Sports 400 or naked 600?

[Stevie B]

I'm looking to do my test within the next 4-6 weeks and then sell my NSR and buy a bigger capacity older bike. Kind of had my heart set on a VFR until yesterday when a couple of fellow bikers said i might aswell just try and pick up a mechanically sound Bandit 6 which is just a bit scruffy round the edges, as they are faster and lower insurance grp at 10 instead of 12 for a VFR. I'm looking to spend about £1500 max as i'm only going to keep it until uni (sep).

So i ask...

- I will mostly be doing country roads and some dualies, which is the quicker bike for this type of riding overall?
- Which do people generally think would be the best option?

Btw sorry to post another "which one is best" topic but i really am stuck between them.


thanks in advance

Steve

[G]

What style of riding do you intend to adopt?

The 400 will probably help you progress more as a 'fast rider', while the 600 will be lass effort to ride, so will mean you have to 'work' less and so probably learn less as far as riding fast goes.

(Of course there's plenty of other aspects of road riding to learn, and the 600 will promote smoothness etc.)

[Method]

I have a GS500e...

Its a 94 model and only cost me £600 Its a low insurance group so it actually cost me less than my NSR to insure Rang up bennetts, told them about the change, got a £6.35p, or something, refund 3 days later

Its good for town riding and dualies, a realy relaxed, easy riding position... teaches you a lot about handling a bigger bike, the sports 400 is the bike that im looking to move onto after the GS... purely because it will teach me more about fast riding rather than the basic, long distance and slow stuff i have been learning on the GS. The 400 will more than likely end up being that bit faster aswell as being quicker off the mark

It depends what kind of riding you like, i find that somedays i cant be bothered with fast riding and just like to sit on the old goose and poodle around calmly, a nice fluent ride, other days i feel like spurting around the twisties and flying past at 90+mph, knee down round bends etc... which is what the GS isnt that good at lol
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[lap_time]

I think you should go for the 600 - if you're only keeping it for a few months and will be mostly commuting it will be more comfortable etc, and you can get your road savvy up before you really learn to ride and push it. You'll may find that you have to work the 400 too hard, and you can always get it at a later date. Try a few out for a bit and see what one you prefer!
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[EuropeanNC30R...]

If you have any track aspirations, want to get your knee down and generally thrash the bollocks off your bike get the 400. If you're more into general riding, pottering about and commuting go for the naked 6.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Tend to agree with Maurice. However the VFR will cost you a shed load more to fix when you drop it in a car park getting used to the extra weight, while Bandit spares are very cheap and easily available (and if you get really sick apparently the 1200 engine fits in quite easily ).

All the best

Keith
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[JonB]

This is not to say though that you can't thrash a naked 6. It's still a beefy engine.
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[EuropeanNC30R...]

From what Luke said when he got his Bandit after the nc30, they have a very flat top-end. 400's on the other hand have sod all midrange and a rewarding top-end rush.

Rocket Three's have beefy engines - doesn't mean you'd be inclined to redline it in every gear

[JonB]

[Stevie B]

K cheers for all the replies guys.
Guess because ive only had my mind set on a 400, now that someone has mentioned another option i ma slightly wary.
I want the bike for summer fun before uni so i guess that mostly means thrashing down country roads, but if the Bandit is going to keep up around the twisties almost aswell as the 400 than i quite like the idea of a change from the sports position, just to see what its like.

@ Jon B - mate do you find that the Bandit is still quick and composed down the country roads and could keep up with a 400 or do you genuinely not reccommend it as a back lane bike?

Cheers guys

Steve

[JonB]

Hmmm, country roads I expect a 400 would do better in some ways, but then again not in other ways.

A 600 will have more torque, enabling easier pulling away out of the Apex, but the Bandit is a heavy bike so flicking it over to different corners can be a bit difficult, but one thing that is really good about the Bandit is that it feels planted where-ever you go. No wobbles, just smooth cornering.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Kickstart]

[Stevie B]

Couple of nice examples ive found on MCN but bit too far away or no MOT etc., How do i attach a website adress?

Steve

[Dom_]

In some cases, a smaller 400 sportsbike will beat a 600 sportsbike around the country roads. Never mind a naked 600. Saying that, it is ALL down to the rider.
As other people have said, buying the 400 will involve you more with the riding, and going through the gears, where the 600 will let you get away with not dropping down a gear.

At the end of the day it's your choice, and thats my opinion.

[Bendy]

Consider that Jay trackdays the shit out of his naked Hornet pretty successfully.

You're gonna have fun on whatever you get, might be worth looking at insurance as an additional decision-making factor.

[Stevie B]

Thats a fair point bendy.
I think what it is is that part of me feels i would be missing out on all the fun if i didn't get a sports 400 even if this isn't the case!
Just done a quote on ebike's pay as you go service, Bandit = £70 per month, but i couldn't get quoted for a VFR! Could be a decider.

Anyone else with any input that could sway my decision?

Thanks

Steve

[bish777]

There are a huge wealth of accessories and mods for the bandit to make it handle better and go faster. A rejetting and fiddling can extract more power easily enough and the handing is easily improved with new fork springs.

From a purely practical point the bandit will be more comfy, cheaper to service and the engine has reasonable poke.

Its great to be able to accellerate without having to change down gears, and a milder tuned motor gives you that. Sporty 400s are all well and good but are not terribly practical. If your buying your bike to primarily be a toy then fine get the 400, but if you ride to work, go to the shops or travel any distance get the bandit.
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[Gazdaman]