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1990 ZZR400 First Bike?

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alan0259
Nova Slayer



Joined: 25 Aug 2010
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PostPosted: 10:52 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: 1990 ZZR400 First Bike? Reply with quote
Hi all,

Looking at a 1990 ZZR400 later today, its advertised for £700 with 12 months MOT. The only thing that sounds off putting is that the 'the starter solenoid sometimes clicks but has never let me down'.

Does this sound like something serious? He says the bike starts everytime but I'm worried i'll be buying a heap of junk lol.


Thanks,
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FreshAL
Sir Crashalot



Joined: 04 Jul 2005
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PostPosted: 11:20 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: Re: 1990 ZZR400 First Bike? Reply with quote
alan0259 wrote:
Hi all,

Looking at a 1990 ZZR400 later today, its advertised for £700 with 12 months MOT. The only thing that sounds off putting is that the 'the starter solenoid sometimes clicks but has never let me down'.

Does this sound like something serious? He says the bike starts everytime but I'm worried i'll be buying a heap of junk lol.


Thanks,


£700 isn't a complete rip-off for this time of year if it's in good condition with Tax & MOT (bikes are more expensive in summer)

Any reason you want a 400? Think is, that's a 20 year old bike and, being a sports 400 has probably been owned by about a million 17 year olds who have thrashed the bollocks off it. Parts are going to be difficult to find and expensive.

If you can live without the sports bike looks, £700 will get you a lot newer bike.

Parallel twin 500's
- CB500
- ER5
- GPZ500 (maybe)
- GS500

Naked 600's
- Bandit 600
- Diversion 600
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alan0259
Nova Slayer



Joined: 25 Aug 2010
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PostPosted: 11:39 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: Re: 1990 ZZR400 First Bike? Reply with quote
FreshAL wrote:
alan0259 wrote:
Hi all,

Looking at a 1990 ZZR400 later today, its advertised for £700 with 12 months MOT. The only thing that sounds off putting is that the 'the starter solenoid sometimes clicks but has never let me down'.

Does this sound like something serious? He says the bike starts everytime but I'm worried i'll be buying a heap of junk lol.


Thanks,


£700 isn't a complete rip-off for this time of year if it's in good condition with Tax & MOT (bikes are more expensive in summer)

Any reason you want a 400? Think is, that's a 20 year old bike and, being a sports 400 has probably been owned by about a million 17 year olds who have thrashed the bollocks off it. Parts are going to be difficult to find and expensive.

If you can live without the sports bike looks, £700 will get you a lot newer bike.

Parallel twin 500's
- CB500
- ER5
- GPZ500 (maybe)
- GS500

Naked 600's
- Bandit 600
- Diversion 600


Thanks for that.

I am also looking at a 1999 Hornet CB600F tonight, this is up for sale for £1200 with 6 months tax + 6 months MOT.

I just thought it looked nicer, was half the price and would be more ideal for a first bike...

I still like the look of the hornet a lot, didn't think about the previous owners, price of new parts etc.

Thanks agin
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FreshAL
Sir Crashalot



Joined: 04 Jul 2005
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PostPosted: 12:56 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
If your budget will stretch to £1200 the Hornet is a hundred times better.

Stonkingly good bikes, you won't regret it
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alan0259
Nova Slayer



Joined: 25 Aug 2010
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PostPosted: 13:07 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
FreshAL wrote:
If your budget will stretch to £1200 the Hornet is a hundred times better.

Stonkingly good bikes, you won't regret it


Thanks mate, just worried the 98bhp might be too quick for a first bike!

Anyhow, going to look at it tonight with a friend who will be insured to test ride/drive it home so hopefully will turn out good.

It's only done 8,000 miles too (with old MOT's) so should be in good condition.
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Slacker24seve...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 10 May 2010
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PostPosted: 21:37 - 27 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
alan0259 wrote:
FreshAL wrote:
If your budget will stretch to £1200 the Hornet is a hundred times better.

Stonkingly good bikes, you won't regret it


Thanks mate, just worried the 98bhp might be too quick for a first bike!

Anyhow, going to look at it tonight with a friend who will be insured to test ride/drive it home so hopefully will turn out good.

It's only done 8,000 miles too (with old MOT's) so should be in good condition.


Its not. All the power is over 7k, it is very manageable and the power just smoothly builds up through the rev range. It also has a very low centre of gravity so it is really very manageable.

I've started pushing mine a bit more now since I've had it and it is coping brilliantly, the good chassis and riding position flatter the awful rear shock. I now have a quarter inch of chicken strips left and I know I'll have none left before long, its that flattering, even to a hamfisted idiot like me.

I too looked at 400s along with a lot of other 600s and I'm now very glad I got a Hornet.

Just one slight thing though at 8k you'll be due a minor service and its an old bike so probably needs all of the fluids changing and a bloody good check over. Bear that in mind Wink
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c_dug
Super Spammer



Joined: 04 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 00:32 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Just to stick up for the ZZR's here, the 600 can be picked up for not a lot more than that 400 and is a brilliant bike, between 4k and 9k the power is perfectly manageable too, as long as you take it easy you would be fine.
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CaNsA
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Joined: 02 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: 09:51 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
if you can, try to go for a zxr400.

You will learn alot more about how to ride than on a zzr.
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c_dug
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Joined: 04 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 09:52 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Why will he?
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Skudd
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Joined: 01 Oct 2006
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PostPosted: 09:58 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 600 is a better bet. Many first time riders think that smaller is safer, but in many cases it is not. Just remember all the power is in your right hand.
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Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".
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CaNsA
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Joined: 02 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: 10:27 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
c_dug wrote:
Why will he?


Due to the riding position, the sharpness of the steering, the response of the throttle etc etc

Also the zxr400 is a very easy bike to correct your mistakes on, when you make them.

I know i learnt alot more about how to ride on my zxr that i did on any other bike.

Thats just my 2p though
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c_dug
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PostPosted: 10:34 - 28 Aug 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fair enough.

Personally would have said that the less extreme riding position and more linear power would have been an advantage when learning to ride and that then after a year or so moving on to a sharper bike you would have a good base to build upon.

That said I know a lot of people who go strait onto sports 400's so maybe I'm wrong Laughing

Oh well, each to there own.
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