The 400's...

[tvchimp]

Which of the 400's would people recommend as a day-to-day bike, and possible UK A+B road Tourer (wont be looking to go out of the UK on it really, not at the moment anyway)...

I like the look of the ZRX400, CB-1 and the 400 Bandit really, budget doesn't quite stretch to the cost of what some of the VFR's/CBR's or ZXR's are going for on ebay at the moment (around £1000, I'd much prefere to spend around £500)

ZRX400
https://www.various-mc.com/e/zrx400_001.jpg

CB-1
https://www.mygeorge.us/resources/_wsb_491x337_honda_cb1_1_2.jpg

Bandit 400
https://www.whitedogbikes.com/images/Breaking_Bikes/Suzuki_Bandit_400_VVC.jpg


Is it worth looking at 400's (tbh, I like the thought of working for my power - but yet to have to actually have this) or could I be looking at something like a naked 600 (hornet/bandit etc) for around the same sort of money? I don't mind spending a bit more, but tbh would prefere to spend as little as possible..

Anyone able to offer advice?
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[N cee thirty]

fazer 600's have been going very cheap recently,just set the front fairing on fire lol
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[instigator]

All I can say is that I love my little CB1.

I've had all sizes and shapres of bikes and out of the 32 or so I've had, the CB1 is by far the best around town bike I've ever ridden.

Out of town, whilst I do 20 miles on the motorway every day, I do it at 60-70mph because any faster really makes the engine scream and you feel a bit uncomfortable doing so for 20 minutes.

If you don't intend to use the motorway much, go for it!! I picked mine up with 56k on the clocks for only £575. They should be cheap, certainly no more than £700.

[tvchimp]

I do like the fazer as a 600, and the naked 600's (apart from the GPZ! )

Just wondering if it's worth looking at the 400's, if I could get a 600 for the same money. Also, of the 400's, which one would be the better one to get..
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[CaNsA]

ZRX or ZXR (if you can find a decent cheap one)

But thats cos im biased, i loved my zxr and would love to have another

[Blau Zedong]

Bandit 400's are shit. That is A/all.

The CB1 and superfour have the best build quality, ZRX and Suzuki Impulse are the best looking but none of them are anything like as quick as their sportier bretheren. Any of the poverty spec 600's (Bandit / Hornet / Fazer) probably makes more practical sense but they look fucking awful compared to the naked 400's and are about as trick as my garden bench.
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18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Frost]

Which ever one is newest and in best condition. Personally i'd get a 500 or 600 as they are more common so parts are easier to get.

[Andy C]

My Honda Super Four is hands down the best bike I ever owned.

I love how theres not many on the road and it handles amazing, bars making it so easy to filter and with it being small its really nimble!!

No where near the power of my old 600cc but more than enough to have fun and 150-170 mile tank range is really handy!

Also have a massive storage comparment, can fit my mug chain in it!!

I honestly think I will keep this bike till it dies!
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[stevo as b4]

Id buy any of the above in the kind of condition they look in the pics. I do think however that for a very clean and tidy older 400 grey bike, that's been looked after and not bodged or abused, then you are going to have to pay a bit more than £500!

I'm not well up on buying 90's 400's really, but i'd be very suprised if you can get much of a bike for £500 thats tidy and reliable. You'd struggle these days to get a 10year old tidy 125 for £500!

[MarJay]

The best 400 is an SV650.

(yes, that isn't a mistake I meant to say that).
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Seb]

I picked up my 18 year old but surprisingly tidy XJR400 for 800 quid, mind you it needed a suspension overhaul front and back plus I suspect the clutch rattle probably scared off most people who came to look at it. Glad I bought it though as it's just a really nice little bike to ride and fiddle with. Tons of tart potential too.

I'll agree with the Super Four being the pick of the bunch though, I'd have bought one in the blink of an eye if I could have found an example that wasn't a complete wreck
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Blau Zedong]

[Teflon-Mike]

I wouldn't.. I'd suggest you avoid the class.
Many share the chassis and running gear of bigger models and are little smaller or lighter.
Most are imports and don't have the best spares support.
You get more bike for your money with a 500 twin or 600 four, and they seem easier to live with, and no harder to manage.
If I was going to buy a 400.... there is really only one I'd find garage space for....
1976 Honda 400 'four'... JUST because its a pretty little classic bike!
The late 80's early 90's Jap-Market 400's are technical marvels in miniature to meet Japanese market demands and regulations, and for what they do are really too much complexity and hassle for the functionality, and tehse days on these shores dont really have the merit that they are cheap, available and more reliable than anything else on offer...
When they were brought into the UK, they made some kind of sense, becouse second hand prices were high due to low new sales, meaning old and uninspiring bikes fetched premiumn prices, and in about 1991, for what a second hand Kawasaki 440TLD would fetch in MCN you could have a low Km CBR400...
But these days... I'd be looking elsewhere, for anything other than a collectors bike
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[chris-red]

You should get a 400 they handle like they are on rails because it is a 400, you can keep up with the bigger bikes because it will out handle them in the corners because it is a 400, they handle so well these 400's beat all the modern bikes hands down, because it is a 400. 400's they are small and fast and better than 600's. 400's are they best bikes in the world because they are 400cc.


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Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[craigs23]

[RichieZX6R]

I loved my old CB 400 SF. Which i never sold it now!
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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

[kingsknight]

[RichieZX6R]

[kingsknight]

I'v got dyslexia, so I cannot talk :-p
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TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[T0MMY]

Another vote for the CB-1.

I think it's about the perfect bike for me as it's still really good fun to ride but has slowed me down a lot (which I needed before I killed myself or lost my licence). If you rev the tits off it at lower speeds it feels not far off a 600 and you can really feel like you're ragging it but without the desire to do triple figure speeds as it's dog slow above 90.

Perfect town bike too, very narrow and nimble and pretty economical. They're also dirt cheap to buy and insure; mine was £500 with 28,000 miles on it and I've been using it daily in all weathers for a year with no problems at all and no money spent beyond petrol and oil etc. I think the build quality of this generation of hondas was also excellent so they're great for winter commuting (mine lives outside too).

If you're no longer fussed about mega speed then I reckon 400s are the perfect bikes. I've had quite a few 400s and ridden most of the other mainstream ones and I definitely wouldn't recommend the bandit really, they always seem to be knackered and I don't like the way they handle at all. Look quite nice though.

[MarJay]

The problem with these 400's is that the Japanese manufacturers have stopped making them. This means the only choice you've got is ancient bikes with knackered suspension and high mileages.

Hence why an SV650 is a good equivalent. Its a little bit more powerful and certainly lighter than most 400cc bikes. With a few quid spent on suspension it can be a real weapon. Plus its larger, more practical, easier to get parts for, easier to maintain, probably cheaper to insure, probably better on fuel...

To be honest if I could buy a 2005 400 then I'd probably prefer that, but there isn't such a thing and bikes like the SV650 and the ER6 are the closest equivalent. Sadly.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Glenben92]

ER5, GPZ500, CB500 or similar? if you're only after something for sorta serious transport rather than a country road blaster. I'd go for a 5 or 600 though just so you CAN comfortably cruise for a while on motorways etc. if needed.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[cb1rocket]

CB1, own 2 and a half of these. Very fun to ride, motorway riding isn't a problem with a fly screen but I have done 500 miles just touring Scotland!

Easy to maintain and take care.

Hence my user name.


And from an earlier thread:

My bike personally and have toured on it in europe.

https://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/CB1Rocket/deaf%20rally%2008/DSC04261.jpg


https://www.warwickbaker.co.uk/b3.jpg

[Blau Zedong]

[MarJay]