A question of size?

[oldgreyandslow]

Or to put it another way, will a 400 be too small physically?

I am looking at getting one, in fact I WANT one, I'm selling my hornet and have always fancied owning a zxr so I'm on the hunt for a bargain, but I am wondering if I may be a bit gangly to fit it and look like a giraffe on a skateboard.

Is the zxr a bit tiny for a 6 foot tall old bloke with dodgy knees and a bad back?

Or sod the comfort and the looks and go for it?

[Tirpitz]

Size won't be a problem as it is a 'big' 400, compared to say an NC30, which is cramped. Your legs are tucked up, though, and it pays to move about when cornering, so how that's going to go with your knees is another matter. And the rear suspension can be harsh, which might not suit your back.

It is a pure supersports bike at the end of the day, very focussed and not at all suited to long comfortable rides. Might be best if you had a try before you bought.

[oldgreyandslow]

Thanks Tirpitz
I'm not expecting an armchair ride, its going to be a sunny day hour or two toy at most. Knees aren't that bad, although a bumpy road and hard suspension may be a bit jarring on the old back! Try before you buy is not usually an option when buying private and that's pretty much what I'm looking at cost wise. I'll get a block booking at my local osteopath

[CaNsA]

I'm 5 11 with buggered knees.

You will hurt and you will cramp up if you dont ride it that often.
But if you get on the bike 3 times a week your body will become "bike fit" for the zxr.
I ride mine everyday with no probs.

[oldgreyandslow]

"Bike Fit" ???????? Like I'll morph into it? I get bike fit riding my pushbike about 150 miles a week I'll just have to learn to live with it! Right, reassured the hunt is on! Cheap green one for sale anybody?

[CaNsA]

"Bike Fit" ???????? Like I'll morph into it? I get bike fit riding my pushbike about 150 miles a week I'll just have to learn to live with it! Right, reassured the hunt is on! Cheap green one for sale anybody?

Not "bike fit" as in healthy etc but "bike fit" as in using muscles you wouldnt use doing anything else but riding a small supersports bike.

Get on a zxr400 for the 1st time, ride it for 2 hours and you will know what i mean

[oldgreyandslow]

Not "bike fit" as in healthy etc but "bike fit" as in using muscles you wouldnt use doing anything else but riding a small supersports bike.

Get on a zxr400 for the 1st time, ride it for 2 hours and you will know what i mean

I guessed Mind you I am now beginning to wonder exactly what muscles you do use! My hornet is bad enough on the knees after a while, I find myself stretching at lights etc. Still its a good excuse to ride more

[RedexRobB]

Im 6' and manage fine. Yes the pegs are high, bars are low, but its a sports bike.

[CaNsA]

Man the f*** up!

Fixed it for you

[Tirpitz]

CaNsA's right, you will ache from muscles you don't use. I cycle 16 miles a day getting to work and back and do a fair bit of walking from time to time, up to 20 miles on a day out. I'm 5'10" and about 12st and 42 years old, so I'm reasonably fit. But nowadays I only ride a motorbike for pleasure, not daily, and maybe ride the ZXR once a week tops, usually less. If I go out for an hour or two the next day I know about it, as the muscles on the front of my thighs ache like buggery from being cramped up and climbing about the bike. Obviously my other activities don't use those particular muscles. Neck, shoulders and wrists don't bother me as I'm on those muscles on the pushbike.

But it's hardly like I'd get rid of the bike for that It's loads of fun and worth a few aches.

If you don't pay over the odds for the bike if you really can't live with it you can always sell it again for about what you paid, so go for it.

[oldgreyandslow]

If you don't pay over the odds for the bike if you really can't live with it you can always sell it again for about what you paid, so go for it.

That's exactly my thoughts, so the hunt is on, also put a wanted ad in the classified here.

Cheers