400cc sport/road bike

[Gibbo89]

I've been having a wee look on the internet lately at 400cc sport/road bikes.

I've come up with a few questions, if you compare a 250 inline four and a 400 inline four where would you notice the difference?

apparently hp-wise they are reasonably similar i.e a cbr 250 is 45hp and a 400 super 4 is 50hp. so 10hp difference ish depending on the inline four you are on, but it is 150cc more? i assumed there would be a bit more power in them.

basically is a 400cc bike a good upgrade that is noticeably more powerful than a 250 or is the 600/650 the way to go? (i am thinking of power in terms of ability to overtake cars on the motorway with ease) i.e flick down a gear and pass a car that is going 100km/h

[rachprice]

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/952/631/ 400 has 59HP

I have never owned a 250 4 stroke.....but I like my little 400.....I guess Im such a pansy on the road because I take all my fury out on the track! So I dont really have a lot of detailed advice

A 650 twin wont much faster than a 400 (they are in the same class in racing - F3)

[SMOKEU]

From what I've read most of the 400cc straight 4s have around 60bhp.

They seem to be a bit cheaper than the equivalent 250 because they're an odd size, too big to be legally ridden on a 6L or 6R, and most people want at least a 600 when they get their 6F.

[Gibbo89]

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/952/631/ 400 has 59HP

I have never owned a 250 4 stroke.....but I like my little 400.....I guess Im such a pansy on the road because I take all my fury out on the track! So I dont really have a lot of detailed advice

A 650 twin wont much faster than a 400 (they are in the same class in racing - F3)

ahh ok, guess i was looking at naked 400 at the time, not the faired version

[Gibbo89]

From what I've read most of the 400cc straight 4s have around 60bhp.

They seem to be a bit cheaper than the equivalent 250 because they're an odd size, too big to be legally ridden on a 6L or 6R, and most people want at least a 600 when they get their 6F.

yeah, i'd like to own a 400 and slap some 250 stickers on it...

[scracha]

I've come up with a few questions, if you compare a 250 inline four and a 400 inline four where would you notice the difference?

The 400's feel about twice as torquey. 250 will maybe make 45bhp at erm...15000rpm whereas the 400 will be making that at say 7000rpm. 650 twin or cheap 600 hornet/fazer miles more powerful and much more modern though.

[neels]

yeah, i'd like to own a 400 and slap some 250 stickers on it...

I'm sure that was done with 80's GSX's by people on their 6L

[Gibbo89]

I'm sure that was done with 80's GSX's by people on their 6L

haha nice one

[Gibbo89]

The 400's feel about twice as torquey. 250 will maybe make 45bhp at erm...15000rpm whereas the 400 will be making that at say 7000rpm. 650 twin or cheap 600 hornet/fazer miles more powerful and much more modern though.

good to know. i kinda like the look of this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-309472728.htm

but i don't like the price tag

and i doooo like the look of the hornet 600

[gatch]

Get a vfr400.

Gear driven cams, good sound if you have a nice open pipe, gorgeous looks ala single side swingarm and 18" rear.

Treat it good and you will be rewarded. Hell just like a kinky girl you can treat it bad and it will probably still reward you hahaha.

[st00ji]

good luck finding a 250 thats actually still making 45hp, if it ever did.

400s will piss all over 250s for power delivery all over the rev range in my experience, have ridden a couple and been blitzed by a couple

hard to find tidy ones these days though that arent going for 600 prices

[Gibbo89]

good luck finding a 250 thats actually still making 45hp, if it ever did.

400s will piss all over 250s for power delivery all over the rev range in my experience, have ridden a couple and been blitzed by a couple

hard to find tidy ones these days though that arent going for 600 prices

some of the 400's arent too ba price wise, but yeah for not alot more you get into the 650 range

[avgas]

I loves the 400's.
I do.

I haves 2.
Does someone want one? They will go cheap I imagine - as 1 is ugly, and the other is slow.

[tigertim20]

I've been having a wee look on the internet lately at 400cc sport/road bikes.

I've come up with a few questions, if you compare a 250 inline four and a 400 inline four where would you notice the difference?

apparently hp-wise they are reasonably similar i.e a cbr 250 is 45hp and a 400 super 4 is 50hp. so 10hp difference ish depending on the inline four you are on, but it is 150cc more? i assumed there would be a bit more power in them.

basically is a 400cc bike a good upgrade that is noticeably more powerful than a 250 or is the 600/650 the way to go? (i am thinking of power in terms of ability to overtake cars on the motorway with ease) i.e flick down a gear and pass a car that is going 100km/h

Gday. first of all, as i think smoke said, the 400 are nearer to 60hp. yes, you will notice a significant increase in power throughout the rpm range.
The big thing is that as someone said legally you need your full to ride them, and most people prefer to go to a 600. The 400's can be quite alot of fun, however a couple small issues, is that they are a small market segment, getting parts can be a tad challenging sometimes. You will also find that, when doing 100km/hr, they need a couple gears down and opened up, to pass comfortably, but depending on your riding style, this may not be an issue.

I would also recomment looking at a vfr400 if you can find a tidy one, the v4 engine on them really are totally fucking different, and sound like sex!

let us know what you decide on, but I recomment that you go ride several first.

[Gibbo89]

Gday. first of all, as i think smoke said, the 400 are nearer to 60hp. yes, you will notice a significant increase in power throughout the rpm range.
The big thing is that as someone said legally you need your full to ride them, and most people prefer to go to a 600. The 400's can be quite alot of fun, however a couple small issues, is that they are a small market segment, getting parts can be a tad challenging sometimes. You will also find that, when doing 100km/hr, they need a couple gears down and opened up, to pass comfortably, but depending on your riding style, this may not be an issue.

I would also recomment looking at a vfr400 if you can find a tidy one, the v4 engine on them really are totally fucking different, and sound like sex!

let us know what you decide on, but I recomment that you go ride several first.

cheers for the comments, i am just asking questions as more of a curious point of view than an interested one right now as i am still on my learners and some of them took my fancy (as a lot of bikes do... )

and yeah i youtubed a few vfr400 vids, they do have a pretty unique sound

seeing as they are slightly cheaper then the 600/650 range (which most go to), just a bit to think about one day when it is time to upgrade and wondered if you would get sick of a 400 after a while