Best '90's 400cc sporty bike?

**dave222** · 5th January 2009, 17:45

How much are you looking to sell your bike for? I currently own an 87 VFR400R and am looking to downgrade as only have learners.

Could do a swap of some sorts

**McDuck** · 5th January 2009, 18:10

Originally Posted by quickbuck

The trouble is that Suzuki make the Katana.....

Could be worse... it could be made by honda....

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 5th January 2009, 18:47

I've got a FZR 400 and I love it. Corners like it's on rails. I have Pirelli Sport demons front and rear and they're great. Mines done 75k now and still runs great. Mind you I change the oil and filter every 2500 k's. You can't really go wrong with any of the 400 sports. Just don't think they're going to be comfortable for a long run. After all they are all SPORT bikes. Enjoy whatever you choose.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 20:03

Originally Posted by dave222

How much are you looking to sell your bike for? I currently own an 87 VFR400R and am looking to downgrade as only have learners.

Could do a swap of some sorts

You mean my FXR150? I was hoping to get around 1700 or so for it. Just bought it a couple of months ago for 1950. The fairing has scratches on both the left and right sides, due to previous owners laying it down at low speed, one on each side

Apart from that she's pretty sweet though. Runs really well, and Kms are relatively low (20K). As soon as I bought it I changed oil, oil filter, new air filter foam element, checked spark plugs, thoroughly cleaned and lubed the chain, and basically did a full service. Both tires are new, shims were recently done in the cams, and sparkplug replaced.

Trouble is, I'm only on my restricted, and only just got it. So I have 6 months left on my restricted, or maybe 3 months if I do the street talk course thing.
Man, if you were still looking to downgrade in 3 months, it would be the perfect swap, in my opinion, cos I wouldn't have to also worry about selling the FXR. The timing is just a bit out.

**Dargor** · 5th January 2009, 20:04

VFR's feel fat compaired to my fzr, oh and they one i rode had a pansy clutch.

Dont know about reliability, I've known both to break.

I love my fzr apart from it not being in original condition. Would like to ride a cbr to compare with.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 20:10

Originally Posted by McDuck

I still feel a katana 400 is superior.

Just onbody as ridden one because they have been distracted by the honda.

Get the katana 400...

If you can find one... worth the wait...

You know, it's funny: I'd never even heard of the Katana 400. I don't know anything about them. What other bikes do they share their motor with? And what sort of motor is it? I know about the Katana 750, which has been replaced by the GSX650F, but not the 400...
Do you have any pix?
Oh, and I have nothing against either Honda or Suzuki. I've owned both. But if I had to choose, gun to my head, on build quality, I'd have to go with Honda... And it seems from what I've read that Honda paid particular attention to the quality of their VFR's... Maybe because it (V4) was a technology that other companies weren't embracing, and they were more expensive, so there had to be convincing reason to buy one... I dunno though.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 20:32

Originally Posted by quickbuck

However the riding position is a little more scrunched up.
The pillion accommodation is non existent, unless it is for Bubbles (Wacko Jacko's Chimp).
And the Hunger for fuel of the VFR rivals it's 750 big brother......

Aside from this, if I was going to buy a 400 again, the VFR would be for me....
As I will only buy a 400 for weekend blasts, and most likely track time....

I must say Samgab, I think your head is in the right place when you have made the decision to step to a 400 from your 150, rather than take the 600 route. I make it a rule to only ever get a bike that won't scare me... and frankly, a 600 is a big step from a 150.....

Hmmm, some interesting points there, thanks.
1/ I'm short enough that scrunched riding position doesn't bother me much.
2/ I hate carrying pillions, so I doubt I ever will need a back seat.
3/ Now this is an issue. I want an economical bike. That's a major consideration for me!!! I want it to be substantially cheaper to run than my car.

And thanks for the positive feedback too... Some people are still suggesting the SV650 etc, but I don't know. I reckon 2 jumps to a 650/600 will be better than 1 jump from a 150. Hey, if I keep the 400 for a couple of years I might be ready for a new CBR600RR or something even... I think they're even lighter.

**McDuck** · 5th January 2009, 20:34

Jim2 did a resto on the one i currently ride.
Here is the thread.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=51151

they share parts withthe bandet and GSXR of the same years and engine size.
Fantastic bike

**racefactory** · 5th January 2009, 21:59

Originally Posted by samgab

Hmmm, some interesting points there, thanks.
1/ I'm short enough that scrunched riding position doesn't bother me much.
2/ I hate carrying pillions, so I doubt I ever will need a back seat.
3/ Now this is an issue. I want an economical bike. That's a major consideration for me!!! I want it to be substantially cheaper to run than my car.

I don't know what he's on about mate... thrashing the Nc30 about a bit with a bit of normal driving I get pretty much 20km a litre. If i was driving it economically it'd get 22k

Tank is about 10L if you fill up at the reserve and it gets me 200k most of the time and that's weekend blasting, thursday night rides etc... not commuting...

This is the 97/98 octane stuff.

I reckon that's alright.

Also i'm 79,80kg so not that light, you say your a bit shorter so if your lighter should be better than that...

**McDuck** · 5th January 2009, 22:04

Re fule usages... i have worked her real hard and gotten up to 7l per hundred kms (avrage speed for the 200km trip was up over 130kph) and have had it as low as 3l per hundred on the motorway.

And i was not going slow ither.

**racefactory** · 5th January 2009, 22:21

I'm really surprised at those good fuel mileage stats considering all those mcduck burgers you've been eating

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 23:00

Originally Posted by trademe900

I don't know what he's on about mate... thrashing the Nc30 about a bit with a bit of normal driving I get pretty much 20km a litre. If i was driving it economically it'd get 22k

Tank is about 10L if you fill up at the reserve and it gets me 200k most of the time and that's weekend blasting, thursday night rides etc... not commuting...

This is the 97/98 octane stuff.

I reckon that's alright.

Also i'm 79,80kg so not that light, you say your a bit shorter so if your lighter should be better than that...

Oh well that's fine. 200Kms from 10ltrs is pretty good. I'm a bit lighter than you, so might be a bit better still, though I tend to be fairly throttle-happy... But that's how they're meant to be ridden aye.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 23:03

Originally Posted by McDuck

Re fule usages... i have worked her real hard and gotten up to 7l per hundred kms (avrage speed for the 200km trip was up over 130kph) and have had it as low as 3l per hundred on the motorway.

And i was not going slow ither.

Oh cool. Turns out that the GSX400F I was talking about is a form of Katana all along anyway. So I already had the Katana 400 on the list.

Just a couple of years newer than your one, where they changed the fairing a bit, and it has the same motor as the GSXR400R of the same year.

**samgab** · 5th January 2009, 23:29

Originally Posted by chocobo_ff

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

Weeeeeeeell, seeing as you asked; and just for the sake of it:

http://tinyurl.com/7ebgs4

Same sort of thing as before.
It's harder with older bikes, because different websites show differing specs, and there are different models for different markets all here in NZ.
I have to assume that they're Jap imports available here in NZ, in which case they were restricted to 59HP up to '92, then restricted to 53HP from '93 onwards (Japan 400cc power restrictions). Dumb.
Anyway, take any specs in there with a grain of salt, as they could well be wrong, such as the weight for the VFR... They were quite different weights, depending on which market they were for, or which website you read. Also different power ratings etc.
Although now, about 15-19 years later, I doubt that any will be making their original power output anyway. I don't care, they're all more powerful than an FXR150!

And yes, again; I know that specs on paper are almost meaningless.