For the future: VFR vs. FZR400?

**vifferman** · 21st September 2007, 10:10

Despite being a Vifferisti, I think you made the right choice. A VTR250 would've been an even righterer choice, but you didn't mention one.

**avgas** · 21st September 2007, 14:40

Originally Posted by CPJFOX

No easy answer for that, but i suggest the following,
a). My ego is not big enough.
b). Im only 23 and am not confident about the size of my penis, a faster bike works as an extention
c). Im only 23 and havent yet lost my license, i want speed
d). And so on and so forth

Ah yes 10-ft-tallitus
been there done that, bought the gb on the hope that i wouldn't kill myself.
Success.....i got to keep my life and gained some Jewelery.
Jewelery came out - then i got the growler of the zx4r.....6 months of that and i felt i was on death row again. Bike was too light.
6 months after selling the Z and i got the "aw-fuck-it" bike as i feel sane enough to control it.
All that being said, the GB is still the quickest bike to 70K that i have owned. Also the quickest round town (was a ducati eater).Well after it was modified a little. But thats what big singles are all about.
Best of luck, if you die, i'll bloody kill ya

**mecht1** · 25th October 2007, 19:52

Good choose! I have a FZR400RR (3TJ1) yamaha, very quick little bike, handles very well.
Make shore you change oil AND filter very 3000/3500 kms, they need good oil or the crank can go west in a big way! Do not use the oil warning light, by the time it comes on it's way too late!
Enjoy it, I know I enjoyed my 400 a lot.

**motorbyclist** · 1st November 2007, 11:17

as an nc30 owner i'd say they are awesome fun to commute on, corners like a dream, but have a pretty "agressive" riding position, solid suspension, and aggressive gearing (ride the clutch to 60k if you're in a hurry - 1st gear goes to 110kph). good if you like it, not good if your a normal person. maintenance wise, from what i hear and my own experience, the vfr is bombproof, whereas all the 250 fzrs i've seen have been shitters.....

but i reckon you bought the better bike - why? because you should never buy a bike that's had a thrashing if you can get one that has been taken care of.

but a vt250 is probably the best commuter bike out right now - low down grunt, smooth ride/comfortable riding position, and no fairings to hit curbs when you're coming on/off footpaths.

Originally Posted by Coyote

After owning an RG150, my VFR seems economical to me. And it's not to bad for fuel consumption, if I'm not so hard on the throttle it'll do >200km from $20 of fuel. Of course I then got 170km but I had been on the rimutakas that week.

Maintenence costs: FZR would be cheaper as a V4 engine like in the VFR is harder to work on (more labour in the shop = more money). Mind you the engine doesn't get opened up often. They're both 400s and the usual consumables like tyres and chains would be the same cost. The VFR having an 18" wheel and they have a limited selection of tyres, and the FZR has 17" which has a wider selection such as those tyres with the hard wearing section in the middle and grippier section on the sides which I really want but can't have. My rear tyre has done roughly 5000kms and it's getting pretty flat, probably 3/4 worn. Front is fine and has a perfect profile, goes to show how much the power eats away at the tyre. And I got the rear cylinder valves reshimmed for $130 (I work at a shop and got discount though) and have to sort out the front when I can afford it.

My bike had 61000kms when I got it. The engines if looked after last for another 60000kms but things have started wearing out. The frame creaks, have to do valve clearances and I have to replace the front disks (which I had to sell my old RG150 for instead of racing it).

Otherwise it's an awesome bike to ride and look at. I was looking at FZR's too when in the 400 market but I went for the VFR for the V4 sound

Out of those 2 choices though I'd go for the FZR since it's been looked after and has lower k's.

i got one of those dual compound tyres on my viffer! but its a 160 and i'm pretty sure it should be a 150...

my bike has reached around 60k kms too, and frame creaks - should we be worried? it creaks more with passengers and i was thinking it was the shock/swingarm. any knowledge or should a start a new thread?

**Coyote** · 1st November 2007, 12:51

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

i got one of those dual compound tyres on my viffer! but its a 160 and i'm pretty sure it should be a 150...

my bike has reached around 60k kms too, and frame creaks - should we be worried? it creaks more with passengers and i was thinking it was the shock/swingarm. any knowledge or should a start a new thread?

I'll look into that. I saw a vfr on ebay with 160/60/18 Avons so I've been thinking about getting a 160 lately. The current profile (140/60/18 )has no chicken strips despite me not hitting the footpegs yet (don't want to push it that far cause of this).

My mate, Koba on here, said it could be the headbearings crapping out. He said I should grease them up and see if that stops the problem, or replace them. I haven't got a large enough spanner for the headstem so I haven't tried it yet.

**Str8 Jacket** · 1st November 2007, 13:07

I happen to know that an 1986 NC21 and an 1988 FZR (ridden by a girl) beat a 199?? NC30 at the sprints... The NC21 beat the NC30 by over 5kph+

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 1st November 2007, 16:56

I have a FZR 1WG and I Love it. Just change the oil regularly and you'll be fine.

**DVS 69** · 6th November 2007, 10:35

Get a Mighty ZXR400 i got mine bout 3 months ago and its awesum, its a old one 1989 but still gets bout 185-190kph top end and they are really nice in the twisty stuff they handle great and the frames are nice and strong with no twist etc. I put sum new M3's on front and rear (120 on the front and 160 on the rear). Awesum tyres !!!! so much so ive put a M3 on the front of my road bike. Shit loads of grip in the dry and really good in the wet too .............. Whatmore does one want eh

**sAsLEX** · 7th November 2007, 06:55

Originally Posted by vifferman

Despite being a Vifferisti, I think you made the right choice. A VTR250 would've been an even righterer choice, but you didn't mention one.

250s may seem a logical idea but the market for them is overinflated due to the 250cc learner limit.

**James Deuce** · 7th November 2007, 07:07

Over-inflated is an understatement. Chap at work is looking at GPXs and CBRs and 20 year old bikes are the norm. TWENTY YEAR OLD examples are going for more than I spent on the Katana including all the upgrades. Most of those 250s are going to be wanting the same level of maintenance and upgrade I did on the Katana to make them a safe long term ownership option.

If I could bend myself onto a VFR I would have had one in a flash, but the Katana looks cooler and is built of old and young alike to enjoy.

**motorbyclist** · 7th November 2007, 10:52

Originally Posted by Jim2

If I could bend myself onto a VFR I would have had one in a flash

haha, this sunday i was doing a long haul trip along straight roads in the rain. after an hour or two i made the mistake of stretching my legs out infront of me.

the moment i tucked em back in i got killer cramps on the outside of my hip, and no way to deal to them without stopping.

the wrists/hands were another story altogether