What kind of bike for F3/Clubmans?

[Funkyfly]

This is a follow on from "cost of racing"

I saw that 1988 FZR400 on Trademe, looked good. I have read a bit on the net about these and they seem like good bikes, im just wondering how they compare to the ZXR400's?

Im not interested in a 2 stroke as they require more $$ and attention to keep em going.

The SV650 arent aloowed in the VIC F3 class so that rules them out also.

What about Honda VFR400's?

[Hoon]

I've spent the last 9 months hunting for my new F3 bike and IMHO the top 3 would have to be (in no particular order):

Kawasaki ZXR400 L1+ (1991 onwards)
Yamaha FZR400 3TJ+ (1990 onwards)
Honda VFR400 NC30/34 (1992? onwards)

The NC30/34 are common but the ZXR400L's and 3TJ's are a little less common. You could also get the earlier models of the above (i.e. ZXR400H1-H2, FZR400 1WG, VFR400 NC24) which are quite common but they are a few hp down on the 2nd gen models. Likewise the SP versions of the above are quite rare now.

These will give you a good competitive platform to start on and have the potential to take the national title if you throw enough cash at them.

Also the GSXR400's are popular too but for some reason they don't get much mention?

I'm not too clued up on the VFR400's. KK is your man and hopefully he can contribute.

[curious george]

@ STrokes RUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE U ALL!!!!

*Ahem, I am yet to race, so the above bit of nonsence should be carefully considered against all the other available advice....*
*Lots would say I don't know what I'm talking about too. I'm one of them*

[Two Smoker]

even though i race a 2 stroke..... i will still say go for a 400..... much cheaper too race.....

If you want too know anything about the ZXR or VFR/RVF ask KK, he has raced both......

If you want to know about GSX-R's ask Mitch as she races one of them

and ofcourse Hoon races a two stroke

[FROSTY:Me]

Unless you are a total star right off the mark any one of the bikes mentioned will be a great platform to get you started. Id buy what you can find and go out and learn how to race. hoon is right about the greater hp of the later models but its gonna take you at least a season to get to need it.
The BIGGEST mistake you could make is thinking getting more HP will make you faster.A solid reliable bike is going to teach you a heck of a lot more than an unreliable pocket rocket.
I opted for the 89 ZXR400sp- main reason was availability but it so far is far in excess of my skill level as it stands.
Other than very minor mods it is totally stock.
My suggestion first off would be to race what you currently own. Go out and race in clubmans -See if its fun
From there you can make your own decisions.

[Kwaka-Kid]

Yep dude, sound advise all round. Heard good and bad stories about them all! the only bikes ive heard of to Blow up on the track are the GSXR's and the FZR's but thats just because they are Suzuki's and Yamaha's - try not to hold it against the people that own them :P
anyway aside from shit stirring. XJ has a bloody great point! With one thing id like to add, if i was doing this all over again there is only one thing id look at, and thats 400's with a 3.5" front rim and 4.5" back rim, which means they take 120 front radials and 150(or in zxr case(odd!)160 radials) id buy anything with those rims, which is all of the brands across hte board from 1990 onwards i think, and zxr's and vfr's had it in 1989 even, not sure about others. Id be a little worried about that 88 FZR as its likly to have the way skinnier rims and therefore take Crossply tyres (just cant get the same sticky tyres!). and it seems the jump in rim sizes is where they all went up in power too, the NC24 has the skinnys and is approx 5hp down on the later 30/35(TO CORRECT YOU HOON!)
Id also like to add the CLAIMED HP/PS MEANS NOTHING as the manufacturers had a gentlemans agreement with japan regulations authority dudes up untill 1994 that a 400cc road bike had to be 59HP or LESS (they all made about 60 so claimed 59) to fit into the cheap bracket of tax or whatever! which LATER they changed in 1994 to 53HP, hence why the RVF is claimed to only have 53HP on most sites AS IS the ZXR400L3(? or whatever) of around those years, my years may be a little out or something but the power claimed figures were what they had to stick to. I race on an RVF engine in VFR frame to which everyone says "your a fool, why would you put the less powerful engine in?! your down like 5HP son!" Ill admit the RVF genuinely stock has a LITTLE less HP, but you start getting into the nitty gritty of wear/tear etc and HP loss like that, and the RVF was meant to had bigger midrange etc and has flatslide carbs (taht are 1mm smaller i know i know but apparently they give better flow)

Sorry im rambling again, but like i said, if it was me, check that it runs 120/60/17 and 150/50/17(not sure on other brands aside from honda/kawasaki but possibly 18"-little less options on tyres but still good radials). If so! Get out there, give it a go! You wont win on it, you cant win against SV650's anyway, and esp not against 400's with loads of money poured into them.

Anyway sometimes dude youll find hte best deals at a club meeting! People sell F3 racebikes for around $2000ish and anything like that is perfect entry level.

[Posh Tourer :P]

What is the difference between RVF and VFR?

[k14]

The RVF (NC34) is the newer model of the VRF (NC30), i think the RVF started being produced around 94. They have basically the same engine (V4) and frame and everything else from what I can tell.

As KK said the RVF apparantly has less hp, but is a little more refined. The RVF looks way nicer imo, but the VFR is still pretty nice. One trademark of both is a single sided swingarm. From the F3 racing I have seen, very limited, it seemed that the NC30 VFR's and the ZXR400's were the most popular. The RVF's are probably a little more expensive but i think there are more go fast (ie hrc) parts for it.

Does that answer your question?

[Kickaha]

I thought one of the problems with running the Hondas was the poor availibilty of 17 inch rear wheels,which if you end up wanting to run slicks is a essential.

[FROSTY:Me]

Ive just come back from AMCC -The road race committee
Is looking at cutting down the number of classes in the club series due to 1 lack of entrys and 2 running out of time to run 3 races per class
It seems the idea is to run -1-F1/F2 together as formula auckland -F3 will survive but will also include the 125 racing class .firgotten era will continue with senior and junior. -pre89 will run in the forgotten era races as a sub class. Clubmans will continue provided there are enough entries -The idea is to have just 5 race classes so there will only be 15 races in a program
What does that mean in this context --f3 is still a living breathing class with the biggest feild in club racing

[Hoon]

Nope its the other way around. The earlier bikes have 18" rear rims (also the 89-90 RGV250s) and you are very limited in tyre choices in 18" whereas all brands do a 17".

Also reinforcing what Frosty said, for a first bike you might want to get the cheapest and easiest attainable bike you can find as for the first season it will be the rider with the performance problem not the bike. Adopt the attitude that you could write off the bike the next time you are out so don't be too eager to invest in something that you won't yet fully utilize. Thats why I got my RGV and it has taught me heaps - plus it crashes real cheaply too but now I'm ready to move up to the next level (and reach deeper into my wallet).

[FROSTY:Me]

- plus it crashes real cheaply too but now I'm ready to move up to the next level ).

Ok ok Im sorry-rub it in why doncha
Hey hoon are ya gonna stick with stock engine or give her the ol boring bar ?

[Hoon]

Don't worry about it dude...with that front slick you gave me I ended up gaining from that weekend!!!

When it comes engine rebuild time (after next season maybe) I might go the 450cc route...depends how much money I have and how necessary it is.

[Shawn]

humm..how about CBR 400RR...

[SPman]

What is the difference between RVF and VFR?

The VFR NC30 is like a 400 version of the RC30 750 and the RVF NC35 is a bit like a mini RC45. NC30 has 18 inch rear wheel , NC35 has RWU forks and 17 inch rear.