Choice on 400cc motorbike?

**Oakie** · 27th July 2008, 20:15

Hmmm. My CB400 (in-line 4) was for sale about 5 months ago. Had it listed for just two weeks and there was no interest so I decided to keep it for another winter. Would I sell it now? Dunno. Try me. I can't even remember what I wanted for it.

**Squiggles** · 27th July 2008, 20:41

Originally Posted by Coyote

I'm keen on bright orange.

seen the colour of my tl? thats a luuurvly orange

**Coyote** · 28th July 2008, 18:57

Originally Posted by Squiggles

seen the colour of my tl? thats a luuurvly orange

That is a nice colour (seeing your profile album pic). I'm thinking of slightly redder (course I know photos won't be doing your bike justice and it may be closer or exactly what I want).

**FiBee** · 28th July 2008, 19:06

hiya
selling my cbr400 for $3900 or near offer - check out the trade me link (also on KB M/Cycle Trader pages

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=164291672

**CookMySock** · 28th July 2008, 21:03

Originally Posted by bismarck

most of 600cc bikes has high milage of below $6K which I have to save for a while. Um...dunno 600cc would suit me or not

Hello Bismarck, do you like the south island ?

You should have looked at my bike. 650 vtwin and I paid $6,000 for it, with less than 1,000km on the speedo - nearly new! You will like 600cc very much!

Steve

**musicman** · 3rd August 2008, 21:16

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Yeah but they don't make frigging 250-400 screamers any more, dunnit? All bloody silly 600cc ones and thous, all you get in 400ccs any more is dirt bikes and obscure rare Jap imports like CB400SSs.

I thought Japan still makes 400s? If I recall correctly, due to Japan's licence levels, 400cc bikes are extremely popular and there a plenty of new 400s, it's just 400s are not very popular in NZ so they aren't brought in much.

**bismarck** · 3rd August 2008, 23:05

Originally Posted by musicman

I thought Japan still makes 400s? If I recall correctly, due to Japan's licence levels, 400cc bikes are extremely popular and there a plenty of new 400s, it's just 400s are not very popular in NZ so they aren't brought in much.

yeah such as CB400 with vtec version. They're very popular in Taiwan

**breakaway** · 3rd August 2008, 23:38

I've got a NC23. It is definitely the 'sweet spot' bike. power comparable to a 600 (When I upgraded to my GSX-R 600 it felt like it wasn't THAT big a step up) and good on fuel (200 km for $20 of gas).

I would also be considering SV650 / SV650S. They have usable power anywhere in the rev range. But then again so does the NC23. The NC23 is no where near as 'peaky' as my GSX-R 600.

Originally Posted by Wannabiker

Suzuki RVF400.....?

Sorry, what?

**xwhatsit** · 4th August 2008, 00:24

Originally Posted by musicman

I thought Japan still makes 400s? If I recall correctly, due to Japan's licence levels, 400cc bikes are extremely popular and there a plenty of new 400s, it's just 400s are not very popular in NZ so they aren't brought in much.

Exactly, the CB400SF is a pearler of a bike, but do you think Blue Wing will import it here? Ridiculous. You can't buy these bikes new. Struggling hard to think of anything else available here from any of the other manufacturers either, apart from dirt bikes/motards like the DR-Z400

**motorbyclist** · 4th August 2008, 02:13

NC30 (VFR400R), or if you're feeling wealthy an NC35 (RVF400)

renowned as the best bike under 600cc money can buy (arguable if you consider the 2-smoke RS250). will keep up with an R6 no probs on a windy road and is still practical to commute on with plenty of low down grunt. plus they look cooler than the cbr/fzr/zxr

mops up a cbr as it should - cbr is honda's street division, vfr is HRC made for top performance and reliability

mate just bought a minter for $3500. saw one in tauranga not reach reserve of $3k

got my crashed/stolen/crashed again one for $2500 as a project and spent another $2500 getting it fresh paint/fairings/new ignition/chain/sprockets

and here's one for $4k - needs new plugs and/or the carbies need cleaning, there's a flat spot at 5k anyway with these engines so it might not even have a problem

as for earlier comments about high k's - these are mechanically bomb-proof. just make sure you check it hasn't been badly abused and everything chassis wise is still bolted on - which is the same story for buying ANY bike but this one doesn't have a cam chain to worry about

The ZXR is also a very viable option along with the cbr, the fzr a bit less preferable but still ok if you get a good one, gsxr should be sold for scrap.

omg there's alot of shit in this thread
-my 400cc nc30 will keep up and even pass most you slow pokes on your 600 to 1400cc bikes. might not be as fast in a straight line but corners just as well, does the sub 100kph corners better, and isn't going to flick you off anywhere near as easily. it is always more fun to thrash a bike slow than half thrash a bike fast, and even more fun when you thrash faster than the guys on brand new yzfr/cbr/gsxr/zxr

-it's 10% bike and 90% rider
-just had the offer to have an '03 r6 in exchange for insurance payout on dropped vfr. after a week of riding i've decided to keep the munted nc30. more fun, better in the corners, can afford to drop it, gives plenty of warning before sliding whereas the r6 just flicks out

-we can't all afford new bikes
-400s hold resale value just fine provided you don't crash em
-they depreciate much less than a new bike
-a modern IL4 600 or 100 has more power than traction, is built for a racetrack not a windy NZ road with 100kph speed limit, and in the case of many riders they have more power than skill
-MANY older bikes are VERY reliable, particuarly the cbr, vfr and zxr models. if you're unfourtunate enough to buy an old GSXR expect problems, i'd know.
-OP specified 400cc japanese sports, so where all this talk of tourers, motards and comfort issues are arising from is beyond me

**mark247** · 4th August 2008, 09:41

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

gsxr should be sold for scrap.

Iv got an old bike mag from when all the 400cc 4cyl were new back in 1992 and it has a big review comparing them all. It said the that gsxr400 absolutely cleaned up in the corners.( if i remember correctly )

If you would like to read it I could scan it up and post it on here.

**xwhatsit** · 4th August 2008, 16:24

Originally Posted by mark247

Iv got an old bike mag from when all the 400cc 4cyl were new back in 1992 and it has a big review comparing them all. It said the that gsxr400 absolutely cleaned up in the corners.( if i remember correctly )

If you would like to read it I could scan it up and post it on here.

That would be pretty cool to read

I suppose if I were buying one, my problem would be, if they're anything like the GSXR250 (and one would assume so, given the dearth of them on the roads today), anecdotally at least, they don't seem to have stood up to the decades of squid abuse quite so well as the ZXR, VFR, CBR et al. It seems every other week there's somebody on here with one of the old small GSXR variety complaining about no compression, bent valves, bottom end gone missing etc.

S'all intarweb stories of course, but there seems to be a hell of a lot of gorgeous VFRs blasting up and down Auckland roads having a fine time.