Just a few questions about the ZXR400 please?

[Adolf]

1. Are these good for long distance rides? My missus lives about 120 miles away, will this be alright to ride? I'm about 6'1 and slim if that makes any difference.

2. Are these alright to take pillion with? The missus wants to go on the back will it be alright and will it still do the ton with pillion?

3. Is it best to just keeping the restrictor in or does it make much difference between 33bhp and full power/

4. Are they many decent exhausts for this bike which gives a good purrr sound and pretty damn loud without baffles? Name a few...

Getting back to pillion -- I've never given pillion before -- could you possibly give me few tips I've been thinking about getting them walky talky things so we can speak to eachother and doing the tapping on shoulder when getting on/off anything else?

[stevezx7r]

Hi Adolf,

1. The zxr 400 is basically a race rep for the road so it shouldn't be a first choice for long distance work. That said, if the roads you ride on are twisty you might be ok as you'll be moving around a lot so your body wont have time to get cramped. I'm 6.1 too and I find it just about bike enough to fit me - my knee sliders just touch the fairing when sitting upright.

2. Again, it's a race rep. Although I've not taken a pillion on mine looking at the rear seat it looks like they will be sitting quite high. It shouldn't be a problem (for you or the pillion) so long as you keep gear changes smooth and brake in plenty of time so the pillion doesn't do the forward-backward helemt knocking thing If it's not restricted it should do about 100, you could always re-gear it if that's a problem.

3. Get rid of the restrictor.

4. I have a standard system with a Micron carbon race can and it sounds mint - 4k revs at about 30 mph in town and it burbles along nicely. Sounds more like a 600 than a 400. Can't comment on other cans.

Regarding those bike intercoms, you will need a decent lid which has decent levels of sound deadening (a quiet lid). I found the head sets tend to press up against my ear which caused a lot of pain.

As for taking a pillion see number 2. Just make sure your riding is smooth and you won't go far wrong.

Enjoy.

[razzcolio]

my two pennies

1. im only 5ft7 but i ave have no problems with distance, that said i think ive done a straight hour and half on mine so far so not sure about 120 miles. i will let u know next month when i travel 330 to my parents

2. i think its dead easy to carry a pillion on, and like has been said, if u brake easy and change gear smooth u wont bang heads. although my lass does complain about dead legs after 40 mins lol so either her being a whimp or an issue there...

3. if u are not on a restricted license then u dont need them so take em out and enjoy the full potential of the bike. that said if you've not really done much riding,i would keep them in personally, too many stories of new riders getting fast bikes and hurting themselves, u can still do this with the restrictions but less power to master to begin with till u get used to the bike? just a thought.

4.i have the standard system on mine with a Beowulf can, no baffles. its FUZZing sweeeet!! 4k revs it purrs....10k revs and ur ears are bleeding from the noise hehehe but my personal preference so ave a look round and see which u like.

and i bought the scala rider solo for my bike, brilliant for listening to music while u go, you can answer ya phone calls, but unless the ear peace's are fitted in exactly the right way it hurts like f***! and if u ride too fast or have a loud can (like me) u cant be heard on the mic...

me an the mrs ave a code, if she hits me on the shoulder i need to pull over, then we can talk, or u can talk at traffic lights lol unless ur planning on doing long journeys with her there's not alot of point..

hope this helps.

[Adolf]

Wow thanks guys I've liked reading both of the replies and it's helped me clear a few things up, just to verify I will need to keep it restricted to 33bhp because I'm only 19 coming up 20 and want to be on the road and don't want to wait another year just to be unrestricted for the sake of it would rather gain experience, I first started out on an Aprilia RS50 now I know these aren't an R1 however I had never been on a bike before so sitting in a "superbike" position felt great and I got used to all the gears, braking, leaning over as opposed to what you would on a scooter with no gears and felt the year on that taught me a lot I do some road cycling so I have quite good road sense and ain't the normal young daft lad I've seen many and heard many idiots getting big bikes which they don't know how to control or ride properly because they don't have enough experience where as I want to work my way up to an R1 in due time, I've always been told never to run before you can walk which is true, as most of the older or more mature if you want to say can agree with me.

Once I hit 17 my stepdad got me a Honda CBR400 and my intention was to pass my test there and then however I got laid off from work, my stepdad also did so I was kind and sold the bike and gave him the money whatever he got -- I never asked.

Now I'm starting a new job I want to get my test totally over with and get a bike pretty much asap, so my idea is to book my CBT (have to be renewed because the 2 years is up has been for a little while) and that is the first hurdle of the full test out the way, next I'll book my theory test I'm having absolutely no problems with the theory test practices online and get passes all the time, but I can't seem to find any hazard perception practice tests, anybody know of any links or software for these -- would be a great help thanks. Then grab a few weekend lessons and then book my Module 1 -- hopefully pass and the same for the Module 2 -- so in reality it should be a couple of months max to get all of it done and dusted providing I can get places booked quick at wherever I go -- anybody got any recommendations for the North East area, preferably Newcastle area -- don't worry I won't rip your head off if you mention Sunderland haha. Has anybody did the new test that their brought in a couple of years ago and what advice can you give me in order to pass my test quite smoothly? I've watched plenty of youtube videos and definitely looked at the requirements I'm pretty confident to be honest without sounding big headed I'm not exactly daft and know how to ride a bike.

I'm definitely gonna be buying full leathers, already got a decent helmet and gloves and jacket, but want a full Kawasaki leather set and the missus wants this



which should look really nice on her..are these even road legal does anyone know? And get her some nice leathers. Same as the smaller numberplate and louder exhaust I know it's not technically road legal but I'll still do it, I won't really be bringing attention to myself so unless I get a cocky copper I shouldn't have any problems fingers crossed.

I think I'll not bother with the talk things then and just do codes or whatever you wanna call it like you advised, tap shoulder on/off etc etc, sounds reasonable and pretty straight forward, height wise won't bother her she's petite so could do with a lift to see above me anyways!

Now for picking the bike, I've seen so many ZXR400's on Ebay and other buy and sell places for like £1,000 but these are either damaged or have high mileage and so on...so could anybody tell me the rough price for a decent ZXR400? I will be keeping the restrictor in as well it's only 2 years won't make much of a difference, and most important will keep my insurance valid, just incase anything does happen not necessarily my fault but I'll be covered.

Insurance isn't going to bother me neither at all, £690 is the cheapest quote so far and I won't mind that in the slightest.

Thanks for your kind responses it is definitely helping me among my way of getting my ZXR400 and being just like one of you lot.

[Adolf]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-ZXR- ... _500wt_949

Is that a good deal for example?

[razzcolio]

yeh that one looks spot on, offer lower and see what happens

and i did the new license just under a year ago, ull be right its peasy lol

[cargo]

I'd be suspicious of the seller....................................


It was made in 1990 but not registered untill 1997................

How does he know that ? What evidence does he have for that claim


I'd bet it's a Jap grey import that was ridden and enjoyed in Japan from new to 1997 then imported and re-registered in UK............and fitted with a set of UK clocks nice low milage ones



He's either stupid...............highly likely.................or a liar equally likely

Buyer beware

[Adolf]

I'd be suspicious of the seller....................................


It was made in 1990 but not registered untill 1997................

How does he know that ? What evidence does he have for that claim


I'd bet it's a Jap grey import that was ridden and enjoyed in Japan from new to 1997 then imported and re-registered in UK............and fitted with a set of UK clocks nice low milage ones



He's either stupid...............highly likely.................or a liar equally likely

Buyer beware

I'm guessing you have bought a ninja before, what would you say is my budget for a decent one? Not bothered so much on which model just want a decent looking well cared one.

[cargo]

about ten of them.............all told


speculating on a price or budget makes no sense to me....................that one on Ebay may well be fine.................but ask the seller


Frankly you'd be better buying something that you can actually go a see close up and look the seller in the eye

The bike you buy will cost waht you are prepared to pay for it depended on condition and history..........might be 500 or 2500

get out there and start looking

[Neosophist]

I'd be suspicious of the seller....................................


It was made in 1990 but not registered untill 1997................

How does he know that ? What evidence does he have for that claim


I'd bet it's a Jap grey import that was ridden and enjoyed in Japan from new to 1997 then imported and re-registered in UK............and fitted with a set of UK clocks nice low milage ones



He's either stupid...............highly likely.................or a liar equally likely

Buyer beware

Yep it's an H so it's going to be a Jap import. He means first used in 1997 in the UK, as cargo said he either doesn't know this or is trying to bump up the sale., if it's got MPH clocks on there not original either.

Personally i'd recommend an L for pillion.. the rear seat on the L is as big as the front seat on an H, much more room for the pillion to be comfy.

I've ridden on the back of H's and L's and the L is much more comfortable by a country mile.

Ideally you need to ride one a good trek and preferablly with a pillion to get a feel for the bike.

The 'sport' position is good, but with a taller rider and over a longer distance it does cause cramp, which is why you see so many riders taking a break!

For long distance and comfortable 2 up riding something like this can be had cheap and there bulletproof.

[Adolf]

I was thinking about getting a 600 but the insurance will bite me in the ass so sticking with the 400, the missus will only be on the back every so often -- so no worries there. I only fancy the ZXR400 to be honest, the VFR and RVF are ugly in my opinion, the CBR400 is alright but they look so outdated compared to the ZXR400 and the GSXR400 I just think looks to old to be honest.

I was thinking of budgeting myself for the baby ninja to £1000-1500

@ -- Is this good? - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-ZXR4 ... 2a12ea2050

[razzcolio]

i reckon with 1000 - 1500 ull get a beauty. and i also like the one in ur link, id go for it, maybe make a few offers see what happens,
but don't rush it coz they go up for sale quite often so if ur not 100% then watch out for better ones.

i rushed out and spent 2k on mine, and beautiful as she is, i didn't look into it properly and tbh i got done lol i should of payed 1300-1400..
so ave a look at years a mileage and defiantly go see them and have a listen to the engine.
(don't be put off by a loud rattly clutch tho )

[Adolf]

i reckon with 1000 - 1500 ull get a beauty. and i also like the one in ur link, id go for it, maybe make a few offers see what happens,
but don't rush it coz they go up for sale quite often so if ur not 100% then watch out for better ones.

i rushed out and spent 2k on mine, and beautiful as she is, i didn't look into it properly and tbh i got done lol i should of payed 1300-1400..
so ave a look at years a mileage and defiantly go see them and have a listen to the engine.
(don't be put off by a loud rattly clutch tho )

Start my job at 7 in the morning, take about a months wage and I'll have around the £1,200 mark (will try and do overtime to be honest to get more cash) then was thinking of buying the bike, between then though I'll have to do my CBT, and my theory (passing all practice theory tests online so far, and all practice hazard perceptions so should have no worries at all), how many lessons would you advise to take before going in for Mod 1 and Mod 2?

How loud do these beauties purrr at with no baffles in a race can anyone ride one like that?

[bendog66]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOzJXmK0q78

Although it depends what exhaust as they can sound very different. And I didn't rev it's tits off as it was warming up before you ask

[Adolf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOzJXmK0q78

Although it depends what exhaust as they can sound very different. And I didn't rev it's tits off as it was warming up before you ask

Doesn't matter if you revved the tits off it or not that sounds nice pur.

So none of you would say the ZXR400 are to old or outdated?