Best '90's 400cc sporty bike?

**samgab** · 4th January 2009, 23:36

I've got another previous thread about how I'm thinking of getting a new 650cc bike when I get my full in a few months, but since then I've been having second thoughts.
I'm now starting to think maybe I'd be better to step from my 150 up to a 400cc older sports bike, and then make the step to a 650cc new bike later on down the track.

So I've been looking at this sort of thing:
VFR400R
RVF400R
CBR400RR
GSX400F
GSXR400
RF400R
FZR400
ZZR400

-any of the above from anywhere in the '90's... Preferably under $6G.

So to any owners of any of the 400's mentioned above, or a previous owner; which ones are excellent in terms of reliability? Assuming it's been reasonably maintained, which ones have annoying quirks, and which ones are rock solid and reliable?
I really like the RVF400 best, I think, but they seem rare. Next preference is the VFR400, but they're getting pretty old, and I just wonder how reliable they are as a daily commuter...
A slightly newer CBR400RR "babyblade" might be good too...
Some of the things on the RVF seem pretty ahead of their time, such as upside-downies. I don't know what the V4 engine is like though...

**racefactory** · 4th January 2009, 23:46

I think everyone here will agree with me that the V4's are the most reliable. They are bomb proof. It may be a 90's machine adn getting old but they go forever. They have gear driven cams so it's 100% reliability in that respect, with the added cool sound you get. The wheels will fall off before the motor is done for... this is what these bikes are known for.

The only one that can make a mark against the NC30 is the ZXR400. But that has head gasket problems and a rear tyre that some regard as too wide for it's own good.

You never need to worry about the 400cc V4... it's good shit man.

The RVF400 NC35 is an NC30 with a different skin on. It's extremely similar. It actually produces less power than the NC30 due to different carburetors. It has upgraded suspension and a 17 inch rear wheel instead of the 18 on the NC30. That's all to really say about the NC35- we think of them as the same bike really.

The v4's sound absolutely wicked too.

Get a V4.

CBR400 is good too!

**samgab** · 4th January 2009, 23:50

Flippin' heck a legendary CBR900RR Fireblade for $5700 !!
Are you kidding me? I remember in 1992 when these where the hottest thing out there.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-194767751.htm

It's got low Kms too. Mmmm.

If only I had my 6F already! Er, and a bit more cash.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 00:00

Originally Posted by trademe900

I think everyone here will agree with me that the V4's are the most reliable. They are bomb proof. It may be a 90's machine adn getting old but they go forever. The wheels will fall off before the motor is done for... this is what these bikes are known for.

The only one that can make a mark against the NC30 is the ZXR400. But that has head gasket problems.

You never need to worry about the 400cc V4... it's good shit man.

The RVF400 NC35 is an NC30 with a different skin on. It's very similar. It actually produces less power than the NC30 due to different carburetors. It has upgraded suspension and a 17 inch rear wheel instead of the 18 on the NC30. That's all to really say about the NC35- we think of them as the same bike really.

The v4's sound absolutely wicked too.

Get a V4.

CBR400 is good too!

Thanks for that feedback, it's good to hear from someone who's owned... 3 was it? ... VFR400's. And I see you've just sold your current one. I was going to ask you about them on that thread anyway, but decided to create a new thread instead

So that pretty much clinches it. I've always liked Honda's reputation for reliability anyway, and I'm going to go out and try to find a VFR400 so I can hear what they sound like.

I'd also thought that the "V" engine configuration has benefits, like compactness and torque (and great sound) etc, but I wanted to get something with 4 cylinders, so wasn't that keen on a V-twin. So a V4 would answer both of those things. I also hear that the V4 engine has a distinctive whine due to cam gears instead of chain or belt. I guess gears are more reliable than belts too, not much can go wrong there.

I'll have to read your thread about tuning the carbs on the VFR too, at some stage.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 00:09

addendum to previous,

vfr vs rvf...

I prefer the following about the rvf:

Headlight design/look
USD forks. Look hot, and lighter unsprung mass?
More standard 17" back wheel, for getting tires...

But I guess none of those things are a big deal really.
Are the 18" rears easy enough to get, and similarly priced to 17" rears?

**racefactory** · 5th January 2009, 00:09

Originally Posted by samgab

Thanks for that feedback, it's good to hear from someone who's owned... 3 was it? ... VFR400's. And I see you've just sold your current one. I was going to ask you about them on that thread anyway, but decided to create a new thread instead

So that pretty much clinches it. I've always liked Honda's reputation for reliability anyway, and I'm going to go out and try to find a VFR400 so I can hear what they sound like.

I'd also thought that the "V" engine configuration has benefits, like compactness and torque (and great sound) etc, but I wanted to get something with 4 cylinders, so wasn't that keen on a V-twin. So a V4 would answer both of those things. I also hear that the V4 engine has a distinctive whine due to cam gears instead of chain or belt. I guess gears are more reliable than belts too, not much can go wrong there.

I'll have to read your thread about tuning the carbs on the VFR too, at some stage.

Yeah your right. The V4 is very compact, low down and forward in the frame, which is just where you'd want the weight. Yes the sound of the cam gears is wicked.

I had a few kb'ers come round to test my bike and the sound of it when someone else is riding it in front of you is pure greatness.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 00:12

Originally Posted by trademe900

Well Vtec hasn't paid and collected the bike yet so your welcome to come and hear it and see one if your serious about checking out one of these machines. If your quick you can come before he comes round and takes it off of me!

Yeah your right. The V4 is very compact, low down and forward in the frame, which is just where you'd want the weight. Yes the sound of the cam gears is wicked.

I had a few kb'ers come round to test my bike and the sound of it when someone else is riding it in front of you is pure greatness.

Hmmmm, where abouts do you live? In Aucks?

**racefactory** · 5th January 2009, 00:13

Yup on the North Shore.

Well in terms of tyres- you really only want these tyres...

bridgestone BT090, dunlop GPRa10. These are the best things you can put on these bikes. Stick like shit to a blanket, designed for the smaller bikes. The F3 racing boys use these on their 400's...

Bridgestone BT92, Dunlop GPR100 the sport tourer equivalents. Still a fucking great tyres I hear. Real good stuff.

True you can't select hundreds of different tyres but they are really the only ones you want. The tyre places always have them too....

**racerhead** · 5th January 2009, 01:26

Another vote for the V4's here because I had a RVF for a while and loved everything about the bike. Totaly reliable and handles beautifully and then the sound

Anyone that had or has either V4 will always have something good to say about them and I would look at getting another one some day as a project and turn it into the ultimate 400 racebike

Anyway go for either VFR or RVF and you will be very happy with them

**McDuck** · 5th January 2009, 04:42

Originally Posted by samgab

I've got another previous thread about how I'm thinking of getting a new 650cc bike when I get my full in a few months, but since then I've been having second thoughts.
I'm now starting to think maybe I'd be better to step from my 150 up to a 400cc older sports bike, and then make the step to a 650cc new bike later on down the track.

So I've been looking at this sort of thing:
VFR400R
RVF400R
CBR400RR
GSX400F
GSXR400
RF400R
FZR400
ZZR400

-any of the above from anywhere in the '90's... Preferably under $6G.

So to any owners of any of the 400's mentioned above, or a previous owner; which ones are excellent in terms of reliability? Assuming it's been reasonably maintained, which ones have annoying quirks, and which ones are rock solid and reliable?
I really like the RVF400 best, I think, but they seem rare. Next preference is the VFR400, but they're getting pretty old, and I just wonder how reliable they are as a daily commuter...
A slightly newer CBR400RR "babyblade" might be good too...
Some of the things on the RVF seem pretty ahead of their time, such as upside-downies. I don't know what the V4 engine is like though...

I am currently getting my fun time form a GSX400ssn Katana.

I highly recoment it over any and all other bikes, it is amazing

**lostinflyz** · 5th January 2009, 06:37

the vfr is a nice bike. it does what its supposed to in a good way. especially on the road. the rvf is better in most aspects but only by the slightest of margins. but these days the vfr's are getting pretty tatty and they are the hardest bike to work on by miles. With these older 400's you need to be able to do most the work on them yourself or someone will run away with all your money.

The cbr400 is pretty similar to the vfr but just not as speccy and i cant say im a big fan of them really but thats just personal preferance. The zxr's are alright in zippy terms but i have heard of alot of problems. The fzr400's are slow and floppy. cant say i know much about the others except the gsxr400 which is also a really good bike. There pretty rare so parts can be hard and expensive to come by but if you find a good one in reasonable nick they are reliable and probably as good as any 400. And they are a bit more exclusive as no one has one (esp. the SP model.)

If i had 6 grand to spend id be looking at a RVF400 in spotless order or a gsxr400sp from about 93 onwards. for 5 grand you should get either of these in reasonable order (a few scratches are common, but nothing else) dont be sucked in by guys offering these up at huge prices or any other of the 400's.

anyway that was a nice big rant.

**MsKABC** · 5th January 2009, 07:01

There are some great bikes there to be sure. We were looking at some of them for me recently, but we ended up buying an '88 Honda Bros. (NT400) Yes, I know, it's a retarded name for a m/cycle, like parents naming their kid Dudley or something!

Anyway, after spending the weekend working on it, hubby reckons it's the best $2500 we could ever spend on a bike. (This includes the new tyres we put on). He came back from a test ride last night grinning from ear to ear (and he normally rides a 748!) saying that it is a really good little hoon bike. For an unfaired bike it looks pretty cool, and after the pipe mods he's just finished, it now actually sounds like a proper v-twin and has better mid-range torque (well, that's what he tells me at least

) It's a really confidence-inspiring bike for me to ride and a great step up for me from my gpz250. I

it! It's very forgiving too.

I don't think there are too many around, but they do come in a 650 version too.

Good luck finding your next dream bike

**lostinflyz** · 5th January 2009, 08:01

Originally Posted by MsKABC

There are some great bikes there to be sure. We were looking at some of them for me recently, but we ended up buying an '88 Honda Bros. (NT400) Yes, I know, it's a retarded name for a m/cycle, like parents naming their kid Dudley or something!

Anyway, after spending the weekend working on it, hubby reckons it's the best $2500 we could ever spend on a bike. (This includes the new tyres we put on). He came back from a test ride last night grinning from ear to ear (and he normally rides a 748!) saying that it is a really good little hoon bike. For an unfaired bike it looks pretty cool, and after the pipe mods he's just finished, it now actually sounds like a proper v-twin and has better mid-range torque (well, that's what he tells me at least

) It's a really confidence-inspiring bike for me to ride and a great step up for me from my gpz250. I

it! It's very forgiving too.

I don't think there are too many around, but they do come in a 650 version too.

Good luck finding your next dream bike

second that one. there was a 650 bros i think cruising up the lewis during the holidays and it looked nice and fun and had a beautiful sound. never ridden one so dont know what they like.

**scracha** · 5th January 2009, 08:09

CBR400 is obviously the best. FZR400 handles nicer but a bit fragile. Wouldn't touch the GSXR's with a bargepole.......there's a reason why not many of them left.

These are not "novice" bikes though. A bros 650, 650 versys or SV650 is probably a safer buy and easier to ride.

**chocobo_ff** · 5th January 2009, 08:34

I think you can do all the research and comparison you want on paper or the computer (which is, admittedly, what I'm doing), but your best bet would be to save up as much as you can now, then do the comparison when you get your 6F

I've forced myself away from thinking about which bike to get after I sit my 6F later this month and decided to just go and do as many test-rides as I can, as I find I waste way too much time doing all the comparing and dreaming, and since I'm back to work today, I can't afford to waste time browsing the net looking at bikes constantly

That said, maybe you should make a spreadsheet comparing all the bikes you listed like the one you have for the new 600/650s you were looking at just for the sake of it