Intro and looking for some pointers

[scanvenger]

I'm in Laporte IN hoping to get some riding in before the winter but I don't see that happening. I picked up what I am told are 1979 and 1981 xs400's. I'm wondering how to I.D. the two. one has been stripped and powder coated and about 1/2-3/4 reassembled and one is complete but needs restored but for $150 for both of them I'm not complaining. I've been looking around on here and seen some issues with the kick starters? What do I need to look for? I plan on keeping one of them. The one I want to keep has rear drum and front disc and the other has disc brakes front and rear, can these be simply swapped? Before I ask anything else I need to know how to tell the years apart. These are some quick pictures I took as soon as I got them wrestled out of my truck.

 

[Lou Ranger]

... I'm wondering how to I.D. the two...Before I ask anything else I need to know how to tell the years apart...

Welcome.
This might help with i.d.

http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4458
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If you follow this one, you can avoid creating additional maintenance and repairs:

http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10595
​

 

[Wolfe_11B]

Looks like a decent 2to1 exhaust on the naked bike. Hold onto that. Even if you don't want to use it, tons of folks would pay good money for it