400cc bikes. Pros and Cons?

[Lucy]

Was in Colemans today and they had a couple of 400cc bikes. One Honda and one Suzuki. Road bikes. Anyone here got a 400? Alan said they are still economical gas wise, and I was wondering if they'd be a good move up from a 250. As a GN rider it should be obvious that I have a love of riding rather than speed, and as a tightarse I have a love of economy at the petrol station.

Have never seen a 400before. Didnt look much bigger than a Honda VTR 250 except for the gas tank.

[sAsLEX]

CBR or VFR 400?

if you are after a cruiser rather than a sprot bike I would steer clear of the VFR as there can be a bit of weight on the wrists which is fine in the twisties or pushing it but if you ride sedately it can get on your nerves.


Other than that a 400 is an easy step up from a 250, more so seeing your on a weaker 250 than some.

[Lucy]

CBR or VFR 400?

if you are after a cruiser rather than a sprot bike I would steer clear of the VFR as there can be a bit of weight on the wrists which is fine in the twisties or pushing it but if you ride sedately it can get on your nerves.


Other than that a 400 is an easy step up from a 250, more so seeing your on a weaker 250 than some.

I was in a bit of a hurry so didnt get to see/remember the models. Not really after a 'cruiser' but don't want a sports either, sort of after the uprightish touring/adventure thing, if that's a genre. I sat on the Suzuki one and it didnt seem too sporty, as far as leaning over forward with weight on wrists go.

[ZeroIndex]

400's are a really good step up from a 250 anything...

The trick with 400's, most of them being very sporty is to pull all the fairings off, get a nice looking headlight, rip off the clip-ons, and then bolt on a nice set of MotoX bars, and you end up with a basic streetfighter... Very nice around town, not too bad on the open road (good if you haven't riden anything fully-faired)...
Here's a pretty decent example:
<img src=http://www.indigofighters.us/images/large/Ginges-Streetfighter-GSX.jpg>
At the end of the day it comes to what you're looking for... Streetfighters are getting big internationally, but still quite a newish concept in NZ...

[sAsLEX]

They can be very tall, in that I can only tippy toe on a ktm adventure and I am just over 6ft

[ZeroIndex]

They can be very tall, in that I can only tippy toe on a ktm adventure and I am just over 6ft
Which post you referring to? That didn't make the slightest sense?

[sAsLEX]

sort of after the uprightish touring/adventure thing, if that's a genre. .

This one.

[moT]

you will learn lots rideing a 400 all the power on a 400 is useable so you can gas it with no issues handle great and are good on gas blah blah

[erik]

There's a big step up in power from a 400 like my bandit to zx636r, much bigger than the step from a 250 to a 400.
My bandit's got enough power for me. With a 600 or bigger bike you might not have to change gears so much when going quick.

My bandit gets around 17km/l which is ok, but not brilliant. I think I've heard of cbr400's getting around 20 or 22km/l.
I believe some of the bigger bikes (600's) can get just as good or better milage, depending on how they're tuned and how hard you're riding them.

A gs500 might be worth a try, they're supposed to be really economical.

[Bass]

My bandit gets around 17km/l which is ok, but not brilliant. I think I've heard of cbr400's getting around 20 or 22km/l.
I believe some of the bigger bikes (600's) can get just as good or better milage, depending on how they're tuned and how hard you're riding them.



I'm intrigued by your economy numbers.
I routinely expect 20 km/litre from my Sprint, 2 up with luggage.
I also got similar numbers from my RF 900.

I guess this means I'm just a Wuss. Bugger

[dnos]

Nah your not a wuss. Even a little 250 like mine seems to use that much gas, I guess its because the right hand is so busy keeping the bike going.
From what a few people have said to me, some bigger bikes really do get better mileage than my 250, yours is a hell of a lot newer mind.

[Paul in NZ]

The 400 class exists because in japan a sub 400cc bike (399cc) is cheaper to register / tax / insure etc etc but they fit in where the old 350 class was. In general you get a full (ish) sized bike with power enough, all of which can actually be used. Some of them are complete gems! (NC30 etc)

Because its a 'tax' class there are 400's in every strata of motorcycling from dirt bikes to cruisers and sports bikes, singles, twins, V's and in line 4's...

The down side of a 350 / 400 class has always been that they are every bit as complicated as a bigger bike but because of the more modest power output and the budget concious owners they attract they often get ridden hard and put away wet by people with a limited maintenance budget....

They are usually imports so your dealer may not have parts on stock!

Cheap to buy but not always cheap to own!

Lots of fun though...

[ZeroIndex]

There's a big step up in power from a 400 like my bandit to zx636r, much bigger than the step from a 250 to a 400.
My bandit's got enough power for me. With a 600 or bigger bike you might not have to change gears so much when going quick.

My bandit gets around 17km/l which is ok, but not brilliant. I think I've heard of cbr400's getting around 20 or 22km/l.
I believe some of the bigger bikes (600's) can get just as good or better milage, depending on how they're tuned and how hard you're riding them.

A gs500 might be worth a try, they're supposed to be really economical.
I'll have to agree with the GS500... those are a mighty fine breed of bike (especially when they've got a set of wide bars on them)... good get-up-and-go... the wide bars make them a lot easier around town, and make the bike feel like it doesn't way a thing. Good economy on them too...very good economy.

[Coyote]

My RG gets around 13km/L, so my VFR is brilliant when it comes to fuel economy at least in comparison to what I had to live with before (and currently as I'm still waiting for my VFR to be fixed)


I've been looking at my VFR with it's fairings off and thinking it looks bloody nice as a naked, showing off it's engine and exhaust system. Always wanted a streetfighter...

[sAsLEX]

I have emptied an RG in about 85 Km....... at full noise they drink like father Ted!

[Coyote]

I have emptied an RG in about 85 Km....... at full noise they drink like father Ted!
Wasn't Father Jack the drinker? :p

I still average about 100km from 10 bucks of gas (about 7.5 litres)

[clint640]

I did quite a few k's on my old VFR, NC21, I found it fairly comfortable for touring, & it'd do 'you're walking sonny!' speeds up any hill on the island loaded up with luggage. I took it clubmans racing & had great fun, commuted on it, she was a good versatile bike.

Good comments above about the complexity/maintenance issues though, the exhaust valves burnt out on mine, luckily I scored a 2nd hand motor for $160 & she kept on trucking better than ever. Another thing to watch on the VFR's is the front discs, they are prone to wearing out & are expensive to replace.

Cheers
Clint

[James Deuce]

I'm a huge fan of 400cc bikes, there is little more satisfying than getting it right on a 400. Matching revs, slick changes, agility that is little short of miraculous after riding a 750cc or bigger bike and enough power to cope with pretty much anything thrown at you.

Depending on your riding style there are some out there that are perfectly adequate two up or touring.

I haven't found parts to be a problem for the Katana, but that's largely because Suzuki have lots of part commonality across the range, being a relatively small company compared to Kawasaki and Honda. Pick the model you buy and you'll be able to get parts easily.

[vifferman]

Was in Colemans today and they had a couple of 400cc bikes. One Honda and one Suzuki. .. I was wondering if they'd be a good move up from a 250.
It's all up (or down?) to what does it for you. Any bike bigger'n a 250 is going to be less effort to ride in headwind conditions, up hills, etc. Economy has more to do with how you ride it than engine size, as most bikes are pretty economical.
Bear in mind that as Paul said your current ride is very simple mechanically: air-cooled, single cylinder, single carb, etc etc. Almost anything you replace it with (apart from a other single-cylinder bike) is going to be dearer for servicing, parts, etc. BUT, on the other hand, without slighting your GN, almost anything bigger is going to be a 'nicer' bike in terms of acceleration, handling, brakes, etc. while also being heavier. This shouldn't matter when riding, but you'll take a wee while to get used to handling it at slow speeds and when stopped.

I went from a relatively lightweight 2-smoke 250 traillie to a 500 (albeit with a bit of a gap) no problems at all. Once you're proficient, you can ride just about anything.

[Morcs]

400cc's are the most fun. by a long way.

Ive owned 2 (nc30, nc35) and would not want anything else from a bike - apart from a physically bigger bike for pillioning...

[kiwifruit]

400s are heaps of fun, my cbr400rr was really light, well balanced and (at the time) well powerful enough.
One morning i managed Rotorua to Taupo in 28 minutes :shutup::shutup: (i was young and stupid, yes)

[ZeroIndex]

Wasn't Father Jack the drinker? :p

I still average about 100km from 10 bucks of gas (about 7.5 litres)
Same, and then you've got another $6 of R2 or TTS 2t oil which brings it up to $16 per 100kms... not a cheap bike to run, hence the move to the FZR400 which is on average the same $10 for 100kms without the added cost of 2t oil...

[FROSTY]

400s are great fun my only issue with them for a Newer rider is they are l starting to get old -Ie potentially have higher maintainence costs.
Im repreating others opinions here but I do strongly reccomend the following bikes.
GS500 suzuki--Twin cylinder light bulletproof
ER5/Gpz500 Kawasaki--same reason but giving you the choice of faired or not.
SV400--Colemans have one --still a twin but a V
Don't let the CC's fool you --A GS500 is a heap easier to ride and feels lighter than the GSXR400

[Oakie]

400s are cool and are a good allrounder:
> Big enough to do the highway with no problems. (I did a West Coast trip with Mrs Oakie as pillion and luggage on the pack rack, comfortably.)
> Pillioning doesn't upset them too much
> Small enough to be a commuter (Mine does my 38km daily commute superbly)
> Fuel economy is good in either role. (Should get 18 to 22kml depending on model)
> Get more wear out of tyres than larger bikes. (got 16000ks out of my first set of tyres)
> Insurance is cheaper than larger bikes
> They do have that little bit more power of course.

[Lucy]

Thanks all, thats great. Lots to mull over and look at. Still on my learners so got a while to go but it's great to know the option is there. I have only sat on a couple of bigger bikes so far, and the only one that felt comfortable was a BMW 650Cs, so its good to know that there are cheaper options that don't involve staying with a 250.

[slowpoke]

Sorry, apart from looking good (RVF400 etc), I reckon these things are waaaay overrated.

A VFR400 weighs 170kg's going by stats off the 'net and it's not the heaviest of the bunch either. Tie that to the puny 26ftlb's of torque at 10000rpm and you are going to be working hard (comparatively speaking) ALL the time.

I'm sure coming from a 250 or ridden in isolation it will seem reasonably quick but the performance doesn't justify the complexity when there are other options available. They cost the same to service/crash as bigger bikes and are all getting long in the tooth meaning attention has to be paid to shocks, forks, steering/suspension bearings etc etc.

I reckon Frosty has got the right idea if it is intended as an allrounder:
GS500 suzuki--Twin cylinder light bulletproof
ER5/Gpz500 Kawasaki--same reason but giving you the choice of faired or not.
SV400--Colemans have one --still a twin but a V
Don't let the CC's fool you --A GS500 is a heap easier to ride and feels lighter than the GSXR400

It's horses for courses but I reckon their are better options available than an import 400.

[James Deuce]

Don't let slowpoke fool you into thinking a 400cc V-Twin will have more torque than IL4. Torque is a function of capacity, not engine layout. An SV400 or Monster 400 will have the same torque as an IL4 400 or parallel twin 400 (GPz400) but both the V-Twin and parallel twin will have less HP.

[slowpoke]

Don't let slowpoke fool you into thinking a 400cc V-Twin will have more torque than IL4. Torque is a function of capacity, not engine layout. An SV400 or Monster 400 will have the same torque as an IL4 400 or parallel twin 400 (GPz400) but both the V-Twin and parallel twin will have less HP.


I'm not tryin' to fool anyone, just agreeing with Frosty's recommendations.
Yep, I pretty much agree with you Jim...but the twins make their torque a lot lower in the rev range (8000rpm for SV400) vs the 4 cylinder (10000rpm for VFR400) and are much cheaper to maintain.
I shudder to think what a top-end service (including shims)would cost on a CBR, ZXR, GSXR, RVF 400 in percentage terms compared to the value of the 15year old bike.

[James Deuce]

I've found parts for the Katana to agreeably inexpensive, even OEM parts.

As far as servicing goes, I'm doing it myself, and I don't see what the list value of a motorcycle has to do with maintaining it correctly? Consumables and asset value are separate ledgers. In my book anyway.

[Morcs]

I'm not tryin' to fool anyone, just agreeing with Frosty's recommendations.
Yep, I pretty much agree with you Jim...but the twins make their torque a lot lower in the rev range (8000rpm for SV400) vs the 4 cylinder (10000rpm for VFR400) and are much cheaper to maintain.
I shudder to think what a top-end service (including shims)would cost on a CBR, ZXR, GSXR, RVF 400 in percentage terms compared to the value of the 15year old bike.

To Have the shims redone on an nc30 is about $800... :shit:

[sAsLEX]

Sorry, apart from looking good (RVF400 etc), I reckon these things are waaaay overrated.

A VFR400 weighs 170kg's going by stats off the 'net and it's not the heaviest of the bunch either. Tie that to the puny 26ftlb's of torque at 10000rpm and you are going to be working hard (comparatively speaking) ALL the time.


No you aint. You ridden one?

[slowpoke]

No you aint. You ridden one?

Yup, and I've ridden an RGV250 which I would also prefer over a 400...similar power, less weight, more fun. I've owned an old RZ350 too, which I'd take in a heartbeat over much more modern 400's. Yes it's a 2 stroke but it's giving away a lot of years to some of the 400's and wouldn't cost half as much to maintain.

I said "comparatively. Take a steady ride over the 'taka's or somewhere similar and count your gear changes, then take a 600 over at the same speed and count the gear changes, now take a 'thou over and count the gear changes. Ride with your mates anywhere and get balked by a car or something and watch your mate on his 600 just roll it on to pass or get back up to speed as you are doing the flamenco on the gear lever. Now add a pillion on to both bikes. Comparatively it is much harder work on the 400.

[ZeroIndex]

Yup, and I've ridden an RGV250 which I would also prefer over a 400...similar power, less weight, more fun. I've owned an old RZ350 too, which I'd take in a heartbeat over much more modern 400's. Yes it's a 2 stroke but it's giving away a lot of years to some of the 400's and wouldn't cost half as much to maintain.

I said "comparatively. Take a steady ride over the 'taka's or somewhere similar and count your gear changes, then take a 600 over at the same speed and count the gear changes, now take a 'thou over and count the gear changes. Ride with your mates anywhere and get balked by a car or something and watch your mate on his 600 just roll it on to pass or get back up to speed as you are doing the flamenco on the gear lever. Now add a pillion on to both bikes. Comparatively it is much harder work on the 400.
Wasn't this thread about comparing a Suzuki GN250 to a 400cc? Since when did 2t 250's, inline4 600 and litre bikes come into play?

[James Deuce]

I find a 400 four lots more fun than a 600, 750, or 1000 over the Takas. It takes skill to ride one well. I've ridden LOTS of bikes over the last 12 months and owned more than one over the last 20 years, and I STILL consider going to a 400 from a 250 to be the sanest choice you can make.

[slowpoke]

Wasn't this thread about comparing a Suzuki GN250 to a 400cc? Since when did 2t 250's, inline4 600 and litre bikes come into play?

I gave the view that 400's were overrated (high maintenence for not particularly inspiring performance), agreed with Frosty's alternatives, and some people chose to disagree. The mushroom cloud is still growing.......

[slowpoke]

I find a 400 four lots more fun than a 600, 750, or 1000 over the Takas. It takes skill to ride one well. I've ridden LOTS of bikes over the last 12 months and owned more than one over the last 20 years, and I STILL consider going to a 400 from a 250 to be the sanest choice you can make.


So when you are selling the 750 Jim?

I can think of a few more practical, easy to ride, confidence inspiring bikes to jump to from a GN than a race rep 400 too. Lets see a noobie fresh off a GN do a figure 8 in the width of a 2 lane road on an RVF400 as they'd have to for a license in OZ.

[James Deuce]

Who said anything about a Race Rep? Have you checked out the Katana 400 I'm fixing up? There's heaps of 400s out there from Chook Chasers, to retro thumpers, to standard naked bikes, to retro naked bikes, to race reps, do anything "standard" bikes and cruisers. There's a whole pile of engine configs too. Inline V-Twins, transverse V-twins, single cylinder, parallel twin, and transverse 4s.

[sAsLEX]

Yup, and I've ridden an RGV250 which I would also prefer over a 400...similar power, less weight, more fun. I've owned an old RZ350 too, which I'd take in a heartbeat over much more modern 400's. Yes it's a 2 stroke but it's giving away a lot of years to some of the 400's and wouldn't cost half as much to maintain.

I said "comparatively. Take a steady ride over the 'taka's or somewhere similar and count your gear changes, then take a 600 over at the same speed and count the gear changes, now take a 'thou over and count the gear changes. Ride with your mates anywhere and get balked by a car or something and watch your mate on his 600 just roll it on to pass or get back up to speed as you are doing the flamenco on the gear lever. Now add a pillion on to both bikes. Comparatively it is much harder work on the 400.

Yeah its harder on a 400 compared to a litre bike.

But I can do all of SH22 in one gear basically. I see what your saying but in the real world a NC30 has plenty of torque/power to bimble along in one gear , or drop three gears and grind the footpegs?! IL4 600s especially are notoriously peaky, take the r6, I don't see them being the best comparison.

[terbang]

They are often cheaper than the overpriced 250's because the noobs can't legally ride them and often people go to something bigger from their 250. So that makes em even better buying value. My old rattler GSX400 has been doing it for just on 1/4 century now and it is still fun to ride on a tight bit of road. The cons I have are like everyone else's, power, or lack of it! Though I managed to squeeze 160 KPh out of it once on gravel..!

[sAsLEX]

They are often cheaper than the overpriced 250's because the noobs can't legally ride them and often people go to something bigger from their 250. So that makes em even better buying value. My old rattler GSX400 has been doing it for just on 1/4 century now and it is still fun to ride on a tight bit of road. The cons I have are like everyone else's, power, or lack of it! Though I managed to squeeze 160 KPh out of it once on gravel..!

NC goes well off the 180 clock. How much do you need as a newely graduated 250 rider?

[Blair-SV]

My girl used to have an SV400 when I met her, beautiful little bike, looked great in red. I found the jump from my GSX250 to the SV400 was greater than from the SV400 to the SV650. Mainly in usibility terms. Meaning that I had to use a lot of throttle on the 250 to handle the motorway etc where the 400 handled it with ease. The 650 was just faster, both seemed to handle the same. Gas wise there wasn't much in it 400 vs 250. Actually it was the lack of difference between 650 and 400 that made me go for the thou.

One other cool thing, when the SV400 falls on its side (well exhaust side at least) you get zero panel damage, just a scratch on the muffler, handlebar and indicator.

[scracha]

you will learn lots rideing a 400 all the power on a 400 is useable so you can gas it with no issues handle great and are good on gas blah blah

Your one isn't, it goes through 2.5 tankfulls to every one of mine. I went from a 225cc to a 400. Personally I think you'd be wasting money. Go to a 500 twin or a 600 four if you've got a full license. For road bikes the 400's are far too much money for what are basically 20 year old Jap bikes that were designed to last 5 years.

[ZeroIndex]

I gave the view that 400's were overrated (high maintenence for not particularly inspiring performance), agreed with Frosty's alternatives, and some people chose to disagree. The mushroom cloud is still growing.......
in hindsite, 400s aren't really that great... mine's not too bad, but would way rather be on a 01/02 cbr600f4i or 03/04 zx636

[moT]

Your one isn't, it goes through 2.5 tankfulls to every one of mine. I went from a 225cc to a 400. Personally I think you'd be wasting money. Go to a 500 twin or a 600 four if you've got a full license. For road bikes the 400's are far too much money for what are basically 20 year old Jap bikes that were designed to last 5 years.

thats because its rejetted and i hold it full tap everywhere :) get what you want 400s arte cheapto buy and do have good preformance its not the bike but how you ride the bike i wld be happy with anything with an engine and 2 wheels and went fast 400 is what i can afford and its soo much more satisfying passing 600 and 1000 cc bikes on a 400

[Coyote]

while also being heavier. This shouldn't matter when riding, but you'll take a wee while to get used to handling it at slow speeds and when stopped.

VFR400's are good for their low centre of gravity. They're heavy bikes but you the weight is easier to handle


Good comments above about the complexity/maintenance issues though, the exhaust valves burnt out on mine, luckily I scored a 2nd hand motor for $160 & she kept on trucking better than ever. Another thing to watch on the VFR's is the front discs, they are prone to wearing out & are expensive to replace.

That's another problem my VFR currently has, the disks won't pass the next warrant.

Can they be replaced with disks off anything else? TYGA fitted a NC35 with CBR954 disks but I'm not sure what modifications were needed. More options means possibly finding something cheap


I shudder to think what a top-end service (including shims)would cost on a CBR, ZXR, GSXR, RVF 400 in percentage terms compared to the value of the 15year old bike.
My VFR cost $130 for the 2 rear cylinders, but I knew the mechanics. When I have more money on my side I'll get the front 2 done and get the annoying cam gear click on the rear cylinders sorted

[Morcs]

Can they be replaced with disks off anything else? TYGA fitted a NC35 with CBR954 disks but I'm not sure what modifications were needed. More options means possibly finding something cheap

Not sure about the nc30, but the nc35's front brakes (nissin 4 pots) are the same as the vtr 1000.

RC51 brakes are also a well known up grade...

[Coyote]

Not sure about the nc30, but the nc35's front brakes (nissin 4 pots) are the same as the vtr 1000.

RC51 brakes are also a well known up grade...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-accessories/Wheels-tyres-brakes/auction-107518925.htm?p=20
These may fit then?

$400 is more than I can afford though

[Morcs]

Yep those discs are the same as mine :D

[El Dopa]

[LEFT]I'm a huge fan of 400cc bikes, there is little more satisfying than getting it right on a 400. Matching revs, slick changes, agility that is little short of miraculous after riding a 750cc or bigger bike and enough power to cope with pretty much anything thrown at you.

I haven't found parts to be a problem for the Katana, but that's largely because Suzuki have lots of part commonality across the range, being a relatively small company compared to Kawasaki and Honda. Pick the model you buy and you'll be able to get parts easily.

Second all of this. I love my bandit 400. Plently of power for me, loads of mods you can do, plenty of part interchangability if you've done your research. Katana, GSXR400 and Bandit all share pretty much the same engine, wheels, front forks and who knows what else. Probably reg/rec, brakes and a whole bunch of other stuff. Some parts from the same years of 750, 1100 etc bolt straight up. Some bits from more recent 600's, 750's and 1000's fit with minor mods.

Same size as a 250 - you can throw it around without any problems. Small enough that my fat arse helps damp out my hamfisted downchanges.

The only small problem I have is that they are small bikes. I have nearly tipped over at the lights before because my hamstring cramped up after riding without a break for 2 hours.

I also remind people of Homer on his clown cycle as I ride by.


There's a big step up in power from a 400 like my bandit to zx636r, much bigger than the step from a 250 to a 400.
My bandit's got enough power for me. With a 600 or bigger bike you might not have to change gears so much when going quick.

The point being that you're far less likely to get yourself in trouble with a 400, but the fun come by the bucketload.


NC goes well off the 180 clock. How much do you need as a newely graduated 250 rider?

Exactly. My stock-standard bandit nudges 190-200 on the back straight at Taupo. How fast do you need to go?

[Zapf]

Don't let slowpoke fool you into thinking a 400cc V-Twin will have more torque than IL4. Torque is a function of capacity, not engine layout. An SV400 or Monster 400 will have the same torque as an IL4 400 or parallel twin 400 (GPz400) but both the V-Twin and parallel twin will have less HP.


yes, that being true. One of the advantage about twins is that the way they deliver power offers more traction. That being said I am currently considering a BMW F800 at the moment, and it is a parallel twin 800.

[Lucy]

I gave the view that 400's were overrated (high maintenence for not particularly inspiring performance), .......


If I get one the bike will match the rider then.:Punk:

[Lucy]

So when you are selling the 750 Jim?

I can think of a few more practical, easy to ride, confidence inspiring bikes to jump to from a GN than a race rep 400 too. Lets see a noobie fresh off a GN do a figure 8 in the width of a 2 lane road on an RVF400 as they'd have to for a license in OZ.


What are your suggestions?

[clint640]

Wasn't this thread about comparing a Suzuki GN250 to a 400cc? Since when did 2t 250's, inline4 600 and litre bikes come into play?

Yep, it is such hard work going from a lil GN250 to a 4 cyl 400, they've only got like THREE TIMES AS MUCH POWER! :)

The 500 twins are definitely worth a look in this category but they're a bit rare & there are lots of very tidy 400's out there (not the race rep ZXRs & RVFs) that can be had for very little coin.

Cheers
Clint

[avgas]

400's are awesome pieces of machinery.
i find 400's one of the best buys in NZ as people tend to shy away from them because they are not 600's.
I've had about 4 400's over the years, and test rode over about 30. To me they feel as agile as the 250's but with the low down pull of a decent sized bike.
The limits are both reachable and realistic in them - and they happily to everything you ever want a bike to do, cruise, open road cruise, hot laps, low rev twistys, high rev twisty's, flat tack runs.
If i buy another bike it will probably be another 400.
Plus if you looks around there are some cheap 400's that a way better than bigger bikes. The one Klown owns is a classic example

[Bonez]

I own a GB400 and it performs remarkably well on the more interesting, read tight and twisty, roads. Always come home with a smile on my face. Done a few
longer multi day roads no problems what so ever.

Yip getting a 400 or as Frosty suggested a 500 is a grand idea.

[Brett]

400's are fun bikes. I hae ridden my brothers one a few times, and it is a blast. Also plenty power for doing almost anything.

I amgoing to look for one shortly as an entry level race bike...perhaps an NC30 VFR or similar...maybe early next year.

That street fighter above looks pretty cool, would make an awesome stunt bike!