Is 400cc enough?

[mr motorbiker]

I did have my plans set on getting a zxr400, after reading a few reviews saying they were heavy with only 60hp and shit in a straight line it turned me off.

i know a 600 would be more than enough but with £1500 insurance which wont even be valid after the restrictors fall out, thats not really an option.

is a 400 a big enough step up from a rs125 (33bhp).
basically is it worth it?

thanks for any advice.

[mrchips]

Yep, go with the 400. 60bhp is double the power of your 125 and they corner like nothing else. So what if you can't go 170 in a straight line you will be king of the twisties.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[Dom]

In a word... yes.

And the rs125 is realistically 25 odd bhp.

If you're not willing to take out the restrictors, then it doesn't matter whether you buy a 600 or 400 as the power output will be the same (33hp). In fact if you're definitely keeping it restricted the 400 might should be quicker in theory, if it's a lighter bike.

[mr.z]

Very much enough, it will loose you your licence VERY quickly with not much effort, will tour ok (but not really the most comfortable bike ever) nicer to ride than a 125 because they are heavyer = more stable = less frightening in high winds/high speed e.t.c.

Reviews are to be taken with a pinch of salt, when they heavy and slow they are compareing this bike to the terrorfying missiles they are used to testing, to a new biker it will scare the liveing shat out of them (ive ridden one and it was pretty damn scarey ive been rideing for 3 years or so)

The straight line speed only applys on trackdays, which it will do no problem, but with 6 points to loose your licence, 2 speeding tickets and your fooked, is it really worth it?

Really it comes down to what you want out of the bike, touring? commuteing? relyability? hooliganism? trackdays? e.t.c.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[mr motorbiker]

cheers for the replies.

i will use the bike for a bit of fun mainly, the odd track day.

can 600 tires fit onto a 400, along with race cans, just to make it feel a step nearer to a true superbike.

[mrchips]

You can get race cans but as for tyres, you can get good sticky tyres for a 400 anyway.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[killa]

Sorry for being lazy but has anyone got a pic of the Kwak 400?
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Sparky]

a 400 is def enough, and the zxr400 is one of the best rated in the 400cc class.
a mate of mine has an R6 and he wrode mine and he loved it he even went as far to say he was smiling under his lid, and the fact they are quite large in size compared to other 400's is a good thing too. oh and the handling is brilliant!

I doubt very much that 600 tyres will fit on a 400 (saying that ive never tried), but they do good race tyres for 400's anyway.

There are loads of different brands of race cans available for the zxr400 ive had ART and x2 Scorpion for mine both sounded great! ART was better!!, however it was oval and sat wrong on the bike, both will be for sale soon on ebay once i get my ass into gear, im a lazy bugger!
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Previous zxr400 - Current ZXR636 late'03
*Who ever said nothing is impossible never tried slamming a revolving door!*

[Krs]

I'd get a 600

[Sparky]

[G]

Fitting tyres from a 600 will slow the steering down and give you less grip.

They will be wider and will need more power to get them up to tempreture.


When you say 'shit in a straight line', we're still talking enogh power to see 99% of cars off up to 60 or more.


Personally I don't like the way the power is in a relatively narrow power band on a 400, when used for 'everyday' stuff, good for learning to ride faster and 'fun use' though.

For bike pics: www.bikepics.com .

[mr motorbiker]

cheers for everything.

zxr400 here we come!!!

can you get rid of the pipes from the handlebars to the tank?

[G]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I've heard it suggested somewhere that while they're not 'proper' ram-air they do help to feed cool air into the airbox.

[theftvictim]

I'd still have my RVF had it not been nicked - so yeah 400 is fine for most people and it's a great step up from a rs...saying that there's a hell of a difference between that and a supersports 600 though, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

[Sparky]

[G]

I wasn't aware they lead straight to the airbox; some bikes have them where they don't go anywhere.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure they don't pressurise the airbox, so would have neglibile effect.

Personally I would leave them whatever anyway .

[Sparks!]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

A popular NC30 mod is to drill holes in/remove the blanking plate in front of the airbox intake, in order to for the airbox to receive cool air coming from the front of the bike rather than hot stagnant air lingering around the bottom of the tank.

If the same idea is standard on zxr's I wouldn't be tempted to remove them

[Sparky]

I stand corrected, ive learnt something there!!

cheers Yams and sorry to G for doubting ya

my mistake
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Previous zxr400 - Current ZXR636 late'03
*Who ever said nothing is impossible never tried slamming a revolving door!*

[v4forlife]

bit late here, but get an nc 30. ive given reasonable argument on the greatness of them, so check my other posts for comparisons with the likes of jam dohnuts.
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www.wilcollinsphoto.co.uk

[M1ke]

[Sparks!]

Mike, ok I get you now.. so they do /something/ but not really all that much IMO. But you are right then that it does direct some air in there

How you getting on with your track bike anyway? ZXr's are great bikes, I still miss mine
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[M1ke]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

On the subject... 400cc was more than capable to take me to Italy and back last summer

https://www.walesbikers.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/MauPics/france/normal_Jun13_38.jpg