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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
I REEAAALLY wish there was a way to get a hold of some of the 400cc sportbikes that were sold in other countries.
I have ridden dirtbikes as a kid, ridden around on friends bikes enough to not worry about being on the street (everything from 600's to litre twins). I'm totally comfortable on the street (knock on wood), and could probably survive on just about anything I wanted to. Unfortunately, I'm the type that needs to feel like he is progressing, the speed isn't so much my concern, as is the way I get there. Corner speed and the proper line are where I get thrills from. I can't learn that on a newer 600 (I'm sure others have and do, but it doesn't seem like the best way to do it to me)
That said, the current choices of 250's and 500's just don't do it for me (I know, I'm going to get flamed for this, but hear me out), I don't care as much about straightline numbers, but a little more speed would be nice
I would rather buy one of the japanese 400cc bikes from a few years ago, and ride the crap out of it for two or three years, then move up (if ever really). They are flickable, with peaky powerbands (means I have to work the gears to progress), yet have enough get up and go to develop for a long time. Just about everything that a rider could ask for.
Even the 600's from a couple years ago have more power and torque than what I want right now. Not that I couldn't make it, but I really only want 50 or sixty horsepower, and not much torque.
The SV650 would be fun, but the powerband is too low, too much torque down low (feels faster than the GSXR600 I rode up to about 30 or 40)
Is there a site/source for finding out more about the grey market ones that are here? Ideally I would want an NC30 or NC35. But I'm quickly discovering they are 7k plus for ones that have been made street legal (might still be worth it though). I really wouldn't want to spend more than 5k though.
FZR400's are thrashed everywhere I look, I don't think a single one of those things hasn't been ridden into the ground (probably why I want one though, corner fun!)
GSXr400's or ZXR400's? Haven't heard of any in the states yet.
I know servicing will be more difficult, but I kinda have my mind set on it now, and think I won't lose any money on owning the bike, simply because I'm sure there are more people out there like me.
Does anyone else think 400's are a great idea for those wanting to progress a bit more? Or am I going down the wrong track?
Anyone know where I can get more info on them? Searching the web has led me to mostly UK and japanese sites.
Right bike, wrong market. They just wouldn't sell very well here in the states... not when any 18 year old with a learner's permit and his parent's money can buy a ZX10 for his first bike. Tiered licensing (and other factors like insurance, lower overall amounts of disposable income etc) in other countries helps the smaller bikes sell much better there than they would here.
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The NC30 and NC35 are by FAR the coolest of the 400's. Full aluminum frame, single sided swingarm, upside down forks (on the 35).... it's pretty much my dream bike!
There's a company in thailand that imports them and says that they will take care of the paperwork to make them street legal. It's about 3k when all said and done... but the website seems a bit shady. You can also get them with custom bodywork from the same website.
But yeah- if you look at ebay.co.uk, they go for about 1k-2k british pounds... they are just really old, small displacement bikes. if i lived over there, i'd have on in a SECOND.
So i don't know about places that will register them... but if you find out, make sure you PM me, i've wanted one for years. A guy on this site, i forget his username, has an NC35 that he got from ebay for like 10 or 11k...
So yeah- good luck!!
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[quote=kevinwilly]The NC30 and NC35 are by FAR the coolest of the 400's. Full aluminum frame, single sided swingarm, upside down forks (on the 35).... it's pretty much my dream bike!
There's a company in thailand that imports them and says that they will take care of the paperwork to make them street legal. It's about 3k when all said and done... but the website seems a bit shady. You can also get them with custom bodywork from the same website.
QUOTE]
3k for the bike or the paperwork? Hmm, 2500 for the bike (if possible) 3k for the paperwork, and probably would maintain that value the whole time I owned it... Do you have a link to the website? I'm finding parts/bodywork aren't really that hard to come by, I even read mention of an HRC kit taking them up to 75hp!
3k for the bike or the paperwork? Hmm, 2500 for the bike (if possible) 3k for the paperwork, and probably would maintain that value the whole time I owned it... Do you have a link to the website? I'm finding parts/bodywork aren't really that hard to come by, I even read mention of an HRC kit taking them up to 75hp!
It's 3k for the bike, about... you still have to make it pass DOT, though. I don't know anyone that's gotten one from there, though. And i wouldnt send them my money without knowing someone that has done it...
It's like 80,000 of whatever thailand currency is..... which comes out to about 3k depending on the week....
i'll dig up the website. but by custom bodywork, i mean you can get like 900RR bodywork on it. It looks just like a newer bike, but it's a 400. You can even get undertail exhaust and everything. It's pretty sick.
HOLY COW... those 400cc Honda's look kick ass! I really think they need to start selling those bikes in the states... They will sell if you ask me! Great for commuting and sporty enough for twisty's.
HOLY COW... those 400cc Honda's look kick ass! I really think they need to start selling those bikes in the states... They will sell if you ask me! Great for commuting and sporty enough for twisty's.
The problem is that brand new they will be about 6500 bucks... because they utilize all the current technology, just like the 600 class bikes.
So why would people buy that, when for a couple thousand more they could have a 600?
The 400 class bikes make about 50hp at the wheel, the 600's make 110.
It's worth two thousand bucks to double the power.
What they need is more bikes that are low displacement but have fully adjustible suspension and aluminum frames... so that you can actually take them to the edge and then upgrade them more. And they need to keep the cost under 5k.
Not happening unless something drastic changes in this country...
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take that gixxer into the powerband and I bet your mind will change.
if the ninja 250 or 500 isnt for you, and you dont like the sv650 or ex650, then get a 600ss.
You are correct, I have ridden the GSXR600 (2003 model), and yes it has tons more power up top. No question there, but I want something that I can spend all day practicing cornering and lines. Much easier to do that on a lower power bike than on a 600. I could do it on the 600 I'm sure, but I won't learn the skills as quickly as I would like too. I spent a whole summer on a 1998 R6 several years ago. I never dropped it or anything, but its so easy to get sucked in by power, that you lose focus on skill developement (at least I do).
I would actually pay the same for a 400 as I would for a 600. I want the chassis and handling more than anything. Financially, I could by a 999 if I wanted to, that doesn't mean its a good idea for me at this point.
My reasoning for rejecting the SV is the amount of torque so low in the powerband. And its kind of jerky from smaller throttle openings (gsxr600 was much better in this regard) I actually want to have to wring the crap out of it to keep up, but I don't want a hamfisted move in a corner to cause a high-side.
I know I can physically do it on a 600, but I at what limit? It will be higher than what I am capable of at this point, and likely will continue to be for a few years (probably ever really, how many people can really push any bike to its limits?). That said, the 250's and 500's just do nothing for me, and something like an NC35 would rape all of them on a track, yet still maintain all of the traights of a smaller bike like the EX250 etc. I know I can do the squid thing and "just not use all the throttle", but I want to actually have to use all the throttle to make the bike dance.
Hopefully I can make something happen in the next few months, I am in no rush, if I find out I can make this work that would be great. Hopefully there will be some board members who have owned one in the past.
Any insight or comments are greatly appreciated. Keep em' coming!
Well, I'll throw out an oddball choice then, one that I had considered myself before the 919 fell in my lap. How about a Triumph speed four? It's an inline four with about 85 horsepower (or so) at the wheel higher up in the rev range where you seem to prefer it, modern fully adjustable suspension, and all the fuel injection hangovers from the TT600 days have been banished. The only drawback I can see would be if you're not into the whole naked-bike look. I love naked bikes, but they're not everyone's cup of tea.
The S4 has been discontinued now, but I've seen plenty of Triumph dealers still offering leftover 05's at a discount if you want to go new instead of used.
Damn, you know, I think I just talked myself into buying one.
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Nike is her name, you remember it
Far deadlier than any girl on any world
Nike be good, Nike be everything woman's not
Nike take my life along with yours
Why no 400's?
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