ZXR400 Buying Advice

[littlewing]

I have seen a couple of ZXR's advertised, one in particular has caught my eye -

30000 miles
12 months MOT & Tax
New BT90s

Work done:

"Regulator/rectifier, Battery, Throttle cables, Oil and filter... twice (every 600ish miles), Valve clearances, Plugs, Chain, Coolant change, Brake fluid change, Rear bulbs and holders due to the old ones being corroded and not operating as they should

Coolant change, Two new BT090's, Oil and oil filter and new chain fitted, the rest of the work was done December/January time. I have done all this work myself as I am a qualified BMW motorbike technician."

He wants 1500... what do you reckon?

[hmmmnz]

you could have a 600 for that, but having owned a zxr400 i think they are great, reasonably fast, but have a reputation for blowing head gaskets, although this never happened to me,
if you have your heart set on a 400, then that sounds like a fine deal to me
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[littlewing]

im on a restricted licence so have to count that in as a factor too.

also the insurance on 600s is a bit to much for me- im 19.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Stuff like hornet's etc. are a lower group than sports 400's.
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[littlewing]

not a fan of the hornets, bandits, sv650s etcss

is 30000 miles a lot!?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

It's fairly high, but most 400's are getting those sort of miles now. So long as it's been looked after it *should* be ok.
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[littlewing]

the second one is this:

https://www.zxrworld.co.uk/zxr400oc/download/file.php?id=302&mode=view

31000miles
1991
full micron exhaust system
33bhp restrictor kit supplied
UK model & MOT/TAX to October

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[littlewing]

or theres a VFR 400 for 1100, and only 21 000 miles...

hmmph

[daz_d_biker]

to be honest I'd be more swayed towards a VFR or RVF rather than a ZXR for a restricted bike. As all of the power on a zxr, well mine anyway, is near the top of the rev rance, making it nearly impossible to use under restriction. Whereas my rvf handled restriction rather well.

Just to put a bargain into perspective, 1989 zxr400, 16,000 kilometers, mint condition, BRAND new professional spray job..... £1000. Just keep an eye out and a bargain will stand out a mile. Another one, my rvf400- £1500. When you are buying, always add the price of a restriction kit onto the asking price and take it as that. about £200.

Daz.
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[Fisty]

Ive owned a zxr400 for 5 years and worked on several!

Things to look out for are...
Clutches rattle, its a zxr 400 trait. Pull the clutch in it should stop rattling. If it dosent, walk away.

Camchains/tensioners wear out at 20000 mile intervals and are generally replaced when doing valve clearances.

Where the radiator joins the oil cooler rots, and oil coolers end up being held on with cable ties. If this is the case budget for a new rad and cooler.

Headgaskets on the early ones ( prior to 95 ) were weak, though i did 70,000 miles on one.

Overall they are a fantastic bike to start on, there are plenty of spares around. The L model is the more common one and was unchanged for ten years apart from the colours.

They do restrict well and are very easy to service ( especially compared to the V4 hondas).

Ive just sold mine to buy a ZX9R and as soon as I can I will be buying another 400!
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[olionel]

I paid 2k last april 2007 for mine... 1998.. and 4k miles on the clock... 1 lady owner...
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)