ZXR400 pros, and what to look for when buying

[Reevo8]

I have finally grew some brains and realised a ZXR4 is my ideal motorbike! So give me some pros to owning this bike.

I know there are a fair few with these bikes on here, and I have already spoken to 2!

I just need a bike to take me to work, that will be cheap to insure. Cheap insurance is a main thing as I am 18 with a claim pending and no NCB and a medical condition.

I would like to think it will be capable on the track too, of course only beginners group but still.

So what I am asking is that you tell me about your bike, boasting is encouraged here!
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05 ZX10R, (**05 WKR)

[Jrod]

Good choice dude. Make sure you talk to me before you buy anything, there's alot of dogs out there.

[Rob W]

Great bikes, handle fantastic, go like shit off a stick and look the dogs. My insurance was pretty cheap, I'm 22 with 0NCB and a theft claim and mine came to £676 TPFT with eBike.

Unfortunately I've been having a LOT of problems with mine lately, but that was only since I got knocked off it. Before then it ran fine. The problem with mine is that it's drinking petrol at the moment, probably due to the race can on it. Mind you , when I first passed my test and I was taking it a bit easier and it had a standard can on, I was getting about 120 miles to a tank so there actually not that bad on fuel economy, until of course you start caning the tits off it (which you will, trust me ).

To sum up then, great bikes IMO, they'll keep up with a lot of more exotic tackle out there, you can pick them up fairly cheap, they're not too bad on insurance and fuel economy and there's a shitload of spares/tarty bits you can get for them.
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'90 TS50 > '04 Senda 125 > '91 ZXR400 > '90 CB-1 > '04 GSX-R1000 > '96 Bandit 600 > '89 ZXR750 H1 > '96 GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > '98 T595 Daytona > '03 Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > '16 GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[iCraig]

[Jrod]

I'm paying 550 tpft at 18 years old.

[Reevo8]

[Ste]

I'd say wait and decide what bike you actually want first. You've been in IRC most days with your heart set on a different bike, so I don't think you've really decided yet it's just the ZXR400 is todays bike.

Wait until you've got a valid license and then go and get some test rides of R6's, supermoto's, ZXR400's and all the other bikes you've decided at one time that you want.

Lack of power probably won't be a problem IMO as full power it'll be about twice as powerful as your 6RR was.

[Reevo8]

This actually will be the bike I will get now Ste. Granted I gotta find a good one but bike, insurance and gear altogether will cost less than the R6 I wanted.

That way I can save up in the meantime for worst case scenario. And we all know it is the time to buy!
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05 ZX10R, (**05 WKR)

[riichy]

zxr400 thry are ace...mine like reflex is eating petrol but i put a ART race can on and cain it every were so thats problay why...


ps make sure you get a red one
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[colin1]

i agree, get some test rides and try all sorts of things such as trailbikes aswell as sportsbikes

i notice on ebay that a lot of 400's are overpriced but there are still cheap ones around. I dont acutally think the pricey ones are any better, the sellers are just greedy.

sv650 is worth considering although to be honest i wasnt a fan when compared with 600's. an sv650 has similar power and insurance to a 400. it handles nicely and sounds nice at low revs.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[kb-zxr]

When you go and look at one you can generally tell if it has been looked after. In Bike Trader the first couple of pages give good buyers informatio.

ZXR specific they are good bikes, but have a couple of weak points.

1. Some ZXRs can have rattly cam chains, a loud hissing sound on the side of the bike. Easily sorted though but should be sorted before by previous owner if they are cluded up.

2. Clutches can be rattly, Kawasaki trait apparantly. My clutch sounds "rough as" when cold and ticking over. Pull in the clutch and it disapears-all is good. Sound generally stops when the bike is warm though.

Check for usual racing signs (lockwiring etc).

www.zxrworld.co.uk may be some use to you too.

Kurt

by the way, green ones are the fastest and gimme your RR if you getting a 400!

[Reevo8]

[Shaun]

ZXR400 CONS

Unreliable pieces of shit
Fall apart
Never runs properly for more than a week without breaking
REALLY unreliable!
Throws fairings at you at around 70mph
Kawasaki reliability...
Parts availability is good.... but only because everyones breaking their bike for spares because they can't afford to repair them.

and many many more

PROS

*tumbleweed blows by*

[quacker_boy]

[Shaun]

I've owned 2, never again!

[Jrod]

[iCraig]

[shellshock]

I absolutely adored mine Sammy, never had ANY problem at all with her, fast, petrol economy was spot on, even two up. Then again mine was pretty new when I bought her, but I still reckon they are one of the more reliable 400's around. And they aren't too short for you either.

Don't listen to Shaun, he just buys dogs and then expects them to go well on a stupidly small amount of time and effort spent on them

[Shaun]