Opinions on which bike to buy please...

[thegraveltrap]

So around 4 years ago now i had to stop with my progress to getting a full licence - at the time i owned a zx6r ninja (1998 model) had it insured and ready to rock n roll for when i passed, i sold that along with all my gear i had bought at the time.

Now i am back to get my licence, i have passed the theory - booked the cbt and am going to do the DAS route over the coming weeks or months, whatever it takes.

I want to get a bike again, get it insured and ready... last time i just bought the ninja because it was available to me cheap. This time i am having a better look at whats about, thoughts are..

F3 or F4 Honda cbr 600,
Yamaha thunderbird 600,
zx6r ninja 600.

That would be my choices for a 600 BUT i have thought this time about buying a 400 and using that to learn and progress on (lighter/can get through the gears more often etc) options here are..

kawasaki zxr400
honda cbr 400 "babyblade" nc23 or nc29,
honda vfr 400 nc24 or nc30
suzuki gsxr 400r

something else that has popped up which is available quite cheap and is in lovely condition is a honda vfr400 nc21 in the link...

https://youtu.be/qCodzOjDVM4

runs well and past its last mot without any advisories and hasnt done much since other than being start up and ran around the block to keep it fresh.

LASTLY my final option is to buy a zxr400 for £750 that is in lovely condition but has a seized engine, a running engine is available with the bike for an extra £150 but then it means either removing the dead engine myself and fitting the replacement or have a bike shop do the work and do a top end refresh on the running engine while its already out and easy to access, picture of the bike..



What do you guys think is the best option here?

[Charliecloud]

Keeping to what you have listed - NC29 I have had 2 of them in the past and they make a lovely Sunday morning going for a blast bike.

NC21 looks interesting, but it also looks very old and spares may be a problem

[thegraveltrap]

Charliecloud said:

Keeping to what you have listed - NC29 I have had 2 of them in the past and they make a lovely Sunday morning going for a blast bike.

NC21 looks interesting, but it also looks very old and spares may be a problem

the nc21 looks really nice and it starts up spot on and sounds quality my only reservation with it is exactly what you just mentioned - parts! if anything goes pop or whatever i might struggle, but again it does look in very sound condition and its really cheap!

[Walter Sobchak]

If you can find one for reasonable money my choice would be the NC30, great bikes!.

[Kawasicki]

Had a zxr400 and it was brilliant, once Maxton had revalved the rear shock.

[thegraveltrap]

Kawasicki said:

Had a zxr400 and it was brilliant, once Maxton had revalved the rear shock.

im very tempted by it - would be a little bit of a project but its not the end of the world i guess.

[Davel]

I'd get your test first and then do some decent test rides before deciding.

[Moulder]

Unless it is something you want to do for the experience and to learn I would be reluctant to be swapping engines.

I had a ZX6R G2 and now have a GSXR400 GK76a. If it is purely to be a toy then the 400 will be just as good, if not better to learn on. If you are planning longer trips or it is your only bike and you'll be keeping it a while then the ZX6 will likely get more use.

Additionally, if you are ovet about 5' 8" then I'd try to sit in a 400 first as they are a lot smaller than the 600's.

[Kawasicki]

thegraveltrap said:

Kawasicki said:

Had a zxr400 and it was brilliant, once Maxton had revalved the rear shock.

im very tempted by it - would be a little bit of a project but its not the end of the world i guess.

Most of my mates said I would be bored of a 400 in no time. Didn’t happen. The zxr400 is reasonably quick..I did one track day and it ran side by side with a Ducati 748 for a few laps, which confused that rider. It was also great on fuel and cheap to insure. Make sure all pistons are free in the brake calipers...mine weren’t when I bought the bike.

[anonymous-user]

Pass your test and then look to see what's around.

I'm a bit out of the loop with bikes these days, but don't underestimate the speed of 400s and don't over estimate your ability.

Bikes are orders of magnitude faster than cars and trouble can arise equivalently quickly, so take your time learning after passing my test many years ago I had a gpz500, and that was plenty quick enough for the first few years, and that was before average cameras and traffic.was much lighter (hell I could get into The City and get a parking space arriving at 8.45!)

[thegraveltrap]

Moulder said:

Unless it is something you want to do for the experience and to learn I would be reluctant to be swapping engines.

I had a ZX6R G2 and now have a GSXR400 GK76a. If it is purely to be a toy then the 400 will be just as good, if not better to learn on. If you are planning longer trips or it is your only bike and you'll be keeping it a while then the ZX6 will likely get more use.

Additionally, if you are ovet about 5' 8" then I'd try to sit in a 400 first as they are a lot smaller than the 600's.

Why would you be reluctant to swap engines? its not a massive job is it...

its the GK73a that i was weighing up aswell on the list

[Pothole]

Up your budget and buy something from this millennium.

[thegraveltrap]

Pothole said:

Up your budget and buy something from this millennium.

no... im quite happy with what is available at this sort of price at the moment, next year i will get something newer.

[Pothole]

thegraveltrap said:

Pothole said:

Up your budget and buy something from this millennium.

no... im quite happy with what is available at this sort of price at the moment, next year i will get something newer.

So you weren't actually asking for "Opinions on which bike to buy please"?

[thegraveltrap]

Pothole said:

So you weren't actually asking for "Opinions on which bike to buy please"?

Obviously i was yes, out of the bikes i listed - which fall within my budget...

[Moulder]

thegraveltrap said:

Moulder said:

Unless it is something you want to do for the experience and to learn I would be reluctant to be swapping engines.

I had a ZX6R G2 and now have a GSXR400 GK76a. If it is purely to be a toy then the 400 will be just as good, if not better to learn on. If you are planning longer trips or it is your only bike and you'll be keeping it a while then the ZX6 will likely get more use.

Additionally, if you are ovet about 5' 8" then I'd try to sit in a 400 first as they are a lot smaller than the 600's.

Why would you be reluctant to swap engines? its not a massive job is it...

It may be an afternoon (though unlikely), but has the potential to be almost open ended in terms of time/cost, especially if you are relying on others to do some of the work.

If this was my only bike and I was keen to start riding then I would look for something I could see running and ideally test ride.

[Bikesalot]

ZXR400 gets my vote.

I had a 1991 ZXR400 as my first sports bike, absolutely loved it. Couple of trackdays plus the usual riding and it didn't falter.

Through social media I can see it's changed hands a few times but still going strong.

[ukbiker32]

What is a thunderbird? or did you mean thundercat? id say have a look at a vtr1000 firestorm was cheaper for me to insure than the 600's mentioned and such a underated bike. What is your budget?

[Jazoli]

I'd just buy the best example of any of the ones you have listed, they are all old, most will be neglected/knackered/in serious need of a refresh, you want to buy something that has been looked after, has had a replacement rear shock and fork rebuild, lots of invoices and a caring owner would sway me towards that particular bike rather than any others on the list that have no evidence of servicing and new parts.

As an example my friend bought a low mileage mint 20 year old thundercat, it was really tidy and shiny but the fork seals leaked, the rear shock was toast, the original rubber brake lines were perished, the carb rubbers were shot, the brakes didn't, the tyres were 10 years old and there were several other issues that needed addressing before it was fit to ride, unless you are mechanically able to fix stuff yourself an older bike can be a money pit, even if its 'only' a 400/600, what you save on the purchase price you'll more likely than not end up having to spend more sorting it, I would recommend buying something a bit newer with fuel injection.

Edited by Jazoli on Wednesday 14th August 08:53

[yellowstreak]

As a first bike I'd be wanting to rely on torque rather than top end to make progress. I don't know much about those 400s (find them interesting though!), but I imagine its important to be in the right gear on something that revs that highly. SV650? VFR800? Bandit?