ZXR400

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

Got my eyes on a ZXR400. I'm wondering what is the difference between the models with the twin headlight vs single headlight. Are they the same bike with a facelift? Basically could I fit double headlight fairings / lights to a single headlight model if i wanted to in the future?

And is there a better option in this category (grey import 400 sports)
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Zen Dog · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Karma :

Don't know about the differences between single and twin headlight versions, but I think ZXR400s have a reputation for blowing head gaskets. I'm sure others will have more detailed knowledge.

The VFR400s are clearly the best ones (NC30/NC35), based on V4/single sided swingarm/looks, but the reality is all the grey import 400s have been thrashed for more than a couple of decades now, so they're pretty much all tired/ruined. I'm sure there are nice ones going for crazy money, but I'd assume any one you buy for a reasonable amount will need a load of work, one way or another.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

BenR · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Karma :

Hi the early ones (twin headlights) are the H1 & H2s my first "big bike" was a grey import H2 all of those models were imports. Personally I'd go for a UK spec model as you don't have to faff around with de-restricting them plus the speedos are in mph. Good bikes handle exceptionally well & were supposed to be the fastest 400 you could get but any long distance rides are a no no the rear shocks were torture & like any of the 400s from the 90s they're getting on a bit.
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Current bikes: suzuki RG125UN wolf. Yamaha MT-07

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

BenR · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Karma :

Zen Dog · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

redeem ouzzer · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Karma :

The original ZXR400 (the H model) is quicker than the later bikes but a bit less refined and some spares are tricky. All of them eat head gaskets and valve collets though if thrashed, typical shit Kawasaki of the era.

Would I have any race rep 400 as an everyday bike? Probably not. Uncomfortable, bugger all power below 10k and I don't think I could handle seeing winter roads turn it into a mobile scrapyard.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/colove-excelle-400rr/
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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.

Campbell SOUP · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 27 Jun 2020 Karma :

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

[quote="MarJay"]

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

The 400cc sports bike weren't the easiest thing to keep on the road 20 years ago. Even back then, some parts were hard to get. They had been used and abused by teenagers. Whilst many of us did get them restricted, the restrictors got taken out after about a week.

These days, a good one is expensive and a fucked one will be expensive by the time it passes an MOT. It will be fairly shit to ride with the restrictors in, if you're planning on keeping them in.

Lots of far newer and better bikes exist that meet the A2 power allowance.

Bear in mind that the 400cc race rep bikes existed to fit a rule that imposed a capacity restriction, but not a power restriction. Currently we have a power restriction, but not a capacity restriction. I would rather ride a lazy 750 twin that naturally tops out at 47hp, than a revvy 400/4 with the fun bit chopped off.

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

Kawasaki Jimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Oct 2015 Karma :

Seeing the L model in green, white and blue (straight lines, not wavy) is what got me into bikes. Bloody gorgeous! I was on the dole and had read all the aircraft magazines that month so I bought (yes bought, I still wasn’t one of those WH Smith tossers who think it’s a library Laughing

) Superbike magazine. They had a ‘shoot-out’ between the Kawasaki, Suzuki RGV250, Honda NSR250 and Yamaha FZR400. I still lust after all of them although they say never meet your heroes, and I suspect (and have been told on here) that I’d be disappointed in the Kawasaki, at least. Still… Thinking

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

Kawasaki Jimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Oct 2015 Karma :

Actually although I still wanted a ZXR400 I went for a ZX6R because it was more practical and more capable. I’ve had Yamahas too.

struan80 · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Karma :

I have a CBR400, I like it a lot. It's light and fun at high revs. It is not in the best condition but not to bad at all considering how much I paid for it. It's a grey import. I love all the older 400's. VFR is the one to own I suppose but crazy prices.

Here's mine with its big brother.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/yy224/struan80/121530558_361240061977424_742808743745787573_n_(2).jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

After owning over a dozen I feel I can say something on these.

Don't.

They are all fucked now. Parts are getting harder by the day to get and when parts become available they get hoarded by men with twiglets in their beards.

They are small. Very small. How at 6'2" I rode them for so long I will never know.
Head gaskets on the H1, H2 and L1-L7 models will blow for fun. Then when you've sorted that the clutch basket will fall to bits.
Forks have a habit of pitting, AFAIK stanctions are now unobtaium in the OE market and aftermarket ones were always shite.

By now the rear shock will be more fucked and leak like Katie Prices well used flange. Again, these arent really rebuildable so it's expensive aftermarket time.
Then we get to the electrics, one day it will decide not to charge the battery. You will diagnose it as the reg/rec. You will replace it. Then the stator will implode.
After this is replaced the loom will burn out somewhere.
Rinse and repeat 20 x

15/20 years ago they made sense, now they make as much sense as Boris Johnson after a ketamine binge.
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TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
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struan80 · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Karma :

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

Knowing just how chunky fisty is I'm starting to feel sorry for every zxr400 ever made.....
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Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Who spends a grand on a bike that won't be worth any more afterward? You might as well buy a decent bike for the money and throw a grand into a skip.
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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.