400cc sports bikes

[Joeb46]

Evening everyone
Got my test booked for early next month, so hopefully not soon after i should be getting a new bike.
I am after a 400 sports style bike, as far as im aware the options are:
honda vfr
honda rvf
kawasaki zxr
yamaha fzr
suzuki gsxr
and the honda cbr
just wondering if anyone has owned one of these bikes and what the good/bad points of each one are.
Thanks
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Current- Drz400sm- For sale
Kawasaki er-5 race bike# 106

[binge]

Ive owned an NC29 (The better of the CBR 400s). And a VFR400 (NC30).


Personal preference, I preferred the CBR400 to the VFR400. I felt the VFR was highly over rated. But thats just me.

My NC29 was slightly upgraded. Suspension and fairings. Different size tyres from stock. And some sprocket changes. It handled like it was on Rails. And really was a fun bike to ride.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/binge/08062008564.jpg


Not trying to put you off the ZXR's. But I had 3 mates, All had ZXR400s. All 3 of them had Head gasket failure. One of them failed twice. On two different engines.

I had a mate with an RVF400. That too was a lovely looking bike. But like the VFR400, An over rated bike in my opinion. 400cc is too small to justify a V4 engine in my opinion. Lacked alot of torque.


I also met a lad with a GSXR400. The newest shape. Not sure on the year. I think it was an M Reg.

It was a BLOODY quick bike. My NC29 with smaller front sprocket couldnt catch it out of the corners. Both accelerating hard in 2nd gear, He was just pulling away from me. Very precise little machine it was.

Although I've had no first hand experience, And it appears parts are harder to come by with the Gixxer 400.


The Yammy FZR400 has never appealed to me, Full stop. I've only ever seen one, And it had R1 fairings BODGED onto it.




Ben

[Joeb46]

thanks very much ben, a mate of mine has the zxr and he has done quite alot of work to it, including the head gasket.
i wanted to stay away from the vfr and rvf as i wouldnt have a clue where to start working on such a complecated engine.
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Current- Drz400sm- For sale
Kawasaki er-5 race bike# 106

[MarJay]

Yes I've owned NC21 and NC30 VFRs.

They were OK five or ten years ago, but they stopped making the very last models of most of those back in 1995 which means they are all old and fucked now.

If I were you, I'd look for a Suzuki SV650S or Kawasaki ER6.

The SV and ER are group 9 and 10 insurance. The 400cc 4 cylinder bikes are group 12. The SV and the ER make 69bhp, the 400cc 4's make 55-60bhp on a good day when new. The ER and the SV are normal sized bikes that weigh around 165-169kg dry. The VFR NC30 for example weighs somewhere in the region of 189kg dry.
The SV and the ER are easier to work on, parts are generally cheaper, and they are actually available unlike a lot of 400cc four parts.

The only thing remaining is really the looks... which on an old 400 would be dated and shagged now anyway.

Its a no brainer really. Buy a modern bike with similar power, less weight and that is cheaper to insure.
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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.

[Joeb46]

marjay i was looking at 400 as i dont intend to get the bike restricted my mate has a restricted sv650 and know after a week i would be bored of it.

also the 400`s are usualy cheaper to buy.
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Current- Drz400sm- For sale
Kawasaki er-5 race bike# 106

[MarJay]

[binge]

[binge]

[Joeb46]

i would happily have a sv650 and not have it restricted but i doubt i will be able to get anymore than £2000 to spend.
is there any other bike worth looking at?
thanks
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Current- Drz400sm- For sale
Kawasaki er-5 race bike# 106

[binge]

I've been looking at another big bike mate. And for the money, The 400cc range are probably the most bang for your buck.

Although you can pick up a fair condition Bandit 600 for about £800 - £900.


My NC29 used to run rings round my mates Blandit though.
There not that fast at all.




Ben

[Joeb46]

urgghhh bandit... no thanks, i need something more "tarts handbag"


i agree the 400 range seems best, any bad points with the cbr? mechanical faults ect?
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Current- Drz400sm- For sale
Kawasaki er-5 race bike# 106

[Blue_SV650S]

If you are going to get a 15+ yr old piece of sh1te, then get one of the Hondas (VFR/RVF/CBR) as it is the most likely to still work!!

So which ever Honda fits your wallet and makes you willy hardest to look at.

For me its the RVF*

https://www.diseno-art.com/images/Honda_RVF400_NC35.jpg


*That said, for RVF 'silly' money I'd buy summin newer!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[Deano]

meh i had a bandit 600 and vfr400 and i would have the vfr anyday, not powerful but a precise corner tool could keep up with anything when near corners.

but goodluck finding a good one that wont give you allsorts of problems. go for a hornet if you can get one.

[BenR]

I had both a ZXR400 H2 & an NC29 gullarm. The ZXR was far superior in terms of handling & performance but the honda was more comfortable & better through town but very heavy compared to the ZXR. Didn't own the honda long enough as I got bored of it very quickly but the ZXR was very reliable, changed the oil & filter every 3000miles never missed a beat.
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Current bikes: suzuki RG125UN wolf. Yamaha MT-07

[chris-red]

Binge nothing weights as much as a bandit you should know that


400s are hugely overated and therefore wayyyyyyy to expensive for what you get.

Most of them are 20 years are and still sitting on the original suspention. They are popular with kids and therefore are far more likely to have been ragged. IMO the only reason to get a 400 sports is if you are a short arse and can't fit on much else. Even then I would go for a 250 2t like a RGV.

Parts are far harder to get are they are imports and the insurances is no different to most naked 600's.

Get something newer and more reliable, like a Hornet, Speed Four, or SV.
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[m0l0t0v]

400s are overrated. I do love the nc30 I'm on but it is overrated.


For under 2k you can get an older shape Hornet 6. Hooligans bike and can be very tarty. There's pictures of mine somewhere. Love it to pieces. Getting it back on the road

Got my Hornet for 1800. Sure you can find cheaper prices and very reliable
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'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[riichy]

I had a zxr400 1992 15000 on the clock.
Never had any problems with at at all, i think the zxr400 is the best looking and i believe where the last of the 400 to stop going.

Any bike could have faults just give it a good look over.
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[riichy]

I had a zxr400 1992 15000 on the clock.
Never had any problems with at at all, i think the zxr400 is the best looking and i believe where the last of the 400 to stop going.

Any bike could have faults just give it a good look over.
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[RichieZX6R]

Not a sports but I had the CB400SF on a 94 plate and im told the Engine is the same as the CBR (inline 4). Was a great little run around that i picked up for £650 while on my restriction and was reliable while i had it. Dunno what power it put out but it should have been restricted and i found parts were a little harder to get hold of when browsing due to it being an Import (came from japan in 02).

The 600 CBR i have these days is much more fun and you could pick up an older CBR6 for about 1k i would have thought.
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[NSR Mick]

GSXR old schcool cool. Parts can be a bitch to find though.

https://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/micklivesey/gsxr/dsc00211.jpg
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Knacker]

I personally wouldnt bother with the 400 route but hey each to there own for me it'd be GSXR 400 as they are not half as common as the VFR's

Or the FZR 400 as you can get 1 for decent price and i think they look pretty bloody good
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Bikeless]

I weighed my NC29 when i had it and it came up about 165-168KG dry.

[Blau Zedong]

I agree that age is counting against most sports 400's these days (and mint ones command decent cash which in the long run would be better spent on something bigger and / or newer). However they are fun and do have character. I don't see the SV650 as a natural successor to the sports 400's as it's fugly, has poorly spec'd suspension and brakes from new and has an ultra boring engine. A faired SV does about 125mph, which is pretty fucking slow for something that's supposed to have nigh on 70 bhp, either that or they are actually really heavy. Actually I'd rather have a car than an SV, but I'd have another GSXR400 for nostalgic reasons as long as it was cheap.
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18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Blue_SV650S]