Suzuki RF400 for a newbie?

[fatboy323]

Hi all,

This is my first post here, but I have certainly spent few hours just reading

My situation. Live on the Shore, work in city. Looking at mainly commuting bike, with occasional longer trips, no track time. Have one of those Cook Island licenses that I can drive on here, but only drove a scooter before. However, have been driving for the past 10 years (=getting to 30).

The choice. I was looking at this one - Suzuki RF400 2001

Why?
1. 400cc so I could keep it for a little longer than I would've with a 250, and still be economical
2. Seems to be fairly reliable and well behaved bike from what I read
3. Reasonably priced

Questions
1. How bad of an idea to start on a 400? And this particular bike?

2. What is reasonable money to pay for it?
It's at $2700 right now, has been crashed and fixed, had a look ride - seems fine, but getting it looked at by George from MotoMD tomorrow.

3. On the point of reliability vs. cost and performance vs. my skills would I be better of sticking with your standard GPX/GSX/GT250R all 250cc

4. Any other suggestions for a 400-500cc fully faired bike under $5000?

[The Singing Chef]

There is a great Hayabusa that would see you through right till your full and beyond

Other than the fact that if you get pulled up you will get a nice fine and demerits, there is also riding ability, the 250cc rule is there so that you can get used to riding and traffic etc, then once you have got the hang of that you can then move up.

And driving a car makes no difference whatsoever as to your skills on riding a bike.

Stick to a 250cc bro,

Just my view though..

[marty]

get a VTR or CBF 250, or a Zeal or similar.

great bikes, do 110km/h all day, a late model low km CBF can be had for $4k. And rego/tyres/insurance is all WAY cheaper than a 10 year old 400.

[fatboy323]

There is a great Hayabusa that would see you through right till your full and beyond

Other than the fact that if you get pulled up you will get a nice fine and demerits, there is also riding ability, the 250cc rule is there so that you can get used to riding and traffic etc, then once you have got the hang of that you can then move up.

And driving a car makes no difference whatsoever as to your skills on riding a bike.

Stick to a 250cc bro,

Just my view though..

Fair enough, I was thinking that since performance-wise a 400 is maybe only slightly (15hp) faster it won't really matter, especially since it weighs about as much as a GT250R. So 400, definitely much harder to ride than a 250?

Re: driving a car experience - was more of a way to indicate that I'm not a teenager

[fatboy323]

get a VTR or CBF 250, or a Zeal or similar.

great bikes, do 110km/h all day, a late model low km CBF can be had for $4k. And rego/tyres/insurance is all WAY cheaper than a 10 year old 400.

VTR looks pretty good, but I'd really like a fully faired one, even though I do appreciate the risk of ruining all that in a fall

[The Singing Chef]

Fair enough, I was thinking that since performance-wise a 400 is maybe only slightly (15hp) faster it won't really matter, especially since it weighs about as much as a GT250R. So 400, definitely much harder to ride than a 250?

Re: driving a car experience - was more of a way to indicate that I'm not a teenager

I think the RF will do about 220+ km/h which is reasonably fast to start off with, the biggest thing for me would be getting pulled over with it, i have heard of people never getting pulled over, but i wouldn't want to run the risk. And as marty said, the rego, tires etc are cheaper on a 250.

Welcome to KB btw

[superman]

1. How bad of an idea to start on a 400? And this particular bike?

In America people start on 600s...

[DrunkenMistake]

Feel free to comment this is just IMO,

I started out on a CBR 250 and I learnt alot of things on that bike, such as the right RPM range entering and exiting a corner etc etc, Im on a VFR 400 now.. Im still green but im almost certain if I hadn't started on the 250 I would have iced myself on a corner by now, it really is part of the learning

[marty]

and they are soooo good on them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4xd9Oh0yo

[DrunkenMistake]

Haha epic fail

[jim.cox]

RF400 is NOT on any of the Aussie LAMS approved bikes lists I checked

That suggests it still wont be legal on a learner licence here after the proposed law changes

And that in turn suggests on going problems with insurance etc

I'd be going looking for something else...

[Latte]

Just because it's not a 250, or not on the lams list doesn't mean you'll automatically kill yourself (well, if you do 110kph, or 105kph on holiday weekends you will).

I started on an NSR250 (similar hp to that bike, although a bit more abrupt getting there). Then went to a thou within a week of my full. I'm still here, no crashes.

Being an experienced car driver won't give you any extra riding skills, but does mean you will be less stressed on the road than a 15 year old just learning to ride.

Don't get me wrong, more hp means things happen faster, and you will need to be on your game more. But if you know it (really) that you can control your throttle and have your wits about you, it can be handled fine. I would say more important than a specific cc or power to weight ratio is having proper training and the right attitude.

The legal issue is important though.... does the Island license give you the equivalent of a 6F ?

[fatboy323]

Just because it's not a 250, or not on the lams list doesn't mean you'll automatically kill yourself (well, if you do 110kph, or 105kph on holiday weekends you will).

I started on an NSR250 (similar hp to that bike, although a bit more abrupt getting there). Then went to a thou within a week of my full. I'm still here, no crashes.

Being an experienced car driver won't give you any extra riding skills, but does mean you will be less stressed on the road than a 15 year old just learning to ride.

Don't get me wrong, more hp means things happen faster, and you will need to be on your game more. But if you know it (really) that you can control your throttle and have your wits about you, it can be handled fine. I would say more important than a specific cc or power to weight ratio is having proper training and the right attitude.

Thanks hiss, that was more what I was thinking. But to reassure everyone else (and me I guess) I will think three times before actually getting it now. And I'm definitely getting training either way.

The legal issue is important though.... does the Island license give you the equivalent of a 6F ?

Yes, and that's what tempts me - in a sense that I won't be seen as a n00b learner (not necessarily a good thing every time), and I won't need/want to change the bike for at least a 2-3 years.

[riffer]

At the end of the day it's your choice mate, but do bear in mind that:

a) you won't be legally allowed to ride it; and
b) you won't be able to get insurance if you crash it; and
c) there's a lot of panels to scratch if you drop it.

You'll probably be okay if you ride with your brain, but why would you want to take these risks?

Bite the bullet and get the 250 and do things right.

[tigertim20]

Hi all,

This is my first post here, but I have certainly spent few hours just reading

My situation. Live on the Shore, work in city. Looking at mainly commuting bike, with occasional longer trips, no track time. Have one of those Cook Island licenses that I can drive on here, but only drove a scooter before. However, have been driving for the past 10 years (=getting to 30).

The choice. I was looking at this one - Suzuki RF400 2001

Why?
1. 400cc so I could keep it for a little longer than I would've with a 250, and still be economical
2. Seems to be fairly reliable and well behaved bike from what I read
3. Reasonably priced

Questions
1. How bad of an idea to start on a 400? And this particular bike?

2. What is reasonable money to pay for it?
It's at $2700 right now, has been crashed and fixed, had a look ride - seems fine, but getting it looked at by George from MotoMD tomorrow.

3. On the point of reliability vs. cost and performance vs. my skills would I be better of sticking with your standard GPX/GSX/GT250R all 250cc

4. Any other suggestions for a 400-500cc fully faired bike under $5000?

You get people coming on here saying NO, 250 is all you should ride cos blah blah blah, but fact is, a 250 will kill ya if you ride i like a fucktard, so if you dont have self control, dont get a bike at all!!
the main downer with getting a 400 is that you may well get a ticket, having said that, I know of several people who have been pulled over on their L or R on 40's, and the cops didnt really care, In my experience they seem to start noticing it more (and caring more) when youre on a 600+ on your L or R. Might just be my experience, I dunno.

That aside, the riffer is a decent bike, A girl I know has one, rides it to work and back every day, goes to the rallies loaded up wih gear on it, and recently travelled the length of the south island in one day on it, and it was great. Provided you have some brains in your head and dont ride all silly like, and are happy to risk a wee fine, Then yes, as a bike, its a good bike.