Doing my test soon and will be on a restricted license for 2 years (<33bhp) so looking at some 400cc's. Stuff like. Suzuki DR400, Honda XR400 etc are taking my fancy. Definitely want a supermoto/crosser style bike as I love the torque and riding position of them. Probably not going to be spending much more than £1700 or so. So can you guys recommend me anything else around that size and price range or is a DR400 the best to go for?
Best ~400cc bike
- Thread starter Macky
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personally I would just get a VFR or RVF 400 an get it restricted.
much better than the crosser style bikes, more power when you derectrict them and much nice to ride, better tank range, look better, handle better and are just.....well...better.
Plus crosser style bikes are much MUCH more likley to get nicked, but also are the 400 sports, as mine was nicked off my drive way about 6 months after I bought it
(can ya tell I dont like crosser style bikes)
much better than the crosser style bikes, more power when you derectrict them and much nice to ride, better tank range, look better, handle better and are just.....well...better.
Plus crosser style bikes are much MUCH more likley to get nicked, but also are the 400 sports, as mine was nicked off my drive way about 6 months after I bought it
(can ya tell I dont like crosser style bikes)
personally I would just get a VFR or RVF 400 an get it restricted.
much better than the crosser style bikes, more power when you derectrict them and much nice to ride, better tank range, look better, handle better and are just.....well...better.
Plus crosser style bikes are much MUCH more likley to get nicked, but also are the 400 sports, as mine was nicked off my drive way about 6 months after I bought it
(can ya tell I dont like crosser style bikes)
Absolute nonsense.
More power? Only when not restricted. If it was between a WR400 and a VFR400 and they were both at 33bhp, my money would be on the WR.
Nicer to ride? Lol, have you ridden a VFR400 for more than 30 minutes? Let me tell you, unless you're not much over 5 feet tall you're going to get a sore bum, cramp and stiff knees. They are absolutely tiny.
Look better? That's entirely Subjective.
Handle better? Oh boy. Enduros are much easier to corner on.
More likely to be stolen? Just no.
I always had sports up to my last prang; got an SM as it just came up at the right time, at the right price and I've not looked back. I've had it for 2 years now and the grin just ain't worn off. A pal of mine brought a Duel-Sport (in SM trim) and he's been having a ball after running just Crusiers and Tourers since passing his test.
SM/DS bikes are not about looks, power or comfort..
OP:
Another bike in the range your looking for would be the CCM 404DS (39bhp stock so only a minor capping of the throttle needed), it uses the DRZ lump, WP shocks, brembo brakes, ect.. Some will be in Trials trim, others SM, if you're lucky you'll find an owner with both trims so you can swap wheels depending on what you wish to do that day. That said the wheels can fetch good money so anyone with both sets might want more than your budget allows.
Here's one taken on a 45,000 km rideout..
http://www.motocrossafrica.co.uk/Bikes.html
Another CCM in the price range, but not many around, is the R35. It's basicaly the same as the DS other than shorter swingarm and bodywork style.
SM/DS bikes are not about looks, power or comfort..
OP:
Another bike in the range your looking for would be the CCM 404DS (39bhp stock so only a minor capping of the throttle needed), it uses the DRZ lump, WP shocks, brembo brakes, ect.. Some will be in Trials trim, others SM, if you're lucky you'll find an owner with both trims so you can swap wheels depending on what you wish to do that day. That said the wheels can fetch good money so anyone with both sets might want more than your budget allows.
Here's one taken on a 45,000 km rideout..
http://www.motocrossafrica.co.uk/Bikes.html
Another CCM in the price range, but not many around, is the R35. It's basicaly the same as the DS other than shorter swingarm and bodywork style.
Not really. Not the DRZ 400 SM anyway.
Try and get a DRZ 400 E as they have a much better carb. You find a few that have been converted to SM trim if that's what you want, although they are more than 33bhp.
Cumbria. I'm not bothered about the wheels to be honest.
Actually looking at some older Suzuki DR 350's. They look perfect. Cheap, as in ~£1000, and make 30 horses so just under the limit and still lots of fun to be had I imagine.
Actually looking at some older Suzuki DR 350's. They look perfect. Cheap, as in ~£1000, and make 30 horses so just under the limit and still lots of fun to be had I imagine.
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Going to look at a DRZ400 tomorrow actually. Any idea on how to restrict them and if it would be worth while? Could just make it so the throttle doesn't open all the way or something? It would probably be a DIY job though because a garage would charge something ridiculous like £100 to fit a washer in the carb.
I'd agree with most of that except the last bit; they are very popular targets for thieves, much more so than sports bikes.
Also being easier to corner on them doesn't mean they handle better.
The whole law is an absolute joke honestly. Basically rules out me getting any dirt bike as they all weigh too little and the power to weight is too high. Seriously cheesed off now. Unless power to weight includes the rider then it rules out any dirt bike. Fuming to be honest. Pretty sure almost all of the 250 bikes will be breaking this limit too. 0.16 KW/KG
Any thoughts guys? Do insurance companies not even ask about the power/weight ratio. Will they check it?
Any thoughts guys? Do insurance companies not even ask about the power/weight ratio. Will they check it?
Hmm, I'm not sure about this.
I've never personally had to ride restricted but all the people I know who did/do just got their bikes restricted to 33bhp and that was that. I'm not sure how picky insurance companies are with the power to weight but I'd guess they probably wouldn't check? Maybe you'd just have to restrict it to less than 33bhp.
