ZXR 400, Yay or Ney

[MAR5H7]

Basically, 19 years old, Just passed test (A2), looking for a sports bike that does well 33BHP

Heard ZXR 400's do alright, up my street (wishing litterally) look awesome, but want to know more on them???? Many thanks

Also a heads up on other ones that might be alright would be appreciated (but please dont judge when I say just sports, personal preference, other bikes arnt for me, just the weird way I am, and Fzrs.... Lol)

Many Awesoming Thanks (Y)
____________________
Ex: CBR 125 R 06', ZXR 400 96' (RIP), Bandit 650 06'
Owned: SRAD 600 97'
Current: YZF Thundercat 600 96'

[Im-a-Ridah]

400 sports bikes are quite small

[wilz1234]

Im 5'11 and ive never found them too small. Proper fun bikes and reasonably easy to work on. Most of them have been ragged so expect to spend once a month fixing something

[UnspeedySam]

https://yewemmgee.blogspot.com/2011/11/kawasaki-zxr400.html
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[Frost]

Good bikes provided it's low milage and has been looked after. however they are old bikes now (13 years+ ?) so very few are low milage and as most are owned by 17 year olds who care more about looking cool and racing their mates than spending money on consumables or service the number that are well looked after are very very few.
If you want one, buy one. But be prepared to spend another 500quid on top of what you pay for it to make sure it's all in good condition.

Listen to lots of inline 4 water cooled engines to get a feel for what they sound like at idle and when revved. When you go to look at a zxr listen to it carefully, any excessive wirring noises or slight gravel sounding noises and walk away. Actually run away as they can be real money pits once the cam chain and top and start playing up. Also head gaskets can go on them too.

[thomp1983]

get yourself over to

https://www.zxrworld.co.uk/zxr400oc/

i love mine, i'm 5ft 10 and find it big enough. most zxr's fall into 2 categories, 1, abused by youngsters or 2, female/older rider owned and very well looked after, i paid a grand just over a year ago for my k reg l3 on 33k it's in good condition has more receipts than you can shake a stick at, service history for everything most of it main dealer and also had a full respray a couple of years ago. running cost wise the bike hasn't required anything out of the ordinary and has cost me very little although it will require a new set of tyres for this years mot but so would most bikes. it's a good first choice for a lowish budget although looking forwards id probably buy a 600 and restrict as a 400 will be difficult to sell on once the new licensing rules come in (it'll leave the 400 market as literally racers and female riders, not an issue to me as my bikes already paid for and i wouldn't need the resale money from it to buy another bike when i decide too)

chris

[Fisty]

Id have another tomorrow if i could, cracking little bikes. They are fine on 33bhp restriction.
Try and get as new as possible L4 onwards (H1-L3) have headgasket problems. The oil coolers rot and end up being held on by zip ties.
Clutches rattle but should stop when the clutch lever is pulled in. If the rattle does not stop walk away.
Loooooooooads of parts available for them, put a set of sticky rubber on them and they are a hoot. Had mine for 4 years and miss it greatly.
Oh yeah, im 6`1" and rode it to Monaco and back!!
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Blau Zedong]

Also well thrashed examples suffer from Kawasaki period appetite for valve collets, destroying whole engine.

Big and heavy for a 400, although quite quick (first H models quicker than more common L models but as most of them are dead by now not really an issue).

Also suffer from typical fuel pump faults and water pump failure which causes coolant to piss out of the tell tale on the pump cover.

Too much uncertainty for my liking, but if you want one, buy one.
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Kwaks]

Loved mine, brand new on an 03 plate, performance wise it blew many 600cc bikes away, corners on rails.
____________________
Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[Blau Zedong]

[Wave2k]

Buy spare head gaskets
____________________
Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[hmmmnz]

i had one when i was your age (over 10 years ago)
it was on par of the zxr750 as a mobile torture rack.

apart from a sore arse, wrists, and back, they are capable
bikes, and will do speeds upto about 120mph,
handling is as good as it gets,
only problem is -
parts availability , and age of the bikes,

i suspect you'll do what ever you want
, no matter what recommendations we make.
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[UKRedwing]

[Blau Zedong]

[thomp1983]

parts availability isn't an issue at all most stuff can still be ordered straight from main dealers, or online, age of bikes is the same as with any really if it's looked after it'll still be good if it's been abused it won't. for around or sub a grand for your first bike they are good fun and worth having, yes a bad one you could probably throw the purchase cost at it fixing it but the same goes for other bikes aswell

chris

[Kwaks]

[MAR5H7]

ok, for the record, thanks for sooooo many responses very pleased with them
had a look at one, will see what happens there, but as from where Im standing, probs one of the better choices for me atm

Yes I have an SRAD, unfortuneately at my age, amount of years (none) on a bike and No NCB, insurance want a joke for it being restricted, so im keeping it as a bigger bike for when im able to ride it full power + older and NCB's

But for now I want something bigger than a 125 (and no not a typical bandit story)

So a ZXR is in line for me though I may be 19, im not one for thrashing around, more commute, but it will be well looked after and treated instead of typical youngster killer story

Many thanks all!!
____________________
Ex: CBR 125 R 06', ZXR 400 96' (RIP), Bandit 650 06'
Owned: SRAD 600 97'
Current: YZF Thundercat 600 96'

[UKRedwing]

Your going to keep an srad sat doing nothing for two years?

[MAR5H7]

thinking of a few options, either yeah, drain her dry and leave her sat, keep her cleaned up and shiz
or, leave it a year then try with 1 NCB, see what my insurance is
or keep fluid in her, and ride her round the road once every week or so

or my dad is looking at getting back into biking, let him ride her as he wouldnt ride often and I know he would look after it well (if he breaks he replaces)
either way, im adament not to sell her! I WILL ride her one day
____________________
Ex: CBR 125 R 06', ZXR 400 96' (RIP), Bandit 650 06'
Owned: SRAD 600 97'
Current: YZF Thundercat 600 96'

[Joncrete Cungle]

Have yourself a gander on the 400 Greybike forum.

[MattJ]

IIRC a ZXR400 was quite a bit more expensive to insure than my FZR600R of similar age and price. Have a look at some of them and do quotes on The Bike Insurer.

[CaNsA]

Might aswell throw my 2p in...

ZXR400's are great, fun, ass kicking bikes.
I have left bigger bikes (tobyr on his vfr800 and another mate on his gsxr600) for dust in the welsh twisties.
They are primarily "toys".
Not so comfy for touring, particularly 2-up.
New, genuine Kwak parts are ridiculously expensive.
Used parts are also fairly pricey.

Everyone who has owned one say "I wish i had never sold it"
And i agree, I bought one as my 1st "big bike" and loved it.
Sold it, bought a cbr600f 1995.
That got stolen and i bought another zxr400.

As a 1st bike i'd say go for an old cbr600f steel framed jobby.
As a 2nd "toy" bike get a zxr400.

[Fisty]

This thread has made me buy another zxr400. Picking it up sat.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[MAR5H7]

you guys would be pleased to know that my gsxr and cbr600f quotes are at £1600 on tpft :/ yet the zxr for me is at £623
which would I go for on that basis
hehe

Either way, yeah its a toy, but regardless, its bigger than my 125 and probs more acceleration due to lightness and shiz but I'll still look after her properly

should be on here in the next 3 days :S hehe
will be great to get on a bigger bike (Y)

glad I had an influence hehe
____________________
Ex: CBR 125 R 06', ZXR 400 96' (RIP), Bandit 650 06'
Owned: SRAD 600 97'
Current: YZF Thundercat 600 96'

[Bike Bunker]

i picked my zxr400 for 795, with full titanium exhaust (nassert beet ) and a nassert beet genny cover, brembo brakes all round and braided hose's....its cost me around....£1000 since and ive changed indicators fitted an alarm short brake/clutch lever's.....


stilll very worried the headgasket is going to go or something very bads going to happen.


oh and my battery seems to have failed me think a regulater or something may have buggered :/

but if i could have a first bike choice again, zxr400 would be well up there just keep it in prestine condition and dont slack on it like i have mine