chopping down from 600 to a 400

[swaffs]

Ok, after much deliberation, I think my mind is almost made up.

As much as I love my CBR600 FY. I cannot afford to do the trackdays etc. that I want to, and also I'm not sure I have the ability to ride it as quick as it can go, due to lack of experience and skill etc.

Therefore I am thinking of chopping down to a 400 for several reasons.

Bike will be cheaper and it will release some £££ to pay for trackdays.

Bike is likely to handle far better than my CBR.

Bike is smaller so would be better for my daily commute through london (I cannot really get my feet down on the CBR, well one at a time I can.)

Plus I feel I will probably improve my riding ability by having to use all the revs etc. so when I go back to a 600 in a year or so, I'll be a faster rider.

as I see it I have a few bikes to choose from:

ZXR400
VFR400
RVF400
CBR400
GSXR400

I am expecting to have a budget of about £1500 to spend on the bike.

I have little or no experience of any of these bikes, although did get my knee down on Waves CBR 400 before doing it on my own CBR !!

(In fact in mty 18 months of bike use I've only ever ridden an ER5 and my CBR600)


My initial preference is in ZXR400 both for performance and looks, followed by VFR as it seems a good value choice.

Anyone able to provide any thoughts / experiences on this ?

I will primarily be using the bike for daily 10 mile commute through central london, trackdays, and the occasional weekend rideout.

I still have to get over the whole psycological decision (going down rather than up in bike choice) but I think it will be for the better in the long run.

Thanks for reading and I'll appreciate any comments.

Swaffs
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Swaffs Photography |
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[Wave2k]

i would say, go for it
your bike isnt your only form on transport and if u get near enough £3k for the CBR6, ull have 1.5k to play with for trackdays and whatever, and you can trash the nuts of them.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[mchaggis]

Are you sure a 400 will be cheaper? They seem overpriced for what they are. I would have thought that a CBR600F fits the commuting and weekend blasting better than a balls-out small sportsbike like the ZXR.
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[The Tot]

Just make sure that it doesn't look pretty alluring to thieves in London. Having said that, i very rarely see any 400's in central london. Most of them being CB1's and the like.

400's will be significantly lighter and easier to chuck about. I've been searching around for 400's recently and found that on autotrader, gullarms tend to be much cheaper than ZXR's. I think Ric and Claude need to let me have a go on their bikes so that an objective conclusion can be made, i haven't ridden any of them.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[swaffs]

I defo need to ride some to appreciate the difference.
(any offers for a ride out considered)

what is gullarm? I've heard of it but don't know what it is?

Also they does seem to be alot out there fetching some serious money but I'm thinking a UK spec L3 ZXR 1993 could be avaiable for about £1300.
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[swaffs]

[Bendy]

[numark1]

[Ric]

i herd the new gixxer thou was same weight as a vfr4 so not really too light

titz im sure u can have a go on one of my 400's, i can be arranged

ive ridden clauds cbr4 and didnt like it, mainly cos his clutch was odd, seemed ok tho

[numark1]

Gullarm

https://www.cr-x.org/cbr250/bike/cbr4.jpg

[Wave2k]

CBR400-
Tri-arm- this is my bike its the older style cbr400s next to no difference really NC23

Gullarm-the newer one, probably easier to get parts for NC29

well uve been on the deathrace, for a bag of spanners, not that bad eh ?
apart from the death footpeg
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2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Ric]

deathrace due to lack of fairings?

[swaffs]

[Wave2k]

it got the name cos the forks used to have no oil and practicly all of the oil was on the brake disks and calipers
when u pulled the brake nothing would happen untill the excess oil burnt off
and it used to give violent tankslappers
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[lap_time]

You'll get over the psychological issues pretty quick!

Just because you're down-sizing your bike, it doesn't mean that it's any less of a bike!

Look at the guys on the track - the top guy in rookie 400 is doing Cadwell (with it's 2 long straights!) faster than some of the guys in the Supersport 600s. My other half on his 400 beats many guys on 600s on the road (I couldn't, because I'm a pussy!).

The physics of it all (smaller/lighter) means that you can corner faster than big bikes (although they'll toast you on the straights!). And it's true - having to work the bike harder will make you a better rider when you get back on a bigger bike. When I borrowed a 7r for two weeks I could believe how little effort went into riding it - it picked in any gear - I hardly had to change gear on my 10 mile trip to work! With the 4 you've got to make it scream!

Personally, I'd go for the zxr (I'm biased though!) - I just think that they're a bit more reliable and as you said, the styling is a little better.
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One post Gordons - just here to sell.

[Wave2k]

if u want reliabilty dont get a kawasaki
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[ProXimaCore]

[lap_time]

[Wave2k]

ive seen too many kawasakis fuck up to buy one
just buy a well looked after bike and it will be fine
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[swaffs]

Thanks for all the responses.

what about the issue of getting imported vs UK spec ZXR 400?
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[lap_time]

Not entirely sure about the differences between UK and import - but I can dig out some sites with the info on later.

All I will say is that whatever one you get, get one with carb heaters! They suffer very badly from carb icing in the winter, and unless you have carb heaters or Pro FST in your tank you may suffer if you're commuting.

Will find those links for you shortly...
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One post Gordons - just here to sell.

[Kickstart]

[swaffs]

my research has found some interesting articles on greybike.

https://www.400greybike.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30615
https://www.400greybike.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30614

Seems very much a toss up between an VFR and ZXR, with very little between them.

https://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/ZXRvsVFR.jpg
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Swaffs Photography |
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"Look not back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around you in awareness."

[Suzuki]

Get the ZXR!!!

https://www.pascoe.cx/bike.jpg
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