-Cities Blog Entries: 1 I Ride: '05 Busa, '03 KLR 650, '81 Seca 550, '78 Hawk, '71 SL 350, '69 Z50A	I had one back in the 80's. Great bike. Lots of power... went like hell. But definitely not street legal. Headlight & tail light only, just an enduro. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-13-2012, 09:33 PM	#10
subeng Permit Joined: Jul 2011 From: Port Orchard, WA I Ride: DR400S on 17's & XS650 tracker	A friend of my father had a 465. There was no way in hell I was getting behind him on my YZ80 because that thing threw huge chunks of turf anytime he was on the throttle. Awesome machines for their time, there never seemed to be alot of 400's and up around, but the 175's and 200's were all over California back then. I'm not sure in this state how difficult it would be to get one licensed now days. I don't remember if they classified them as "off road use only" back then. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by subeng; 09-13-2012 at 09:35 PM..


09-24-2012, 10:08 AM	#11
Headrope Newbie Joined: Sep 2012 From: South of Seattle I Ride: 1978 IT400, '06 Raptor 700SE	I just purchased a '78 IT400 and got a license plate for it. What I found is that the 1978 IT400 is street legal according to the DMV, but needs additional stuff to be street ridden, according to the Washington State Patrol. The 1978 IT400 is a factory road/offroad bike according to a printout I got off the DMV's own computer BUT there is a Washington State RCW that requires motor vehicles to have a headlight, turn signals, brake light, mirrors and a horn to make them street legal (among other things). I'm putting blinkers and mirrors on it off a DT400, and fabbing up a brake light solution. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-24-2012, 10:56 AM	#12
PeteN95 Joined: Jan 2008 From: Muk, WA Blog Entries: 4 I Ride: fast, except on the road.	The DMV's list of street bikes is FAR from accurate! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-25-2012, 04:19 PM	#13
james1300 Track School Dazed Joined: Oct 2005 From: CENTRAL I Ride: When I can	So? Its an off-road bike. Make it legal. Get it inspected and ride it with a plate. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-26-2012, 04:21 PM	#18
james1300 Track School Dazed Joined: Oct 2005 From: CENTRAL I Ride: When I can	Maybe in some ORV parks. But, where we have been riding we got away with street legal plates. As far as re-issue fees go they are not much. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


09-26-2012, 05:55 PM	#19
fastfoodfred Moto2 Champion Joined: Mar 2006 From: spokane, wa I Ride: 2008 SXV4.5 + 1985 RZ350 + 2010 YZ250F +	Did you bishes notice that Kevin left the building? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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