Which 400cc sports bike for A2

[TPW97]

Y'alright, after finally coming to grips with the fact that I'm not legally getting a 250 2T on a A2 I've decided that I like the idea of a old 400 sports bike restricted so can anyone tell me which they think is the best and why and which are best to avoid and why
Thanks in advance
Tom
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As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[P.]

[-]

Have you actually bothered to check the power to weight ratio of a few yet? It might be a good start. Most will need restricting.

The reason your 250 2T idea went out the window, is because people had to point out that most were way over the allowed power to weight.

Here.... do some research..

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3552831
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Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.

[TPW97]

While on my break I did some calculations and worked out what they'd need restricting to to be able to comply with the power to weight limit they are

GSXR needs restricting to 44.79bhp
ZXR needs restricting to 42.91bhp
CBR needs restricting to 43.7bhp
FZR needs restricting to 42.91bhp
VFR needs restricting to 46.9bhp
RVF needs restricting to 44.25bhp

So they'll all have pretty similar power output when they're restricted to comply with the liscence
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[TPW97]

Hi paddy
I know there may be a fair few beat up ones but they're are just about the only real sports bike I can get on a a2 so I'm just going to have to find one in decent nick and if owt goes wrong ask my dad nicely to fix it if I provide the parts
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[chris-red]

Again it will be knackered, over priced, parts will be expensive and hard to find.

For the money it will cost to get a reasonable 25-30 year old 400 sports, you could buy a~5 year old Fazer/SV etc. that will be better in every way.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[TPW97]

Yes I know and I am well aware and appreciate what your saying but they're not what I want, I want a sports bike and it just so happens that the only ones to my knowledge I can legally have are old 400s
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[Beehive Bedlam]

License first.

[TPW97]

I will be doing it in the next month or so therefore I'm having a look at bikes now to keep an eye out for a good nick model that's why I simply asked which you guys all thought where the best so I had a better idea of which one to look at
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[andyscooter]

As they say above

Unless you spend a stupid amount on a garage queen you will be buying a shitter
It won't be reliabvle and will have been ragged

Best spend less now on a bike to keep you going for two years until you can do full A licence and then buy can't bike you want

Think of it this way
you can have a reliable bike now and sasaave 100 quid a month for two years

Or buy a bike that you want now and in two years not buy another bike as all you spare money has gone into keeping this one working and then selling it for pennies as it will still be a fucked 30_ year old bike
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[TPW97]

Well money's isn't really that much of an issue as I'm a well payed apprentice and I don't need the money for anything other than board and phone contract so I can afford most parts unless its major and all the labour is done my dad so I don't have to pay garage prices thank god but if you all think a 400 is a lost cause then can you suggest a a2 sports bike and not just a commuter with plastics please
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[Rogerborg]

At this point, there is no right answer. You'll have to buy the best possible example of any of them that you can find within your budget and travelling distance, and hope that you haven't grabbed a lemon.

You won't be picking and choosing, and shouldn't turn down a good local example of one in the hope that a better, cheaper example of another might show up.

I'm sorry that this isn't the answer that you want.
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[Monkeywrenche...]

I wouldn't be concerned with the exact restriction figure, what you'll be buying is a washer kit to go in the inlets, it will be a repackaged/labeled 33bhp kit from the good old days. so you will be comfortably under.

As said any of the 400's have th potential to be fine bikes, the lottery is finding a good one for sensible money.

monies no object you say?? well then....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-S-Honda-VFR400-NC30-400cc-Sports-Black-ONLY-2200-MILES/122070676251?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3Deec6b45c388f4d4f9e7933f7731827c9%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D261351953367

heres a fair shot at a good bike
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2001 Aprilia RSV Mille R -dead, 2016 XSR 700-gone, 2018 Dorsoduro 900

[Evil Hans]

[TPW97]

Oops my bad I meant paid and are the vfrs as good at handling as the rest of them seeing as though they have a single sided swingarm does that effect the handling??
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[SophR so good]

If money is no object walk into a KTM dealer and get an RC390. Horrid uncomfortable thing that'll hurt your wrists which is basically all a ~40bhp sports bike will ever do.

I have a commuter with plastics (R3) cos I like the look, not cos I'm looking for something that'll do 150mph and I can get my knee down on. If you want a sport bike to do 150mph you're gonna have to wait.
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You win again, gravity! - Zap Brannigan, BCF BBQ 2016

[TPW97]

Surely there will be a fair few good nick 400 jap sports bikes I thought they were all near enough bullet proof, especially the hondas I've heard people refer to the 90s as hondas golden years and I have considered a Rc390 but I'm not too keen on it, I might test ride one when I have done my test if I've not bought a bike by then
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[chris-red]

[Conzar]

Will be wank

Restricting a 4 cylinder 400 will be like strangling a midget while they try blowing up a party balloon
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[TPW97]

Why is that it'll be wank, people used to restrict them to 33bhp for the previous liscence but I'm only looking to restrict it by about 15bhp to mid 40s

And what about a newer model zxr 400 like this
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Kawasaki-ZXR-400-Ninja-Sports-Bike-CBR-RFV-/291748142603?hash=item43ed8b5e0b%3Ag%3AAZ4AAOSw14xWH8kx&_trkparms=pageci%253A7d5b9e47-e7b2-11e6-b2a7-74dbd1805386%257Cparentrq%253Af48ab2651590a2af65206762ffb49838%257Ciid%253A2
It's the same year as my nsr with slightly less miles than my nsr and mines fine there's nothing wrong with either suspension and That will probably have been ragged more than a 400
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[Conzar]

Because it will feel asthmatic, had restricted 600's at 33bhp and i was bored within the hour

For that money you can buy a full power DRZ SM and have twice the amount of fun
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[chris-red]

The little ZXR produces 62bhp, which can propel it to an almost unbelievable 140mph-plus top speed.

most robust of the Japanese 400's.

https://jokideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/403162_10150613644143465_129446698464_11144620_448774237_n.jpg
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[TPW97]

I'm not looking for a supermoto even though they are nice bikes, and it's a bit different restricting a 600 than a 400 it will only be around 15 bhp loss surely it would still be a nippy bike??
____________________
As long as I can catch fish and ride bikes I'll be happy 😁
Can't beat the smell of 2T smoke in a morning 🏍💨😍

[wr6133]

I love the little 400 Greys, but you are going to have to spend alot if you want a decent one (either on the bike, or on fixing a rough one). They have now become collectible nostalgia for people so prices on nice stuff have been pushed up.

CBR400 NC29 is probably the sensible choice. It hasn't become as stupidly overvalued as the VFR NC30, parts are still widely available, the Chinese make cheap fairings for when you drop it.

The CBR400 NC23 can be had cheaper, again parts are easy but the rear wheel is 18" so tyre choices are limited.

VFR 400 NC30, I wouldn't even consider. Good ones now go for silly money and even scruffy ones are being over valued. RVF again over priced.

Lack of Chinese fairing kits would put me off the FZR, ZXR and GSXR (though I do lust after a GK73a).

[Conzar]

If you think its going to be nippy, go ahead and prepare for boredom

Just to add ive rode a ZXR400, handling was alright, not very quick.
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan