Yamaha SR400 vs Honda CB400ss

[Zinminhla14]

Hi Guys, I'm a little bit confused about choosing a motorcycle. I hope you guys can help me!

I would like to buy a motorcycle for my daily commute and sometime as a long touring trip. But I'm a short littel asian guy with 5'4" height and 140lb weight. So as far as I searched I found these two bikes will best match with me. Yamaha SR400 and Honda CB400ss. I forget to mention that i love classic bikes.

So friends, the problem is these two bike are almost the same as their looks and their specifications. I know SR is kick start only. But kick start or E start that doesn't matter for me. All i wanted to know is.....
1.Which bike is faster?
2.What are their Top Speed?
3.Which bike is more reliable?
4.Which bike is good for prolong use?
5.What are their pros and cons?
6.Finally which one is better?

Please help me by sharing your experience and ideas. Thanks you all my friends.

[Nobby the Bastard]

I'm sure I've read this somewhere else.

I've taken the liberty of copying your previous reply to this one and deleting the extra threads. -stinkwheel

[MarJay]

Hello,

I am 5"6' and also weigh 140lbs. I wouldn't choose either of these.

Unless you're restricted somehow by licensing in the country you live in, there are better options. Both of these bikes are single cylinder which means they will have quite noticeable vibration when riding, which can be tiring after a long time. Neither will be particularly good for long trips.

Maybe for a short commute they'd be OK, but longer trips? no.

To be honest with our height and weight we can pretty much ride anything short of an adventure or offroad style bike.

To be fair, they are both Japanese, so they will both be pretty reliable, they will both have a roughly equal performance, both make similar power. Out of the two I'd go Honda, and that's mainly because of the electric start, and that it's a Honda so it will be solid and well built.

So from the way you speak I'd guess you're not from the UK? Where are you from, and what are the licensing rules like there? Is there a reason why you want a low power 400? How much experience with bikes do you have? Do you want a fast bike? Do you want a bike that handles nicely? Are you going to use it in all weathers? What is the prevailing weather like where you are?

It's hard to advise without knowing those things.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[pepperami]

You want me to share ideas?

Hmmm? How about NOT posting the same thing in every section
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Zinminhla14]

[Zinminhla14]

[MarJay]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[pepperami]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Robby]

From a quick Google is suggests the CB400SS is far-east single cylinder model. Over here at CB400 would usually mean a 4 cylinder model, although there have been CB400 twins. Honda have re-used the name a lot for the last 60 years.

So that means you're comparing two single cylinder, 400cc bikes which both make about 30 horsepower and have classical styling.

On paper there isn't much between them, so go with whichever one is in better condition or you prefer - because of looks, comfort, general happy feeling.

My personal preference would be for the Yamaha. It had quite a long production run which means parts should be easier/cheaper to get hold of. The SR range is known for being fairly tough, and you have the usual far-east mix of roads that can be either really good, or really bad. It's light, which helps.

It also helps if the bike is popular in your country. It means you have more chance of someone being able to fix it if you break down or crash.

If you get one and have any mechanical questions, post them up in the workshop forum. A few of us on here are oddly fond of basic single cylinder bikes and will know how to fix just about anything.

[Zinminhla14]