VFR or CBR?

[anything]

Alright there,
Im after a bit of advice on buying a CBR/VFR 400.
Im 19 and have got my bike test next week, because of my age i will be restricted to 33bhp, my budget to get a bike is £2500-3000.
I will need this bike to commute every day from hornchurch to the city and start every morning, as i did have my sight's set on an RS125, but them things are not meant for commuting.
What is more reliable and more easy/cheap to maintain? VFR/CBR
Also am i best forking out the extra cash to buy from a dealer? or save some money and buy private. The only problem with private is im not to familiar with the import's, and am worried might not spot something wrong.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers

Jack Richardson

[zyklonlee]

Cbr is probably your best bet, loads of them about so spares are cheap.

[Tark]

As i said in the other section. CBR all the way. More reliable, more comfortable, (faster) and cheaper bits.

[Dan]

<COUGH> VFR in my totally unbiased opinion lol
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dan.

[FUBAR]

Hey Guys

In my opinion its goto be the Vfr as its much more relaible as its a v4 it has more torque which is what u need if ur looking for using it as a commuter bike that said its slightly heavier that the CBR

The CBR is faster but this is due to the limted gearing the VFR has if it was geared correctly it would easily out pace the CBR

As for comfort the CBR is smaller not by alot but inches count if ur a big chap (over 5,6") and the seat isnt ( if ull excuse the expression) a plank of wood on the VFR unlike the CBR

As for spare parts as zyklonlee said the CBR would be slightly the better choice as there are alot more of them about, although its not really hard to get spares for ethier of these bike anyway ..

another fact that ever one has overlooked is the fact that most CBR 400 owners thrash the pants of there lil 400's so be carefull if u go for the CBR



Here's a small list of specs for each bike :)






CBR 400R

Type Liquid cooled 16-valve
DOHC parallel four
Displacement 399cc
Bore x Stroke 55x42mm
Carbs 4 x CV carbs
Gearbox 6-speed constant mesh
Max Power 50bhp @ 11,500rpm
Max Torque 24ft-lb @ 10,000rpm
Fuel Capacity 14.4 ltr's
Weight 163kg
0.25miles NA
Approx.Mpg: 39
Seat Height 750 mm (29.5 inches)
Brakes front dual275mm discs with 4-piston calipers
Brakes rear single 220mm disc with 2-piston calipers
Wheelbase 1375 mm (54.1 inches)
Tires front 120/60-17
Tires rear 150/70-18
Top speed 135mph



VFR 400

Type Liquid cooled 16-valve
DOHC HRC V4
Displacement 399cc
Bore x Stroke 55x42mm
Carbs Gearbox 6-speed constant mesh
Max Power 62.5bhp@13000rpm
Max Torque 28.9ft-lb@10,500rpm
Fuel Capacity 15 ltr's
Weight 173kg
0.25miles1/4mile 11.44s/119mph
Approx.Mpg: 39
Seat Height 765 mm (30.0 inches)
Brakes front dual275mm discs with 4-piston calipers
Brakes rear single 220mm disc with 2-piston calipers
Wheelbase 1345 mm (53 inches)
Tires front 120/60-17
Tires rear 150/60-18
Top speed 125mph+




ps:U once uve got it restricted take off ur Carbs and remove the lil steal washers to get that all important power back just dont crash it lol or the insurance company will know :twisted:

FUBAR


It wasnt me officer :roll:

[FUBAR]

Dont ask me what the deal is with the Carbs and gearbox lol but it if i try and move it it nackers summut else up but the Carbs on the VFR are also 4XCV

[Tark]

I was automatically assuming he was after a CBR600?? :oops:

[Dan]

This topics 'ere un all ppl:

http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359

[Spider]

i would personally go for the VFR mainly because i just seent he specs and the CBR only has 50bhp sorry but i gotta laugh at that as my TZR250 has 50bhp and does bout 130mph where as the VFR has 62bhp so you got the more power straight away and if your commuting you dont need to worry about the top speed as much and 125mph will do anyone even if they were commmuting round the country!!! plus VFR's arte cheaper arnt they??

[Dan]

Yeah, but your TZR250 is a 2 stroke isnt it?

[Spider]

yeah but im alowed to bask arnt i as i ahve to wait 2 years to ride a 400+ eigher due to license or restricted funds dont spoil my basking time!!!



arrhhhh BASSSSSKIIINNNGGG INIT!!!! :dance:

[Tark]

Sorry but a 400 four stroke will still beat a 250 two stroke.

They race them in the same class Formula 400 and the vfr's etc etc still beat the rs250's.

[Spider]

yeah well the RS's is crap and ill make sure he is riding the 400 as he cant turn corners very well or so he says!!! and as i said DONT SPOIL MY BASKING!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[Dan]

I would like to see a race between my bike and yours Spider...
My question about yours being a 2 stroke wasnt to state my bike is faster.... i honestly believe it would be a battle between the 2.

We should meet up one evening and have a burn up to High Beech.. i mentioned race above... and i didnt really mean that... itd just be fun to wiz past eachother on the way up there.. see the difference (if any) between the 2 bikes.

U up for that? You could come for a burn with me and FingerZ next weekend if you want.

[Tark]

sorry about your baskin. I must have been writing my post as you posted. Anyway

i thought the vfr was a twin??

it says above in the specs:

Bore x Stroke 55x42mm for both the cbr and vfr? am i totally wrong and the vfr a 4 cylinder?

[zyklonlee]

If you got a VFR though you get extra chipshop points for the single sided arm. :clap:

[Dan]

I may be buying another VFR400R to use on the track.... i'll take some pics when i can and show you all... you can help me decide then ;)

[Tark]

Like i said in another topic Team Matrix??

[Dan]

Ahhh man, i cant wait to have a spin on that VFR.. if its nice then indeed - Team EssexBikers! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Spider]

yeah and you can be sponserd by Spider Underground lol!!

[Abberadon]

If you are commuting you wanna go for the VFR. It is a blinding piece of kit with a fairly decent amount of power and a decent riding style. The last thing you need in the rain is a crappy riding position. Crunched up and wet is not fun - trust me. Anyway, CBR's are like clitorises.........

[Dan]

what.... hard to find lol :lol: :lol:

[Abberadon]

simliar, summat to do with the lack or rarity....

[Spider]

lol i was gonna say hard to please!!! lol as in lots required in the maintenece

[FUBAR]

Lmfao :)

[troutslayer]

the cbr has 57bhp.

the vfr's look good, but, spark plugs @ £hideous per set. servicing at £hideous cos no one wants to service them! Take a look at one, and see how much work there is in just changing the sparkplugs and you'll get the idea.... a lot of th vfr's have been abused and unserviced because the people buying them (younger folk, less cash in pocket(thats just a generalisation)) cant afford to have them serviced properly because dealers charge shed loads for doing them.

the cbr is pretty standard for servicing. easy enough to do urself, or normal costs for an IL4 at a dealers. It makes 57bhp stock, not 50 as quoted (the newer ones, 'gull arm'. if it's not a gull arm, run away from it.). Restricted to 33bhp, our one still makes 120mph (taken rom the speedo reading of a vfr800) and accelerates well. The handling is razor sharp. the frame is beautiful. Its a real work of art.

Forget comfort on either model. but i'd rather commute on the cbr.

[Tark]

yeah and you can be sponserd by Spider Underground lol!!

How much you offerening??

[Spider]

lol yeah ill sposor them but when people visit the site they will have no clue what it is about! he he! will be funny!

[BrAdZ]

its up2 you! but i went 4 a cbr400 nc23 gud looks! rdes awsome and cheap to buy and insure!

Ride Safe

[Tark]

out of all the VFR 400's and CBR 400's which ones should i avoid??

looking at getting something like that soon.

[Dan]

I prefer the NC30, but then thats cos i have one lol

[Tark]

yeah ok. Is there one thats a dog and shouldn't be bought at all costs though??

what about

zxr
gsxr
zzr

etc etc??

[Biker Dude]

ok mate its like this..

CBR 400 tri arm (nc23) = stay away
CBR 400 Gull arm (nc29) = Go for it

VFR 400 (nc24) = stay away, they are very unriliable
VFR 400 (nc30) = Go for it, they are blinding

ZXR 400 ( L modles) = Amazingly quick, but be careful as they get
used on the track a lot!!
ZZR 400 = LOL no way mate. U'd get no chipshop points for 1 of these.
They look old and most of em are old!
GSXR 400 = Dont know much bout these as ive never ben on 1.. But they
do look the tits! Make sure u get a newer 1 and not 1 like
FingerZ!

I think that'll do!

[Dan]

Yep, id agree with most of that.... to add tho;

ZXR 400 ( L modles) = Amazingly quick, but be careful as they get
used on the track a lot!!

Kawasaki's are a lot more expensive to repair when things go wrong... as a rule, i'd try to stay away from the mini ninja altogether. They are nice looking tho, and will probably kick the crap out of the NC30 and the gixxer400.

GSXR 400 = Dont know much bout these as ive never ben on 1.. But they
do look the tits! Make sure u get a newer 1 and not 1 like
FingerZ!
hrm, i wouldn't go that far mate - especially as Tim is an admin and can ban your ass :wink:
Seriously tho, the gixxer400 is a great little power rocket, but they are VERY prone to problems. Its ok for Fingerz, he has the time (and confidence?? lol) to spend fiddling where as i dont. Plus i dont even know if they made the gsxr400 in this country... even if they did, there seems to be a great deal more grey imports than uk models.
Facts tho, they are a nightmare to get parts for and suffer from flat spots - and it takes a damm lot of fiddling to get rid of them - yet they will probably beat any other 400 when tuned correctly, especially in a straight line (apart from probably a baby ninja). On the track however, I think the lighter VFR400R would be hard to beat.

Avoid high milage 400's - as a rule 400's are owned by recent test passers who are stoll learning to ride, so many are battered. Id say anything more than 25-30,000 miles is a no no.

[Tark]

good stuff!

cheers.

[BrAdZ]

why do you say stay away from the nc23?

[Dan]

I would assume its down to the fact they are getting quite old now, its its difficult to find one in good condition.

I doubt it was anything against the model in general.

[Spider]

im seriously considering selling me 250 and geting a ZXR400 liek the sound of em nice and fast and i seriusly have an obsession with speed and power!

[Tark]

If you obsession is that bad then Get a GSXR1000 and bang it on the track!

[Spider]

but then i cant ride it on the road and i dont think i can afford~! doing all the stuff you do m8! but me dad is thinkin of building up a tzr 125 track bike he already brought some fairing for it1

[t1gg3r]

Well my nc24 has 4 cylinders and 4 sparkplugs and is a V4 last time i looked. :lol:

As for the 2 stroke 250 vs 400 its all down to rider skill. I have a KR1 (250 2stroke albeit somewhat "modified") and it will easily hold its own against most of the 400s ive ridden with. Ive even managed to worry my mates R1 on short straights and tight corners.

Like I said tho its all down to rider skill a 2 stroke needs to be kept on power in order to perform effectively, this means the powerband and the gearing have to be matched perfectly otherwise ur just ****ing in the wind

[gixer400]

the vfr is beautiful, and the cbr is also nice looking. i prefer the vfr (not much use now 7 months on) but i dont agree with the bad points on the gsxr400 :wink: . ive not found any flat spots but my fzr has a huge on. is the nc24 nice to ride? im thinking of gettin one.

[RaceMeNSee]

mate if you wanna be the best above the rest then it has to be a ZXR-400!!!! Looks rucking sweet, sounds sweet(Specially with full scorpian race system on it) and goes like {EB} monkeys of a hot shovel!!!! :D
and dont discount the early H1-2 models, you can pick em up a ickle cheaper n if ya find a gooden then ya set!mine's like sex on a stick n its a H2! Man i love putting those Rudeys in there place at the lights!and im sure i could pishh over any 250, raced a TZR 250 n thought it was a 125! hahaha he diddnt have a chance, n there were loadsa twistys to! well theres my piece! 8)

[RaceMeNSee]

hehe looks like i finished off that little thing diesnt it. ZXR is the winner!!! YYAYYYY ... lol 8) :D :)

[bikageboy]

hehe looks like i finished off that little thing diesnt it. ZXR is the winner!!! YYAYYYY ... lol 8) :D :)

apart from the CBR6 tho :lol:

[RaceMeNSee]

yes but we were on the subject of 400's matey!