Dual-Sport Motorcycles
1981Yamaha XT 400
24 fields on record
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 is a Japanese trail bike powered by a 399cc air-cooled four-stroke single making 31 hp and 31 Nm. It weighs 133 kg dry and has a 5-speed gearbox and an 11.4-litre tank.
- Capacity
- 399.0 ccm
- Engine
- Single, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Dry weight
- 133.0 kg
- Seat height
- Not on record
Know it? Add it → - Power
- 31.0 HP (22.0 kW) @ 7000 RPM
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Dual-sport motorcycle built for its class - off-road and technical terrain.
- Built for
- A dual-sport motorcycle from Yamaha, built around a 399cc engine - a real production model, but this profile is formula-generated from its class and spec sheet rather than individually reviewed.
- Not ideal for
- Not for highway touring or pillion comfort.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Reliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →12
out of 100Poor
The Yamaha XT 400 passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 68.0% of the time, 15.4 points below expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 12% of models.
This covers every year of the model.
68.0%Passed first time
18.0%Failed outright
14.0%Fixed during test
35,000Typical miles
100Tests
Against its rivals · ranks 5 of 5
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armstrong MT500 | 55 Average | 1,840 |
| 2 | Suzuki DR 200 Djebel | 51 Average | 718 |
| 3 | Yamaha XT250 | 39 Below average | 2,519 |
| 4 | Yamaha XT 500 | 34 Below average | 1,962 |
| 5 | Yamaha XT 400 | 12 Poor | 100 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 399.0 ccm
- Power
- 31.0 HP (22.0 kW) @ 7000 RPM
- Torque
- 31.0 Nm (3.2 kgf-m) @ 6000 RPM
- Engine type
- Single, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.2331 HP/kg (dry)
- Compression
- 8.8:1
- Cooling system
- Air
- Starting
- Kick
- Ignition
- CDI
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Chain
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1405 mm
- Overall length
- 2260 mm
- Overall width
- 860 mm
- Overall height
- 1180 mm
- Dry weight
- 133.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 11.40 litres
- Ground clearance
- 250 mm
- Seat height
- Not on record - add it
Chassis & suspension
- Front suspension
- Telescopic forks
- Rear suspension
- Mono-cross
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Drum
- Rear brakes
- Drum
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 399 cc | 399 cc | 399 cc | 399 cc | 399 cc |
| Dry weight | 133 kg | 133 kg | 133 kg | 133 kg | 133 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 11.4 L | 11.4 L | 11.4 L | 11.4 L | 11.4 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests | Too few tests |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Yamaha XT 400?
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 has a Capacity of 399.0 ccm (24.35 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Yamaha XT 400 have?
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 has a Power of 31.0 HP (22.0 kW) @ 7000 RPM.
How many gears does the Yamaha XT 400 have?
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 has a Gearbox of 5-speed.
What is the torque of the Yamaha XT 400?
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 has a Torque of 31.0 Nm (3.2 kgf-m or 22.9 ft.lbs) @ 6000 RPM.
How much does the Yamaha XT 400 weigh?
The 1981 Yamaha XT 400 has a Dry weight of 133.0 kg (293.2 pounds).
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