What to look out for when buying a 400

[dransy]

Hi all im soon to buy a 400 .

Anyway i know what to look out for with 2t as ive been around them since i started biking , this will be my first 4t .

Bikes im looking at are , zxr400 , vfr400 , cbr 400 *etc*

What is there too look out for when buying a used one?

Thanks
Marc
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Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[kb-zxr]

FSH


And a loud race can, to upset the considerate people in that other thread

[extreme3d]

Most 400's get thrashed.... so look for the obvious signs of this first

worn fork seals.
notchy head bearings.
blue smoke in the exhaust gases.
Worn brake disks/pads.
Worn/Corroded brakes hoses.
Rear shock - corroded? Not been washed much then
Bounce up and down to test the suspension
Clean engine oil at the right level

Next check the points that apply to any full faired bike

Bent fairing mounts
Scuffed paint
Scuffed engine/clutch casings
Are all the fairing retaining bolts present

Check that the V5 & MOT cert are present. Spare key is nice too.

Finally check yourself - you sure you want a 'just passed her test female' kind of bike???????????

[dransy]

Lol shut up and get a torch
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Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Not many at all will have a FSH (very rare). 400s are now old and most were imported so the paperwork was never sent over.

Check it over well, all the usual things as per any older bike. The more history and the more work done to it the better. Service work I mean obvioulsy hehe.

Low mileage ones could be better, but imported ones are easy to clock, as they don't come into this country with any history. . . So be weary of this fact.

[extreme3d]

Seriously though, most 400's are getting on a bit now and most have been trashed aswell.

Also after seeing you riding your RS125 i think you will quickly get bored of a 400. not because of the power, as yes it will have loads more, but the style of riding required will not change - i.e. high rev's and endless gear changing to keep up with everybody.

Remember also that an older bike will require more work and money to keep it going.

[tatters]

Stay away from the NC24 if you decided to go for a VFR400 either go for a NC30 or if you,ve got the money you could get a RVF400 (dogs bollocks)
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[riichy]

ok dransy firstly forget the cbr and vfr..over priced and well lets face it not as good as the zxr A....sorry cbr//vfr lads nothing personal.

zxr buy on what you see the year is irrelevant as they are unchanged for years. ( my J reg is mint only has 15k on clock)

go for L not H ...L look better

dont be suprised if its rattaly at tick over, just pull clutch in and nose should go.


most will be imports if older, you can tell if speedo is in kPH.

check head gasket that normaly go around 30k, you can tell by white cream in oil and overheating.

check down pipes they should be nice and clean, if they are russty they will need changing befor long thats not cheap.

check all faring blots match and look for crakes in fairing.

have bike on tick over blip trotal if you hear a slaping sound cam chain needs tighting or needs a new one.

then all the normal stuff
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[extreme3d]

[riichy]

from japan imported this year....


mines mint so marks no rust on downpipes stock chain sprokets came with stock pipe clean as can be thats why i dont think its been clocked.....,
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[extreme3d]

Judging by that picture it looks like you may indeed have been lucky and got a good one. That is one nice bike

But you do see my point about most 400's always seeming to have low milages yet being one of the most ridden classes after passing the test. A time in which you practically live on the bike?!

[riichy]

[minesweeper]

Firstly vfrs are no way over priced, just over a grand will give you a good example with mot and service history. The vfr and cbr also survive being abused alot better then zxr's.

If you want a 400 pop over to www.400greybike.co.uk one of the most useful sites on the webb for any possible question you may have.

Before we get drawn into the never ending debate of honda 400's vs kawasaki 400's please realise that by the far the most important thing is finding a good example, then modding it

Matt
(Rvf owner, mint with 36000km on the clock)

[riichy]

Matt
(Rvf owner, mint with 36000km on the clock)[/quote]



what no pic
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[Jrod]

[minesweeper]

Would love to post a pic but im waiting for the marchesini 3 spoke forged magnesium racing wheels to get fitted, when its done you can see it

Also fitted from what i can remember

Carbon fibre 3 peice fairing/ single seat unit
Double bubble screen
Galfer braking wave front discs
Fireblade 2003 calipers
Braided hoses front and back
Tyga rcv rep front mudguard
Ohlins Fork internals
Resprung and raised rear end
Carbon firbe engine guards
Carbon fibre Frame guards
marchesni 3 spoke forged magnesium wheels (fitting tommorow)
Super sprok rear (down geared off front sprok)
Smokey Joe updated paintwork
Carbon fibre clock surround
bt090 tyres
mph speedo fitted
titanium gear shift rod
Black powdercoated swingarm and foot rests
Ethos Stainless steel system with road legal can and non road legal carbon cans
Colour matched mesh in all fairing gaps

Cant remember the rest...... pic taken before the latest work

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/mattsrvf1.jpg

[extreme3d]

[riichy]

thats a nice bike mate

i am a student so dont have money to burn on my zxr, so i keep it clean insted.
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[MarJay]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=30791
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[DynaMight]

Ask for all prev MOT certs, Make sure the milage runs inline. If they dont have any prev ones, equire more. Ask when the valve clearences were last done and check for proof. Sometimes if the milage is to low to be true....well maybe it isnt.

I think the 400's are built great and handle awesomely. 60BHP is ideal for the road, yes they need thrashing to keep up but it's very rewarding when you do.

If you turn up and it's in good condition with a older owner and lots of receipts then you are golden.
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My bikes are at https://www.bikepics.com/members/dynamight/

[craigs23]

I know someone who's thinking of selling their 400, they're one of those sad perfectionist types.....

[minesweeper]

That pic doesnt do the bike any justice at all, gotta get a new digital camera! As craig says we do know someone whos thinking of selling his
take alook at this example of a slightly clean rvf....

https://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/honda-rvf400-94-bikepics-414037.jpg

[McGee]

Nice bike
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[johnsilva]

[Rob W]

Well seeing as everyone else is doing it, here's my ZXR .

That picture was taken not long after I bought it in June, and one of the first thing's I did was change that rear tyre.
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900