Good Buy???

[richie_few]

How does this look as a first bike?? seems good value, insurance quotes so far arnt to bad.

What you opinion??

www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=36297&s=138

[Mon Ami Mate]

richie_few said:

How does this look as a first bike?? seems good value, insurance quotes so far arnt to bad. What you opinion?? www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=36297&s=138

If you are bigger than 5"4', forget it. If you want to do anything other than track days and half hour thrashes, forget it. If you plan on commuting or touring, forget it. Still meet your needs? Have a very close look at it in daylight. Look at the bodywork condition and check to see if the sump has been lockwired. Many of these bikes were raced - the standard bodywork may have been taken off and replaced with cheap racebodywork. If the standard paint looks amazingly unblemished, be very suspicious.

There is only one way to choose a bike and that is to ride lots of bikes until you find one that suits you best.

[gixxer1000]

No idea if the price is right richie, or if this is really the bike for you (depending on what you are looking for in a bike etc), but I do know that if it is then you'll not be disappointed with an EXUP as your first bike. I have several mates who will buy nothing else (EXUP after EXUP).

Good luck.

gixxer.

>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Monday 28th February 20:58

[iguana]

I kow naff all about the Yammie 400s, but im a real sucker for the V4 400 Hondas myself, in VFR or preferably RVF form (RVF well over £1500 tho) the engines are IMHO far far far better then the little screaming inline 400 4s & ok the Hondas are indeed tight for a big fella- & im about a foot taller than mon ammis 5'4'' restriction & it was fine for all but long motorway stints- a modern sports 600 is more cramped for me.

However assuming this is a straight bike then I doubt you will loose dosh on it esp if you sell in the summer, remember when you look at it tho that all the little bits it could need like tyres, chain/sprokets, a fork seal etc etc it can all add up & you might need to spend an easy £300+ on it just to get it in good riding nick.

The shocks take a pounding on 400s- being designed for 3 stone jap midgets, so esp when they've had lardy gits like me riding 'em they can be fooked, so be aware you might have to budget for one.

[richie_few]

Do you think i might be better off with a 600?

Im 5ft 10" and weigh 11 1/2 stone. (Abit personal)it will be my first bike but i dont want to buy somthing that ill be pissed off with within a few months. I you spend up to 4k really but the 400 seemed cheap. I have a company car so it will be used at weekends and on summer evenings and track days when im confident enough.

>> Edited by richie_few on Tuesday 1st March 09:02

[Mon Ami Mate]

richie_few said:

Do you think i might be better off with a 600? Im 5ft 10" and weigh 11 1/2 stone. (Abit personal)it will be my first bike but i dont want to buy somthing that ill be pissed off with within a few months. I you spend up to 4k really but the 400 seemed cheap. I have a company car so it will be used at weekends and on summer evenings and track days when im confident enough. >> Edited by richie_few on Tuesday 1st March 09:02

Buy a 600. A CBR or a ZX6R will do everything you want it to and is quick enough to keep up with almost anything in most real world situations. You must go out and ride a few bikes though before making a decision.

[mrmaggit]

Or a Fazer 600 or SV650. Don't forget, you WILL drop your first bike, and not having fairings etc will keep the repair bills down.