Cost of a 400 at 17 - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions..

[Fnatic]

So following on from this thread..

https://bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=153226

It seems a 600 bike is well out of my league for the next couple of years. I've also been speaking to people on bigger bikes and they've all been saying I'd bin a 600 within the first year.

So I started looking into 250's and 400's.

Only things that seemed to pop up where the Ninja 250R, RGV250 and a VFR 400.

Ninja is too expensive and haven't seen any used ones about.

RGV 250 put me off with the 2 stroke.

So I started looking into VFR 400's. Got an insurance quote which came out at this:

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8748/vfrquoteszq7.jpg

Not bad at £500 for TPO. That's presuming I keep my 1 years NCB until November.

So I started looking at the actual bikes by doing a BCF search and saw Craig's VFR project. I have now fallen in love with the Tyga Street Kit and plan to get a VFR which is mechanically sound but cosmetically bad and put Tyga fairings on it.

Well that's my plan at the minute. I've seen VFR's go on eBay for about £700 with 20k miles so this definitely seems a much cheaper route for a first bike.

Also a saving of £500 on the insurance is definitely worth the 200cc drop.

It seems a 400 is more affordable and they direction I am swaying toward.

Opinions please and would you 33bhp restrict?

VFR Tyga Kit
https://tyga-performance.com/camel/frontright3.jpg

VFR Stock Fairings

https://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006%5C03%5C22%5Cbikepics-546839-full.jpg

[spike_Alike]

You can have a lot of fun on a 400, they're still quick bikes! Plus they're easier to ride (I assume, I've never ridden a 600) and cheaper. Just gotta be careful not to buy a shit heap since they are old now.

Mine isn't restricted. I'd hate it to only have 33bhp to be honest. Worth the risk if you ask me.

I wouldn't write the idea of a 600 off totally though, if you happen to find one you can afford it might be worth considering still. You'll only end up craving a bigger bike eventually anyway. I've already got my eyes set on a 750 and I've only had the ZXR400 7 months :S
____________________
Bandit 600

[igiyf]

thats lush- how much is the Tyga Street Kit?

[damz]

dont go for a tyga kit, or at least the front as the front looks like a speedfight!!!

do this instead

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/sanchezz_182/cbr.jpg


it was originally an NC29
____________________
Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[Fnatic]

I actually like the lights.

I know I'll only end up craving a 600 but a 400 should keep me happy until I can afford an SRAD.

I don't like the NC29 Tyga kit as much as the VFR being honest.

The kit is about £600 unpainted.

You can pick up a Chinese copy for about £500 or £650 painted.

[Graham88]

I had a VFR400 at 17. Had it restricted for 6 months then got fed up with it. Keep it standard though.

[Fnatic]

Well most people go 125 at 17 but if I am going to do my test why not get a bit more power.

[damz]

the pic i posted is of an nc29 with cbr RR fairings mounted on it, not tyga.
____________________
Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[Fnatic]

Ah right.

This is the Tyga NC29 kit:

https://tyga-performance.com/garyrivera/garyriverafrontright.jpg

[The Artist]

A few months ago I was looking at bikes to get when I am 17. Saw a nice vfr 400 from late 80's in mint condition go for £500 on fleabay so thought thats cheap and i will get one. Insurance check said £450 which is ok.

I went to a suzuki bike shop just to look round the other day and was speaking to the owner and they were saying go for a 600 rather than a 400 which has confused me because everything seems more expensive with a 600.

I think im just gonna scout ebay for the next couple of months and pick something up cheap, do it up ready for my 17th. It will deffo be a 400 or 600. vfr 400's seem like good bikes but never ridden one. Mates is 17, just got a 600 fazer, he will probs kill himself tho so might get that.

[Steve-D]

You can get a 600 quite easily, as long as you have self control.
400's are quick enough for a first big bike. But 600's are fine as well if you can control your right wrist. But I'd recomend getting the 6, as you WILL get bored, even if you are good in the corners, you will get left behind in the straights, which to me anyway in immensly frustrating.
____________________
www.southwestbikers.com
Tristan The said 'Dunno what my pace will be like, fastish slow puncture on the rear and if I go too fast I risk my 'keys' falling out'

[Fnatic]

Hmmm it's more the £1000 insurance on a 600.

[Steve-D]

To me its worth it, which is why when I turn 18 in january im quite happy to pay about that for some sort of litre twin. Then I will be in the same position as you, got to take it easy, but in the long term I won't have to upgrade in a years time so in the end it works out cheaper. For me anyway.
____________________
www.southwestbikers.com
Tristan The said 'Dunno what my pace will be like, fastish slow puncture on the rear and if I go too fast I risk my 'keys' falling out'

[chalky143]

i had a vfr400 at 17.....n it was awsome , the best bike ive ever owned and proberbly will own, there so much fun! and not that much slower than a 600 if u get a good start lol. they handle like a dream. if u get a mint one they wont drop in price, proberbly go up. I bought mine for £1400 and i was origonal and mint with 10000 miles on it....i advise them for anyone.

leon
____________________
Current bike :: sv650 minitwin race bike
Previous bikes::cbr600 steelie race bike, 1989 Honda vfr750f, 2013 Honda fireblade, 2013 Ducati multistrata 1200s, 2012 Triumph street triple R, 1999 yamaha r6, vfr 800, ducati 600ss, vfr 400x2, ntv 650, bandit 600, cagiva mito 125, aprilia rs 50, honda c90x2, honda hornet 600x2, cbr 600, aprilia rx50, suzuki katana
My bike pics: https://www.bikepics.com/members/chalky143/

[reu]

Yeah the 400's are nice i like the first body kit looks sweet
____________________
125cc Pitbike <sold> Aprilla Mx50 <current>

[Matthie]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=154623




VFR soon Fnatic
____________________
***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[Shaun]

[rac3r]

Try different 600's not just the sports. For me i got quoted around £500 for an 04 SV650 TPFT with no NCB and thats the same as what i'm paying now on my RS because i'm still on a CBT.
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Matthie]

[Shaun]

Thanks!

Not quite what I was looking for though, their prices are expensive and their headlight rubbish. I'll have to post on 400gb and find out how to put actual 600RR fairings onto it.

[damz]

it isnt one of the body kits posted above it uses 600 fairings ( it uses actual 600 fairings iirc, also headlights are different)

it was sanchezz_182 who did it to the bike, pm him and he should be able to tell you how he did it.
____________________
Current Bikes RVF400 - 94
Cars: RX7 FD, Eunos Roadster
Former Bikes: FZR 250R 89, ZX7R 98

[moog]

£500 third party only is, for the level of cover you get, horrendously expensive imo.

I'd personally go for something smaller and cheaper for a year then go on to a sports bike...something like a Suzuki Goose 350.

Admittedly they'll only just touch 110 mph but ask yourself honestly...will you be riding everywhere flat out?

If the answers yes I shall send some flowers.
____________________
"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[Pie-Roe]

When I got my first bike, bandit 600, it was 320 tpft.

I bought a zxr750 yesterday, I'm 18 on friday. I'm going to be paying £600 tpft... so I think you just need to play off different models and styles vs insurance...
____________________
Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[sanchezz_182]

Tyga/k conversion = pooh imo

If anyone wants info drop me a pm. wasnt to hard to do if your handy with a welder and grinder.

https://www.400greybike.cc/newforum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=2351

As for a 400 or 600, you pay your money you take your choice, for the budget i had i couldnt find a better bike (Awaits onslaught of vfr boys ) the only bike i could think of that could come close was a srad.
____________________
no sig, thats gay!!

[Robby]

Quick injection of practicality while you all get stiff over pictures of mutton dressed as lamb.

A VFR400 is going to be a 20 year old bike, so if you do get one set aside a chunk of cash to sort out the mechanicals before you start making it look slightly different for lots of cash.

At £700 its going to be tired - expect to have to get a new shock, sort the fork seals, service it properly (spark plugs are a bitch), give the electrics a good going over, and replace assorted bearings. Likely tyres and C&S as well.

The chassis stuff will be a bitch, which is why it doesn't get done, and you would be surprised what passes an MOT (my old GPX750 had 5mm of play on the rear shock linkage connection. Used to spin up a lot). From memory the steering stem bearings are ok on the NC30, but the wheel bearings go in flush. Don't know about swingarm bearings.

If you can't do this work yourself without causing more damage to the bike, don't go spending too much on a dog.