Zxe 400

[Tomc]

Hi. Im going to look at a 1990 ZXR 400 H2 on saturday. This will be a step up from my zxr 250. The bike looks pretty tidy from the photos with the usual small cracks and scrapes on fairings. No scratches on bar ends or pegs so it dosnt appear to have been dropped. It has done 48000kms. I will be taking a mate who is pretty switched on as far as bikes and engines in general go. Just after peoples views on these bikes as far as maintenance and reliability goes. How easy/expensive are parts, do they have any known faults etc.

edit: title suposed to say zxr sorry

Cheers Tom

[SMOKEU]

You may find that many parts can be quite hard to find for an old bike, unless you want to get them imported from overseas. That's my experience anyway.

[avgas]

Great bikes. But like Smokeu said - you will have to most like get parts from Victorian bike wreckers.
But definitely my pick of the 400 sportsters.
My old 89 ZXR4 was way better than any other 400's I rode. And I have ridden far to many of them (I only own 2 now )

[neil_cb125t]

Hi. Im going to look at a 1990 ZXR 400 H2 on saturday. This will be a step up from my zxr 250. The bike looks pretty tidy from the photos with the usual small cracks and scrapes on fairings. No scratches on bar ends or pegs so it dosnt appear to have been dropped. It has done 48000kms. I will be taking a mate who is pretty switched on as far as bikes and engines in general go. Just after peoples views on these bikes as far as maintenance and reliability goes. How easy/expensive are parts, do they have any known faults etc.

edit: title suposed to say zxr sorry

Cheers Tom

Hey there,

I could fill pages and pages with info if required - normal problems are around the valve train area - at those k's a cam chain would need to be replaced - also the tensioners. Valve clearances are the biggest problem or thing that can go bad - if they aren't done ZXRs drop valves, thats a game killer on these bikes ( ive raced one for over 3 years, got alot power and performance out of mine ) the clearances should be check quite often, at least every 20k on these things.

However - if those things are kept in check, they are a very good machine - as said, pretty much the best 400 out there. higher technology than any other 400. Parts are not that hard to get, but mint fairings and tanks are not easy to find. Other spares aren't hard Kawasaki stocks most parts ( I have just FULLY rebuilt mine- top to bottom, frame sand blasted, motor fully stripped and rebuilt ) and everything i needed i could order new..... fuel taps.... steering head bearings..... engine parts.....I was only doing all of this to go to the nationals.

Couple of key things to check - front brake rotors, thickness and straightness -- measure if possible and feel through the lever... new rotors can set you back a bit ( i import them ) but locally $1500 a pair.. ( mine are 450 a pair ) and pitting in the forks, as they are upside down ones if they pit then they can blow fork seals ( which are more expensive than standard forks ) are if they are badly pited they will continue to blow seals.....

Lastly if you need any tips, info or spare let me know - i have plently... a good info sight with everything you would ever wanna know is..http://www.zxrworld.co.uk/zxr400/main.htm

[tigertim20]

400's are pretty much a dying (if not dead) market.
From what Ive seen, there are very few 400's around period. and even less zxr 400's. I'm picking that you'll have alot of difficulty finding parts if you need them, and difficulty finding someone who knows them well for the sake of servicing, which is very important at km's like that. Resale is also shit. I bought a 400 last year, and tried to sell it since, took me 10 months to get rid of the fucking thing. I'd recommend going for a slightly older 600 of whatever marque floats your boat.

[Tomc]

Hi thanks for the help guys. Ended up getting the bike. Cam chain, tensioner and valve clearences getting done this week. Bike seems to ride and run really well other than very slight cam chain noise wich should be fixed this week. Fairings etc are very tidy with only a few very small cracks and scratches. Measured the brake discs and they are well above minimum and had 0.05 runout on a DTI and no pulsing through the leaver. Just ordered some braided brake lines as the originals were swelling quite badly. Reason for getting the 400 is they are cheap and also light. Iv still got a year to go on my restricted so didnt want to buy an expensive bike i cant insure and i need something light as after breaking my back in march my right leg isnt working very well so i cant hold a heavy bike up. Hopfully i have a good run with it!

Cheers Tom

[PirateJafa]

400's are pretty much a dying (if not dead) market.
From what Ive seen, there are very few 400's around period. and even less zxr 400's. I'm picking that you'll have alot of difficulty finding parts if you need them, and difficulty finding someone who knows them well for the sake of servicing, which is very important at km's like that. Resale is also shit. I bought a 400 last year, and tried to sell it since, took me 10 months to get rid of the fucking thing. I'd recommend going for a slightly older 600 of whatever marque floats your boat.

Sounds like you're doing it wrong.

I sold my one of my VFR400Rs late last year for $6,200 with 44k on the odo, after just three months on the market. Try and tell me that's not a competitive price - and far better than you tend to get for those thrashed, crashed heavy lumps that are the 90's 600s you recommend. The VFR400Rs are excellent bikes, and I'd happily own one again.

[Jonno.]

The Nc24 market is pretty dead