Todays 80s/90s bike I like
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
GSXR750 Japanese Race bike, though it looks more like a GSXR400, I'm trying to find the page I found it on, but it was just a blogspot and no real details.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
Yes indeed,that looks as focussed as it probably is.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
I had a 400 that looked like this
Much better than any of the cradle framed 750s or 1100s I've ridden, fantastic little bike.
Much better than any of the cradle framed 750s or 1100s I've ridden, fantastic little bike.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
A matey used to have a little Honda 250 four with sorted suspenders. It was a scream to ride (for a while) a 19k redline scream,if I remember correctly.
It had the stock exhaust on,but was quite loud. In top gear at 30mph,angry mothers were pulling their offspring to the side as the bike approached,it sounded flat out everywhere.
It had the stock exhaust on,but was quite loud. In top gear at 30mph,angry mothers were pulling their offspring to the side as the bike approached,it sounded flat out everywhere.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
That sort of sums up the problem with 400s on the road, you're cruising along at legal speeds, but because of the complete lack of mid range power you're sitting at about 8000 rpm, which makes it sound like you've got zero mechanical sympathy.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
One of the bar staff at the Ace used to have a 250 Hornet, same engine presumably. She'd ride across the car park and you'd spin round expecting to see a bike flying at 60 only to see her tip toeing along at 5 mph at a billion revs.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
Give em good oil, ride them regularly, and they love it though.... the dirty little bitches!!Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:56 pm That sort of sums up the problem with 400s on the road, you're cruising along at legal speeds, but because of the complete lack of mid range power you're sitting at about 8000 rpm, which makes it sound like you've got zero mechanical sympathy.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
I test rode a ZXR400 when I bought my GSXR, they're physically bigger than the other race rep 400s, preferred the engine and handling of the GSXR though, the ZXR was faster but felt flat.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
I put 51,000 miles on mine (the first owner put on 6), and it was putting out 60.5bhp on the XBikes dyno, he did the valves at (iirc) 45K and only 1 needed adjusting, wear on the cams was virtually non-existent.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 4:36 pm I test rode a ZXR400 when I bought my GSXR, they're physically bigger than the other race rep 400s, preferred the engine and handling of the GSXR though, the ZXR was faster but felt flat.
I agree they could feel flat, they only really came alive at about 12K.
My Mum had a CBR400RR Gull-arm for a long time - great little bike too.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
I think all of the 90s 400s were high quality bikes, I had a CB400SF that I sold with over 100,000 KMs on it and it was still running fine, my current FZR400RR seems to be very good for a 30 year old bike that was ridden in all weathers by the previous owner
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
Depends on the maintenance though.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 4:49 pm I think all of the 90s 400s were high quality bikes, I had a CB400SF that I sold with over 100,000 KMs on it and it was still running fine, my current FZR400RR seems to be very good for a 30 year old bike that was ridden in all weathers by the previous owner
I worked at Nottingham Powersports for about 6 months and they asked me to take an FZR400 for an MOT, not sure why really as it was unrideable: the head bearings were so worn out it was physically impossible to steer once it was moving! I got about 100yards before turning around.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
The Supersport 400 class was a hoot at club racing level as large groups of ZXR400, CBR/RVF400's and the occasional FZR400. The FZR's were quite rare as the engines had a more fragile reputation. ZXR's were fairly popular but the majority of the field seemed to opt for the Honda reliability.
Produced some very good and close racing and quite a few of the Visordown racing mob used it as a starter class and ended up staying in it for years
For close racing see
Coupe of mates with Rik Ballerini leading Dave Hewson and i think Paul Rogers in 3rd ....most races involved at least these 3 at the front plus a gaggle of others getting stuck in
Produced some very good and close racing and quite a few of the Visordown racing mob used it as a starter class and ended up staying in it for years
For close racing see
Coupe of mates with Rik Ballerini leading Dave Hewson and i think Paul Rogers in 3rd ....most races involved at least these 3 at the front plus a gaggle of others getting stuck in
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
Loving the look of that first GSXR.
I can't ever remember seeing that version back in the day mind.
I can't ever remember seeing that version back in the day mind.
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
Bought one of these from BAT Motorcycles and loved i to bits. Still think it looks good today!
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
I loved my 400 Bros (the pics above is a 650 cos it says Product One on the sticker). Traded it in for an FZR400RR, which I loved even more!
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Re: Todays 80s/90s bike I like
It also gets PC Plod all excited.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:56 pm That sort of sums up the problem with 400s on the road, you're cruising along at legal speeds, but because of the complete lack of mid range power you're sitting at about 8000 rpm, which makes it sound like you've got zero mechanical sympathy.
I had a copper jump out in front of me when I was riding a ZXR250 through Camber.
He was wearing his best 'gotcha' expression but his mate hidden in the hedge with the speed gun was sadly shacking his head. Bang on the 30 limit. But at 7-8000 rpm!