250/400's - talk to me...

[MC]

Checking insurance quotes it's clear my next bike's gonna have to be a 250 or 400 (rather than another 600).

So, any recommendations for (preferably) naked bikes with a decent amount of power (30-50bhp?)?

I'm keen on the XJR400 but I've yet to find a decent one for decent money. What are the alternatives, CB-1/CB400?

Also quite like the idea of a lightweight 250, was looking at the ZZR/GPX (whatever it's called) but it looks a bit 80's

Overall 250's seem a bit overpriced for what they're, are there any good value ones?

I look forward to any ideas...
https://lh3.ggpht.com/_Qogq3ys5M8M/S5kSSrCfznI/AAAAAAAADJY/zmjZjci_8Fw/tumblr_kso43cl8C31qzbqvao1_500_large.jpg
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[TallPaul_S]

CB400 - but then I'm biased good luck finding one too.
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00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[stevo as b4]

I think I might find a CB400SF or ZRX400 a reasonable substitute for your old MT03 Yamaha, though I do like the funky styling of the Yam a lot!

Do you really need to limit your bike search to 250's and 400cc bikes for insurance purposes? Many will say all the best Grey gems of 250's and 400's are getting rare/old/worn and more sought after/expensive for what they are and what they offer?

Have you looked into the 500-650cc commuter class of bikes for insurance purposes? Also if your not fussy or bothered about fashion then don't always dismiss oldish bigger bikes for low insurance costs too. Things like Suzuki RF900's have often been peanuts to insure for the size of the bike, as they are a little off the radar for many big bike buyers.

[Commuter_Tim]

Another "good luck finding one" here, that goes for any bike <600cc (at least in the North East)

During my shopping I did see a couple of CB400s about, but they were in a shit state.

My CB500 is cheaper to insure than my CG125 though (granted part of that could be due to full license now)
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[G]

As above; I wouldn't expect there to be a direct correlation between capacity and insurance. Quite likely and reasonable something like a commuter 500 will be cheaper on insurance than a 400. Or maybe something like a dullville.

[P.]

Bandit 1200 is cheaper than an SV650 for me, however a ninja 250 is double that of the sv....

Magic.

[Beehive Bedlam]

A 500CC is cheaper to insure for me with two years NCB than what my Varadero is.

I don't think you've looked hard enough.

[MC]

[Commuter_Tim]

...and that's why you are subject to the 'Fun Tax'
We don't like your type around here, this is a local town for local people.

For the record, I'm paying about £200 for the first year on my cb500 (Fully Comp.), that sway you?
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[MC]

Bandit's, fun!!!

I remember getting quoted £230 on one when I just passed.

One accident later and suddenly I'm Harold Shipman

EDIT: just checked and an ER5's the same as the XJR400 or GPX250
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Beehive Bedlam]

[MC]

Check my edit above. I'd rather have a 250/400 over a ER5 as I know it's the most boring bike ever made and I'll hate every second on it

CB500's all look nakard, might explore the GS500 as they appear to be extremely cheap (to buy).
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[wr6133]

I wouldn't get a ZZR250. I looked in to them (as a possible for the wife) and finding a good one can be hard. Then some parts seem to be hard to source at reasonable prices within the UK so it's a bike that if you have some unexpected fuck up you could be stuck waiting on some stupid little part. It's a telling sign that on a large ZZR forum the last post in the 250 section was over a year ago.,

CB400 Superfour. Awesome fun to ride. If finances allow a second bike next year there is a 75% chance it will be one. That or a CB1 which has a lovely screaming tone to it. Cosmetically I prefer the CB400 though. Parts appear pretty common for either. Prices vary a lot, a running project superfour that needs some cosmetic help can be had with a fair bit of change from a grand. A very recent vtec one can be a few times more.

I have a ZZR400 (well 2 if you count the one that's about 80% complete and in parts). I like it a lot, comfortable as hell, full sized (sized as the 600 just down-sleeved engine), stupidly cheap to insure and reasonable to run. They get overlooked so can be found cheap. Size and weight means they are not the fastest but I've yet to have anyone need to slow down for me to catch up and it will scream it's way to 130. The comfort of it is a happy trade for a little speed IMO, I can happily do long journeys on it where as I can't sit on a little NC30 for more than about 10 minutes without feeling like a victim of medieval torture.

XJR I've only looked in to briefly. Bike looks good but a few eBay searches for parts left me wondering if they could be a nightmare if stuff goes wrong. Also sellers seem to value them on the high side of what I would ever be willing to pay for a bike (3 groats and a millstone)

[MC]

[wr6133]

[TallPaul_S]

£96 a year TPFT on my CB400 super four

New rider too, no ncd, doing high miles.
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00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[chickenstrip]

[Commuter_Tim]

I keep staring into Dark Kitties eyes, the moment I look away I think I see a blink, FFS it's Stinkwheels Avatar all over again.
...What was this thread about again? oh yeah, Motorcycles.

On the topic of the GS500, I considered that as my boring commuter, most of the reviews I read implied 'Boring, shit riding position, funky elecs, odd weight distribution'

I figure there must be a reason all the bike schools lean towards CB and CBFs over GS and ER5s, but I'm a man of function over form.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[MC]

[TallPaul_S]

TPO is sometimes more than TPF&T, you tried quoting on that instead?

Mine was up for £1795, but it's a VTEC model, the only one I've ever seen for sale.

The non VTEC (pre 99) models seem to be cheaper, you could probably pick one up for £1000-1500, but a lot of them seem to have been abused/not treated well.
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00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

[MC]

VTEC eh? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_09a3uw1ls

Yeah F&T was cheaper last year, although that's with telling a porky and saying I have a garage, but it's a lot more now for some reason.
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[TallPaul_S]

[MC]

Makes even less sense with car insurance where Fully comp's almost always cheaper than third party F&T (for me at least).
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[stevo as b4]

Fun vs Reliable vs cheap?

I'm sure you know this, but I've never found a true answer to this equation yet?

I've just spent £400 on a new shock for my KMX125, £160 on a big carb, £88 on a Vforce reed valve, and I'm not done yet?

I passed my test on an ER5 and while as std they are nothing special and have some saggy suspension shortcomings, they are a lot of bike for very little, compared to smaller stuff. I'd do much better swapping my KMX for an ER5 to modify and play with, and id would also be like re-living my youth too!

Modding is fun, but then cheap goes out of the window and it defeats the point of getting an insurable bike.

I do still feel for you with regard to losing the MT03, as it was a very cool bike IMO!

Last thought, have you considered a classic at all? I've got a classic policy on my 1986 bike, and you often get good rates on many old bikes. It needn't be forever, but a year or two NBC on a middleweight early 80's classic could be reasonable?