Yet another bike thread, 400s and size

[pwntifex]

Just how compact are the 400cc sportsbikes?
I'm tempted. Going down to have a look at a few local ones on Thursday, obviously wont know for sure until then but do you think at 5'10" and a bit I will find them a bit too small?

I have a sneaking suspicion that I may well kill myself on a big 6, hence the reconsider.
Incidentally, the three bikes are a low-mileage (under 10k) 1990 FZR & 90 GSXR plus an NC24 with 35k on the clock. They're all for sale under 1k (private). Are they likely to be sheds? Any problems to look out for besides the obvious?

Sorry for all the questions/what bike threads. As you can tell I am rather useless when it comes to actually buying. Owe you a pint?
____________________
the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[G]

Best bet is to get a test ride. Dusty and I are just taller than you and he was happy to ride a NC21 some distance, while I found it uncomfortable.
Saying that, I was moderately happy on an RS250.

[beatnck]

im fine on my cb1 and im a shade under 6'. mind you, the cb1 has a more upright riding position than than the vfr's/cbr's etc
____________________
no silly comment here!!

[Cillit-BANG]

Consider the NC30 over the NC24 as you can pick up a nice enough example for under £1k and as 400cc sportsbikes go, they are an absolute peach.

I'm not biased (well ok, I have just bought a 2nd) but the parts are 10 a penny too.

At the end of the day any race-rep sportsbike will be harsh to ride, but at 6' I don't have any problems with mine though.

[cokker]

Im 6' and found the NC30 just a tiny bit small, mind you a couple of years ago i sat on a CBR600R at the NEC and it felt even smaller
____________________
No longer have a bike due to a DVLA/Court royal f**k up.

[ram_doom]

I'm 6ft ish, and found the zxr400 surprisingly comfortable, besides its harshness, and the fact that the suspension appears to be sprung with a substance harder than diamond.

At your height the bars should be close enough to your body, so as not to put too much weight on the wrists. The biggest problem for you will be the short distance between the low seat and the relatively high footpegs (goes for most 400's from what I've seen).
____________________
TL1000s, KDX200

[Al]

I think it depends on how flexible you are as much as your height.

I'm only 5'5 but after 2 hours on the FZR my legs really ache, after my first stint of 2 hours I can't ride for more then an hour after that without a break. (annoying for anybody I go on a ride with )

Others who are much taller then me don't seem to have any problems, so its probably just my dodgy legs

As for the 400's themselves they will have probably all been thrashed and crashed by countless young owners, but thats kind of the whole point of a little high reving sportsbike (the thrashing not the crashing ) So just do the normal checks and go for the one that seems the most genuine.
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I'm 5'11 and find my nc30 fine. Don't get an nc24, that would be a mistake unless it's swap-for-a-goldfish cheap, and even then don't throw in the 'gone fishing' novelty ornament.

[Jenks]

i have an nc24 and i have found no problems with it whatsoever.
fantastic bike. im just over 6ft, and i find it surprisingly comfortable too!
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I'm got a GSXR400 and I'm 6ft that's fine for me!
____________________
My Flickr

[skida]

I have ridden my partner's son's RVF400 and found it quite comfortable and everything seemed to be in the right place. It also seemed incredibly light compared to the bike I had at the time, a Triumph Sprint ST. I am about 5ft 11ins.

[MarJay]

[Shaz]

I'm 5'6 and back in the days when i had a ZXR400 (i was still that tall!) I had the same problem with dodgy knees. It was fine for the first 2-3 hours then only my right knee started hurting and i needed a break every hour or sometimes sooner.

Best bet is to try them but I guess you can't really go on a 3 hour test ride to find out if that'll affect you too!

Good luck

Sharaz
____________________
I don't hate Rocky Balboa...I PITY the fool...And I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!

[skida]

[Stiffler]

I'm 6 foot with an NC30. It's actually suprisingly comfy although a bit too compact for long stints. I can ride it comfortably for about 2 hours, but then I start to get a "angry legs" and a break is required. However, I ride a road Bicycle which is far more agressively positioned and so I'm used to being uncomfortable...

If you're green I hope you're taking someone who knows what they're doing with you when you look at the bikes. They'll help to identify any potential issues and may also hold back a bit of the shiny bike syndrome! My VFR400 was in a very sorry state beneath the shiny fairing when I bought it and I compleltely failed to spot it.

I think your decision to look for a 400 over a 600 is ok but don't forget they're still pretty quick and more than capable of getting you into hairy situations... Good luck with the search

Tim
____________________
Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[skida]

Thes days bikes can be thrashed and still give good life as long as the servicing is good.

The biggest problem with buying a 400 is that a lot have been owned by a new/young biker on a tight budget so the servicing may not have been very regular.

The best 400s will have been owned by more mature shortlegged people and dare I say it: Laydeez.

[akaDAVE]

I'm 5ft 11 and 11 stone and mr ZXR400 feels tailor made....but then I've only every tried an ER5 learner bike previously.