How far have you gone?....

[Miles]

Hello all, I'm planning to move back to portsmouth from belfast over the next year but plan to ride down to hayling island to check it all out.

I plan to go Belfast-Rosslare-(Ferry)-Pembroke-Hayling Island and it has just occured to me, is the 400 up too it? and secondly will I give up before it does.

So my question is, how far has anyone gone on a zxr 400, did they have any problems and what tips would you give me? ie: what luggage to carry? etc

Any advice would be welcomed

Miles

[RedexRobB]

longest trip in one go i ever did was round the coast of kent, my back and wrists were sore after it but that was about it. ZXR should be fine, check all the usuals before you go like oil, coolant, tyre pressures, chain tension and a lube up.

Not sure about what luggage, id say take as little as poss as you'll have to carry it. Wear ear plugs if you get on with them, take regular breaks too although you will be filling up every 100 miles or so anyway, Take a can of lube with you too n give the chain a coat every stop id say.

[Jamz]

It should be fine.

I used mine for long-distance courier work all over the UK - spending 9 hours a day on it sometimes, and it was only the last 30-60 mins that was really uncomfortable on the old backside!

Wrists shouldn't be a problem if you're riding the bike right. *glares at Rob*

If it's a lot of motorway miles you could even consider putting a rear sprocket on with less teeth so you can run at lower revs at the same speed. I'd also recommend a double-bubble screen.

Luggage, personally I'd say get as much as you can in a good rucksack - people will disagree here but my reasoning is that it IS possible someone will have your bike luggage away when you're inside paying for fuel or stood in the chippy etc. I used a tankbag and tailpack when needed, with no problems. I used the older Oxford luggage - black textile stuff with good waterproofing and you should find it cheap now they have at least one new line out.

And enjoy it!

[Miles]

Thanks guys good advice, lot of good ideas to get me thinking. Feel abit more confident about the trip now.

[beermaker]

not gone anywhere on my zxr yet (long story!!) but I used to regularly do long trips on my GS500 with little problem. I just used an Oxford tail pack strapped onto the pillion seat, a rucksack and my beloved tank bag, and as long as you plan to travel light, you should have little problem

[Eve]

hi, I went from Milan (Italy) to Swansea (Wales) riding my 1993 zxr 400 3 years ago.

The last summer I went from Swansea to Lisbon and back with the same bike, pillion and luggages.
You will have no prob

[CaNsA]

I done a run from Liverpool to Rugby on the motorway @ about 110 the whole way and the zxr was a trooper. Didnt miss a beat.

I miss my zxr. Anyone want to swap for a cbr600f3?

[zimm]

ok, i'll play ..

circa 500 miles a day, 5 days a week for several years

yes, it hurt..

yes, the bike looked like toad

yes, it blew up.. but only the headgasket, and only once

i miss despatching.

longest single trip (not work related) was Bristol to Bourg St Maurice.. thats about 800 miles total, the 600ish from calais in one stint, overnight only stopping for fuel.. think i managed it in around 8 hours.. arrived at around 3am, got 4 hours sleep and spent the day rock climbing of all things.

the bike was fine

remember to carry (and use) chain lube and earplugs
soft sports panniers rock (as long as they dont get nicked, lots of complex bungee arrangements and a couple of small padlocks are a semi effective deterrent*)
rucksacks hurt your neck (and everything else after 4 hours)
tailpacks are either small, fall off or cause a wobble (IMO)
never tried a tank bag.. they look bulky and im not, so i didnt.. besides i gaffa tape the route map to the tank

*actually the only time my panniers went walkabout was at a service station on the M5 on the way to Glasto one year.. had my tent/tickets/id/etc.. everything in there .. honest they did .. can i come in now please ?

suckers !

[Neosophist]

ok, i'll play ..

-snip-

.. besides i gaffa tape the route map to the tank

Gaffa tape, amazing