My 1st 400cc bike

[mxs]

Hi guys,

my first post here. I must say you have a very nice site with tons of information.

I am thinking of getting a bigger bike. I live in Canada where the smallest sportbike is 600. The price is quite high, insurance even worse so I am never gonna consider 600 and higher as an option.

For some time, I thought ZXR250 or similar inline 4 250cc bike would do. Power wise it would be fine for me, but I am really worried about parts availability. Since these 250cc were never imported officially out of Japan, I think I could run very soon into a problem or two.

So, I am considering 400cc option now. As inline 4 250cc, the 400 ones will have to be a grey import for me here in Canada. But I think the fact that the bike was sold officially for years in UK and elsewhere makes the parts much easier to get. Or am I wrong with this assumption?

I learned that over the years Kawi implemented various changes (H model, L model etc.). If I am given a choice which model should I opt for. The only limitation is that the bike will have to be 15 years or older, meaning 1993 if I want to buy it this year. which one would you recommend and which model would you tell me to stay away from.

Lastly, I know you all are a little biased here, since you love your ZXRs, but maybe some of you tasted the other 400cc, like CBR400R, VFR400 etc. How does ZXR400 fare up against them? Quality wise and parts availability wise ....

Thanks a lot for your replies,

Marek

[deviant]

Quick model history:

H model was 88-90 ish, L Model was 91-2003 ish. L models were actually imported into the UK in significant numbers so over here it's usually easier to get L Model parts (where they aren't common to both models).

There is next to no difference between a 91 'L1' model and a 99-03 'L9' model. Minor changes to engine internals and some other bits and bobs, but nothing vital. So don't have any concerns about buying a pre-93 bike - mine is a 93 L3 model (albeit now with an H1 engine in it) and it's great.

I don't know whether they were ever imported into the US? I certainly seem to remember there being a few members here in the past from your side of the pond. Obviously if they were then it's probably easier for you to get parts in Canada.

Certainly as you say, large parts of the world got the 400, while there's hardly any 250s outside Japan, so the parts distribution has to be better for the 400. I'm sure most of the UK specialists would be happy to ship to Canada but obv it's going to cost you.

Regarding the other models, I've only sat on them rather than ridden them, but I've had mates who have owned them too. The Honda's (CBR and VFR/RVF) are tiny, while the FZR and ZXR are vaguely normal sized. I'm 6'4" so this is important to me, but may not be for you. The ZXR is also the only one that was imported into the UK in significant numbers. If I had to express an order of preference it would be ZXR, FZR, RVF, VFR, CBR, GSXR.

[zimm]

what deviant said .. lol

ive ridden a couple of NC30's, and they really are small, (im a short butt, and they felt "toy-like" to me !), And an fzr briefly...later model fzr's (3tj) are tiny too.

performance-wise, the honda's have far better midrange, and the FZR is OH-SO-SMOOTH, whereas the ZXR feels a bit more "mechanical" and has a stronger top-end rush (albeit at the expense of midrange power)

I prefer the H model zxr (having owned every variant now) which to me feels more "flickable" and a bit more forgiving.. but that not to say the L is bad, i loved my L4.. Also, L's are "probably" easier to get parts for as they were sold in more markets, and made until quite recently. Whilst the H's only had a production run of a year each, (H1, H2), that said, most of the mechanical stuff is interchangeable between models as it was only really the styling that changed..

in order id go with ..

zxr-h, zxr-l, fzr-3tj, nc30, rvf, cbr-nc29, cbr-nc23, ... .. nah dont want a gsxr at all.

[masterofinsanity]

Hi and welcome to the site, couldn't put it better than Deviant says really, i'd opt for the L model for pure looks, it still looks a pretty up to date bike whereas the fzr400 looks dated, have sat on vfrs and as said previously they are small, i have heard they don't handle as well as the zxr as the flex in the single sided arm, but outperform the zxr with that little torquey motor.Parts are int their abundance for L models and not too bad for H models i'm sure you wouldn't have a problem getting hold of spares.

[Jamz]

I'm pretty sure they were around in the US under the 'Ninja' name - I'm sure Baz will know that one!

Actually - try http://www.kawasaki.com and go to Owner Info > Parts Diagrams

Hmm... that's the US site and I can't find parts info for it, so maybe it wasn't!

Anyway, as someone said - buy on condition rather than year. The L models are all the same, so it's entirely possible to get hold of an L1 in mint condition and a later L9 which is this side of the century but in toad-state!

[mxs]

Thanks guys for the info.

I kind of expected that kind of reply about parts availability. It's good to have that confirmed.

Actually, none of Kawasaki North America countries were smart enough to import this bike. Only 400cc officially imported was FZR400 1989 model I believe. And no, I am not going to get one, because I think it looks worst out of the 400 bunch. It really looks dated, even their later models. That's just my opinion.

When I was searching the net last night for bits of information about ZXR and CBR, I ran into a guy who kind of tested both bikes. Better said, he happened to own both, so he wrote a little review. His conclusion was that ZXR was blistering fast, faster than CBR, but CBR won in sub 8K riding. He claimed that compared to ZXR, CBR would pull out of any gear without any problems. So, if you need to do any city riding, he said CBR is certainly a better choice. Any arguments about this?

BTW, I would use the bike for a daily half city/half hwy commute of 30 clicks. Bigger size doesn't actually impresses me, because I am 5'10", 145lbs ....


Cheers,

Marek

[tobomoto]

how come the bike has got to be 15 years old?

[mxs]

That's the only legal way to import grey market bike into Ontario, Canada.

Cheers,

Marek

[zimm]

cbr's do have more midrange than the zxr, but even then, its not a lot, .. i was a bike courier for 4 years, and rode a ZX-4 (which has a zxr engine) um .. i wouldnt have stuck with it if it didnt work.

[deviant]

He claimed that compared to ZXR, CBR would pull out of any gear without any problems. So, if you need to do any city riding, he said CBR is certainly a better choice. Any arguments about this?

I'd say that's a bit too definite a statement. The CBR might have a bit more midrange than the ZXR (I've never ridden a CBR), but they are both still 400cc inline fours with next to no torque that need revving to go anywhere. The CBR might be a marginally better choice if you were only concerned with midrange and riding around town, but if that was your prime concern there are much better bikes than either of them.

I've ridden my ZXR through rush hour london, and I used to commute on it before we got the GPZ (500 Ninja in North America I believe) which is a much better town bike. It's fine. You adapt to the tools you've got.

This isn't a rabid defence of the ZXR just because I own one. I just don't believe that a few percent more in the midrange is going to make the CBR into a noticeably better bike around town.

[zimm]

deviant : so much better put than i managed ... tempted to delete my post now

[superman]

hmmm on a zxr forum asking which is better cbr or zxr its the zxr all day is there any other

[rene]

You'll never enjoy riding a sports bike inner citty, there just not made for it. The fact that the CBR might have a tiny bit more middrange making 6th gear 40mph roll on easyer dosnt really matter at all. If your bike is strugeling then drop a gear and it will pull fine!

[mxs]

I am not saying that this one opinion would sway me from getting ZXR400, I was more interested to know whether his observation was correct or not. I currently ride 2007 CBR125 so I have no idea what torque is anyways .... if you know what I mean.

I am more less decided to go for ZXR400 (to me the best parts-supported sub 500cc sports bike at this moment). Now, whether this will happen or not remains to be seen. It's not like there's many available on any given day in Canada. I know a couple of grey market importers here, I have to see whether they can bring one in for me at a reasonable price.

Thanks for your info,


Marek

[superman]

its more fun revin the b****s off them anyway its all good. i think for the purposes of this mate i would just pick which 1 you think looks the best.