Anyone else hate the headlights on Honda sports 400s?

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Hey,

I'm looking into getting something for after I pass my A2 test (so I'll be on 33bhp for 2 years, I'm 18). I've narrowed it down to either a suzuki sv650s with a fairing kit, or some sports 400.

I've been looking at the Honda 400s, the CBR and VFR series (can't afford RVF) but I have to say the one thing that keeps getting to me is the headlights. They just look so stupid to me, like I'm expecting a mouth to open just below those two stupid looking eyes and say "whats that? tommy's stuck down a well? Brrrrroommm."

I'm not sure if I'm being a bit fussy. The bikes look fantastic from the side, but as soon as you can see the front the look is just ruined I think.

I like the Kawasaki zxr400s headlights a lot more, but I'm not sure on the rest of the bike (mechanically).

I did find this kit https://tyga-performance.com/site/product_info.php?cPath=73_443&products_id=1201
That makes the headlights look great on a Honda sports 400, but it's a little expensive. Anyone know if could just get the lights and cowling part of the fairing? Would that fit on ok? Or do I need the rest of it, all £400 of it.

Am I being weird?

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

It was all the rage around that time if you are buying a 19 year old bike a few of them looked like that

https://kuroyanagikazuo.hp.infoseek.co.jp/1988%20yamaha%20FZR1000.jpg

https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1986/1986_GSXR1100_450.jpg

Its quite a classic look I think anyway, copied off the RC30.
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mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

Personaly I think the NC30 is aesthetically perfect. Can't see what is so upsetting about the lights on any of the mentioned 400's? I prefer them to the modern bikes, like the modern GSXR's for example :/

You can't see them when you're riding by the way Thumbs Up

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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Yeah I know. I guess that's the problem - I'm just after something a little more modern looking. Any ideas?

mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

If you're after something that looks modern then 18 year old 400's aren't really worth looking at Confused

Triumph TT600's are reasonably cheap and modern, GSXR SRAD. I assume you haven't got that much cash if you're looking at SV's and sports 4's.
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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

I think you're right regarding 18 year old 400s not really being right for me.

To be honest, the nsr125 I had was completely perfect for me. I just have outgrown it a bit. If there was a 4 stroke 400cc version of it that would be my ideal bike if you see what I'm getting it.

I had a look at the tt600, looks quite nice. I'll have to do some digging to see what people think about it.

You're right, I've not got a huge budget. Maybe around £1500 max for the bike, depending on insurance (budgeting 500+ for insurance TP only, and I'll have just about 2 grand to play with.)

I'd even get an nsr125 again and derestrict it, but I plan to be making a few hundred mile trip to uni and back a good number of times a year, and I'm not sure how an 2 stroke 125 would hold up doing that.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

£1500 will just about buy a tatty ZX6RJ1 which has the foxeye headlamps which are sorta like the Tyga tat people put on the '30s.

Maybe you can look into that,
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McGee · O RLY? Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

J.K.R · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Karma :

C'mon, Which says 'I'm a muscle bike and will kill you if you dont love me'? Wink

https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/Godzuki/street%20stuff/HPIM1003.jpg

Twin headlights spell attitude. Erm, Ok, Maybe not on a 400 Razz

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st3v3 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

I like the look of them, but you've got to like a bike 99% to completely enjoy it. If he lights dont do it for you, dont buy it unless you can modify it.

Imo.

Ben. · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Karma :

that was the main reason i picked my sv over the 400.
Its so dam dated, i could live with a 20 year old engine but it was too ugly to justify the constant breaking down.
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damz · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Karma :

i think the rvf headlights are nice, still roundish but different

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

Thanks for the replies.

My problem is that I can't afford a new enough example of a 400 like an RVF. I don't mind the looks of those lights so much, though I'm not exactly thrilled by them.

What I am looking at now is the GSXR400, and even more so a relatively recent (say 2000 or so) example of a ZXR400. Both of them are much more attractive bikes in my eyes. The only thing I dont like about the ZXR4s is the green kwak colours on most of them. I know resprays could solve that. Anyone have any ideas on the costs of a full bike respray? Half_Lyfe what about that place you did up your sv in Croydon? Would that do full resprays?

Cheers

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

craigs23. That's not the sort of reply I was looking for when I posted this topic. Please don't post in my threads again unless you have something to actually add, especially not just to insult someone who has given me advice.

colin1, thanks a lot for that. I always think personal experience is one of the best things when it comes to reviewing a bike. What year is your tt600? It's interesting you picked it out of 20 bikes. What were most of the other ones? Sort of mid range 600s I'd guess?

J.K.R · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Karma :

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

I was referring to the old=unreliable issue that reguarly comes up. Unless you're buying a nail, for the most part, early 90s Jap bikes are pretty reliable.

On the headlight front, as you've already realised, old bikes generally look old and "unfashionable".

From my experience, I'd rather buy something newer than attempt to make an old bike "look" new with a Peugeot Speedfight esc bodykit.

Unless you like the look of that sort of thing that is.

phantomtek · Lil Joe Tek Joined: 20 May 2005 Karma :

St0rmer66 · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Karma :

I used to hate the headlights on them but after seeing a few in person, I've grown to appreciate the styling. They're slightly iconic in their own little way.
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

Whats wrong with the projector lamps on a 3TJ FZR?
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Fahd · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :