I raced the ex-Martin North RD400E in the 1980 season, it had been home tuned by Martin and his brother and featured in MCM magazine. What a beast that machine was, unlike the Beckett/Stephens tuned RDs, it had a very strong mid range due in part to increased primary compression ratio. My home circuit was Snetterton with a very long back straight, but if I got the exit from Sears just right, I could stay in the slipstream of the GS1000 / CB900Fs, all the way down the straight, then whip out of the slipstream at the end as they braked and stay flat out for another 50m. Boy that bike was fun, whupping the 1000s and 900s.
I had a ZXR400RR which I raced. Beautiful, lovely bike. A bugger to pull away as it had a close ratio box with a loooong 1st gear, also different carbs and it went like crazy ! The CBR400 could'nt stay with it. I loved that it revved forever and I had an open pipe and it sang !!!
The only one of these bikes that we got in the States was the FZR400. I raced one for years, culminating with running a team in the last motorcycle 24-hour endurance race in the U.S. in 1993. There was no lightweight category at that time, so we ran it in Middleweight Production and took 3rd place, beating all but two of the 600's. The trophy is behind me in my office right now.
Cheers for sharing mate. That must have been fantastic to watch. And a credit to you for bringing home a trophy 😊💪👌 as I said. Bigger isn’t always better 😊
@@barebonesmc If you search RUclips for "Nelson Ledges 24-hour" you'll find a 2-part video that someone shot of this event and put on line just a couple of years ago. At 25:55 in the second video you can see my team in post-race celebration.
@@barebonesmc more strap an engine to a carbon road bicycle end of the spectrum 😂 . my actual bicycle has 25kg lead strapped to it as a test bed for a kx65 or even 125 engine , when you're 8st like me you have 50kg wiggle room on even a bicycle /120kg rider limit . reinforce frame + swap rear wheel. I'm happy enjoying 0 - 50mph it wont be geared high / my moto x bike was a ktm sx 125cc did about 70 ish on the factory sprocket .
@@barebonesmc i went on a gs ? 400 and honestly if it fell on me i'd be stuck until someone noticed 😂 , and i'm not using an actual carbon road bicycle ive already broke 1 , i'll use an alloy , they're still about 3lb .i'm a bicycle mechanic btw .
I had an NC30 in the proper RC30 colour scheme. Still the most fun I've ever had on a bike. It's not just a great little bike, it's a great bike regardless of its engine capacity. The V4 engine at high revs on a race can is one of the sweetest sounds you'll hear
Another banger brother! I'm in the US and for some reason many people look down on anything less than 650cc. A lot of people it has to be 750. My bikes are all on the smaller side, though. My daily is a 73 CB350. The crazy thing is a lot of the people that ride the bigger bikes don't have much skill and can't get much out of them. I can blow by them on a twisty road with not much effort and they always come up to me later and say "I don't know how you were able to go by me so much"
have you seen the video with the CB350 in? ruclips.net/video/fBr4QONXBmU/видео.html we caught the same disease as the States on that one, size became a status symbol so everything just got bigger and fatter, just not for me. if rather have a smaller lighter version anytime
Had a UK spec FZR400RR for 7 years, same as the one in the video - it ran faultlessly and was great bike for the roads with Maxton TT spec forks. While it was off the road after a car knocked me off I had an NC30 with a standard silencer modified to run a straight through baffle like a race can. Sounded awesome! The Honda felt more powerful than the Yamaha but actually wasn’t, and the Yamaha handled better. The UK FZR400RR cost more than the FZR600 but you could see why with the much better finish and chunky aluminium chassis. The RRSP model cost even more but most of those went on the track I think
My favourite is the VFR400R looks just like an RC30 my all time favourite super bike, we did get some of these bikes in Australia but unfortunately not all and today there worth as much as newer super bikes. Excellent video as usual 👍🇦🇺
As the old saying goes. With large capacity bikes you can use some/most of the performance some of the time. With 250 strokers & 400 fours you can use all the performance most of the time. I'm lucky enough to own a 1993 TZR 250 RS, (3XV9, ported to SP model spec. ), and a 1990 GSXR 400 L ( GK76a ) & I love wringing both their necks to the red line. Fun with a capitol F. 🤪 I've ridden both of the above at Cadwell Park track days, which is a cracking track for small capacity bikes. Enjoyed the video by the way, thanks for putting it together. Loved the Japanese F3 racing clips. 😎 ( The crashes made me wince tho' ! 😱).
Wise words 😊 and a nice garage 😊 I let my last tzr go a few years back. A 1kt with loads of Belgarda tweaks 😊 a mate took it and it was given the mick abbey treatment 😂😂 I wonder if we have passed each other at cadwell😊 the best track there is for bikes 😊 have a great week 😊
@@darrenmcphillips4706 Loved mine too, was my first sports bike at the time and I couldn't appreciate it for what it was back then. A few bikes like the VTR1000 SP1, Fireblades, and Ducati superbikes later, I can.
As a freshly minted young rider in the 80's, with limited funds and parents to persuade, smaller capacity bikes were always where it was at for me. I distinctly remember poring over the mags at these bikes with my mates, debating endlessly the 1 or 2 hp or kg differences between these machines and how that might influence which one you'd choose. It was a great time to be into bikes, with manufacturers pushing eachnother to ever higher levels of excellence and almost unimaginable performance. As I got older and the practical concerns around bike ownership largely went away, my tastes did not change. I still get more excited over big 2 & smaller capacity 4 stroke bikes than any others. Thank you for this wonderful video, and all the best!
The 400cc JDM had a lot of interesting models that luckily made it to the UK back in the grey import days many of which I wish I had owned, I do have a 1996 Honda CBRR 400 Fireblade, 2001 NC35 400 Honda RVF and a 1997 250 Hornet.
The NC35 was built for a more broader spread of power, with longer duration cams but smaller carbs. Chucking the cams into the NC30 gave it a bit of a boost and made better use of the bigger carbs and slightly bigger inlet valves. I had an NC30 with a full Yamamoto system. Sounded awesome
My first bike was an NC30 with full Yamamoto system. I've kept it for 17 years and don't think I could ever sell it. It is without a doubt the best sounding motorcycle I've ever heard.
I found an absolute mint NC35 in a Japanese import car yard, they had brought it back from Japan in the back of a van to make a quick buck, but couldnt get it started, I gave them a stupid low offer, and they accepted. When I got it home I found a previous owner had spent a LOT of Yen on it. HRC F3 kit ecu, air box, radiators, jet kit for the NC 30 carbs, and a lovely TSR full system with under/over cans. Carbs were gummed from sitting so long, after a clean, and a Nitron shock & heavier springs it was good to go. A total weapon on NZs twisty roads, the guy I foolishly sold it to, recently advertised it for 19,000 NZ$ (around 8500 pounds) 😆
Took some doing this one but it needed doing 😊 cheers for the support 😊 just hoping RUclips doesn’t crucify me too much because the only want 20 minute videos now
As you said at the beginning, handling/cornering is the most fun. Drag racing,, ah boring. Every ride from skis, skate boards to military fighter jets, everything in between handling is #1. It's kind of like duct tape & zip ties, you just can't live without it/them. Thanks for another great video. Going out for a ride on my 398cc now
I never owned a 400, started riding on a 1989 ZXR 250. Then I rode a 1989 Suzuki RGV 250 Slingshot, imported from Japan in 1990. I had to own it! Sold my car and purchased it the next day. Utterly useless below 7k! Then WHAP! Extremely intimidating increase in power. At 280lb it was so nimble! I installed a hand fabricated race exhaust, sharper power band. Extensive carb work on a dyno produced between 65 and 70hp at sea level depending on the temperature between 8500-10k. Kept around 9k it flogged most 750cc bikes till the ton. But the sound! My god it was a Chainsaw through Steel. Alas riding in the hills near my home town in Australia, flying around a corner a dim witted Roo was standing in the middle of the road. Wack ); I was fine (ish) But that beautiful unicorn of a machine was destroyed! It's way more fun to ride a small bike fast than a big bike slow!
I had a GPZ400R as my first 'big bike'. That seat was a ball buster but I didn't understand how to ride it properly, hence why I thought it was gutless. I like fairings but I'm just not a fast rider. That's twice you made me smile. :D
I owned a Honda NS400R back in the day and absolutely loved it! I had gone from an RD350Lc which was fantastic to a GPZ 600R which I was a bit disappointed with so in 1988 I found a two year old NS 400 and traded the Kawasaki in. To be back on a two stroke was epic and the NS sounded brilliant too! I love the smell of two strokes and I remember that I used to come home smelling much more from the NS with it's high level exhaust, happy days! I love lightweight bikes and went from that to a KR1 250 then two RGV 250s.:)
I owned a FZ400 then a CBR400RR both great bikes, the FZ would wind off the clock in 5th with a gear to go, and my CBR used leave my old mates Ducati 750 sport in the dust. Thank you for the memories 👍
My first 'legal' bikes were a RGV250 then an NS400R. Theres a reason that i swaped a 2 stroke for a GPz550. That being said the bike that ive most coveted ever was a Bandit 400 in red circa 1990. My wife had a VFR400R which was fun to throw around but still hard work.
I MUCH prefer smaller, lighter bikes. I wish they had continued developing the 250cc twin two strokes of the 80’s and 90’s. To me, they were THE perfect daily, track and back road/canyon bikes. The 400cc in-line fours of that era were also just so exciting to ride! I lived in Japan during my high school years and had a Honda VT250R four stroke twin. It was a fabulous little bike for my 16 year old self. Great times!
Vfr400 nc21, two of them. One was the quite rare factory street fighter with the cool bellypan. 18:29 this one 😢 And gsxr400 in black and gold owner in the past, can't remember the designation number🥲. Two of my best and most reliable motorcycles ever. Taught me about corner speed and proper gear selection.
@@zoegirl9818 I had a 84 GSX-R 400 (GK71), they were sold as a new model in NZ, I’d love to find another to restore, but I haven’t seen one for sale here for a long time. Very fun bike, and the very first GSX-R.
I had a stock Bandit 400, and one with 1990 GSXR750 shock, forks, clamps, gauges, clipons, 6 piston Tokico calipers, and a high mount pipe. That bike was a blast!!!
As always a great video the 400" are one bike i simply never got the chance ride sadly, but I've still got my Suzuki RG500, and seeing this footage of the 400 and someone tucked behind the fairying at full song & that wonderful sound certainly bought back some good memories. To be honest I don't buy anything over 650 I can't see the point of haveing more CC's along with more weight ,when you can get more bang for your buck, and more fun from these bike's they are much more enjoyable to ride in the Twisties. And not a great deal slower overall anyway 💯 👑👍
Madly enough there’s been some serious bargains at no hams go through this year. Prices has dropped like a stone. Saw a mint mvx250 go for £3000 and vfr much cheaper than I’ve seen them in years 😊
I’ll be honest that’s what I thought. But that info came from Suzukis own records. Just like the yamaha records say the genesis engines were 5 valve heads. So cheers for correction. My memory sometimes deceives me so I do look to the records and if they are wrong it doesn’t help. 😊
Vfr400 nc21 and gsxr400 in black and gold owner in the past 🥲. Two of my best and most reliable motorcycles ever. Taught me about corner speed and proper gear selection.
I remember encountering an NS400 when I had my YPVS350. I was shown a very clean pair of heels through a section of twisty road which left me very impressed.
Been there mate lol. I think my ultimate lesson in humility was being passed by an old 70s Honda race bike when I was on a bike with around 4 times the power 🤣🤣🤣 sad but true🤣 the only thing that saved my pride was passing a 500 gamma later that day lol
@@davidbarringham7992 The Honda shop I worked for supplied and sponsored a guy with a NS400, he won that years NZ junior production championship on it, but the hordes of RZ350s didn’t make it easy for him, they were certainly as quick in a straight line, but the NS braked and handled better. We also got the NS250 as an official import, and that bike ended the TZR250s dominance in the 250 class, both NS models are great bikes.
The NS400R wins as the only motorbike in the class with a faired in sidestand. I know these are all quicker than the 400 class of today, but I will attest to the huge amounts of fun I have on my little KTM RC390. It's renewed the joy in riding that started to wane away after decades on big bikes. I'm giggling inside my helmet on a regular basis.
The FZR600 didn't have 5-valves either. In fact, the 5-valve idea wasn't all it was cracked up to be and had its compromises, which Yam finally conceded when they dropped it after 20 years. The Genesis idea included 5 valves per cylinder but didn't require it. It was more about mass centralization and a lower center of gravity. The angled cylinder block put the heavier engine lower down and tipped the carbs up, giving the intake a straight path towards the valves. The light airbox went up high and forward, closer to where cool, pressurized air could be routed in. The heavier gas tank moved back and down towards the center of the bike, being more vertical and using the space that is typically occupied by the airbox.
Also, bikes like the TDM/TRX had 5-valves and inclined cylinders but no Genesis badging......so it wasn't a hard-n-fast rule regarding what defined a Genesis. As owner of an FZR600, FZR1000 and TDM850 I can see clearly the familial connections Yamaha put into all their 90's bikes, even when they didn't really work all the time. The 5-valve head was too complex for the smaller 600's cylinders, and it makes the big 850 Twin want to rev while hurting lowend torque, something you'd expect a big twin to do well and instead you have to rev out a 360* twin which already shakes enough without wanting to live above 4000rpm.
Interesting. I have 2 FXR 1000 exups and had a tdm for years. Which regardless of badging always considered a genesis engine. And my only criticism would be the ridiculous tolerance of the piston and block. I love the 180 degree early TDM more than the 270 degree ones. Did they do a 360 degree crank? Cheers for adding anyway mate. You live and learn as they say 😊
I loved my CB400/4. Did everything I wanted at a reasonable cost. The RD400 was the hero bike at the time. It just begged to be thrashed all the time. Owning the Honda probably saved my license, and almost certainly my life. I had to use a car by the time the bikes you featured here (work and wife , you know).
The Genesis was a 5-valve head and had the cylinders tilted forward with the down draft carbs. Yamaha also wanted to use a 5 valve head for the Ford Taurus S.H.O. and it was putting out about 300 BHP but, Ford didn't want that much power in a FWD car so Yamaha went to a 4 valve head and reduced power to 225 or so. I was never aware of a 16 valve 400 but, knew that the American FZ600 was a 400 chassis with the FJ 600 2-valve. I raced an FZ600 that was about 68 BHP stock going against CBR600's that had about 82 BHP but, the weight difference made a big difference in handling. I currently own the '76 RD400 in the profile pic.
Those triarm and gullarms with BT092 tyres were commonplace among my crew growing up. Couldn't get my hands on a ZXR400L, so opted for the even rarer ZXR250C. I miss the 18k screaming engine down the Blackwall Tunnel at 17! Would rather wear my rose tinted specs than to be lumbered with a restricted A2 bike.
@@barebonesmc Don't get me wrong, the most fun I had in recent times (god, it's been 6 years!) was on my CBR500R. Budget suspension that was actually well damped and set up for UK B roads and 40bhp-ish at the rear wheel. Wide open throttle everywhere, pretending you're a Moto3 rider! My lesser experienced mate on his 990SMT was confused as to why he couldn't keep up on the twisty stuff - The joys of cutting my teeth on the 250 back in the day.
Everything from Japanese bikes with 4 cylinder is fantastic (no matter what the CC).... I know they can make parallel twin, v twin, v4 or whatever but 4 cylinder just another brilliant machine....
@@imunknownsource8696 I love a 4 cylinder engine for a road bike, in-line or V-four, it’s my favourite engine configuration. The late, great motorcycle journalist & tech writer once said, the V-four is the best compromise out of all the configurations and should be the perfect motorcycle engine. Looking at moto GP, it seems he was correct. It’s a shame manufacturing costs and emissions have pretty much killed off the smaller fours.
In New Zealand we got the RG400 brand new as well as VFR400 and NC30,GSXR 400,Suzuki Impulse 400 all as new imports.We had very little import regs so any excess or superseded, but new, JDM bikes were sent here. Not all good as Yamaha gave us the horror that was the XZ400.
Hi. Regarding the Genesis term used for the Yamaha's, it was described in their press blurb as the designing of the frame and engine together rather than as separate entities and then making them match. It strikes me as a bit of marketing as all engine designs would have to be done with a view to fitting them in a frame and visa versa but I bought the idea at the time if not the bike. Thanks for the video.
@barebonesmc That's interesting...I've always liked the 5 head design. When first introduced, Yamaha said it caused trifluricarion (as I recall, my spelling may be way off) which was a term used to describe the way the three inlet valves caused the gasses to mix more thoroughly. Please keep the videos coming. I very much appreciate them.
Another excellent video with great footage and as always, all the appropriate facts delivered by a human being - a rare treat in these days of AI infestation. I do feel that Honda’s domestic market CB-1 deserves at least an honourable mention here. Although it’s a naked sports bike (arguably the first - predating the Ducati Monster), a heavier tubular steel perimeter frame, basic rectangular steel swing arm, and comically heavy wheels, top speed (perhaps thanks to gearing) is equal to its CBR400 bothers. Some people even race them. The export model with Smurf blue or yellow tanks, was less well equipped with a black painted mild steel exhaust, and basic foot pegs (in place of the Japanese model’s very high quality stainless steel and bolted-on aluminium ones) and detuned for the Kommunist state of Kalifornia. Somewhere I have a couple of them, maybe two and a half or three. They best suit the smaller lighter rider, mainly due to the foot peg position and the rear shock. Sadly the online forum is run by a tyrant who’s apparently more interested in the ad revenue than allowing free debate. But that’s another story. Ride safe Choose your flags wisely Peace 🏴
A red dragon is always a good ally 😊 I had the cb1 and others in. But it didn’t quite fit here as I wanted so it will follow later 😊 have a good un mate
@@barebonesmc Indeed. The flag I was born under, and the only flag I will ever identify with. I get that the CB-1 is far more of a street bike than the others. However, the reason I mentioned it is because of its very close relationship with the Baby Lade CBR400s, and its surprising power, speed and handling capabilities. There was a company that made a fairing for the CB-1, and some fitted them for racing, though the purists of course considered that inappropriate on an iconic naked bike. Indeed, it’s possible that the absence of a fairing was one of the main reasons why it was such a quick bike. They are known to beat 600s on track days and through the twisties. Impressive. Ride safe and free Peace 🏴
My first road bike was a gsxr 400 on a 1990 plate. Loved that bike was such a involving ride. Followed by a RGV 250 n ad have the 400 over it every day of the week.
I had the Honda NC30 in Taiwan. Fitted a Tyga Maggot pipe and rear-sets. Would embarrass many large bikes in the mountains there. I geared it down as it was too long legged for those mountains
400cc bikes I've owned - an NC24 (which was my first sports bike), an NC30 (a rare UK model sadly stolen), an NC35 (a bloody fast bike and a tad better than the NC30 (and 17" rubber)), and an (probably 1992) FZR400. They were all great bikes. I'd have an NC35 again if I had spare money and garage space, or maybe the baby blade. As it is, I'm considering doing something daft and getting a new ZX4RR on PCP 🤣
Great video. I raced an FZR400RRSP for a couple of seasons 20-odd years ago in the BMCRC. It certainly was a great handing bike, especially in race trim, but it didn't come close to my road-going RGV250M when it came to braking and steering. Compared to that, the FZR felt like a bus, but I guess it's all relative. I had some exciting times on it and what it lacked in agility compared to the RGV, it made up for in smoothness and power.
I’ll admit my bias on that one lol. The rgv is better in many ways for sure and I love strokers but I had a tzr 1kt with lots of Belgarda bits and a beckitt tuned 350LC before that. So I was spoilt 🤣🤣
@@barebonesmc The 1kt was another great bike. I had one of those before the RGV - not as powerful when stock but so much fun. Mine was naked with a round headlight, and with someone on the back, it was hard to fight the front wheel back down every time it hit the power band in first - hilarious. Still remember the "speed" light :-)
@@minesadabmine was a proper Frankensteins monster lol. Came from the track. Belgarda usd forks rgv rad and short subframe with solo race seat. Tuned by a guy who was winning a lot. But after me it went to someone who threw everything at it. He put a banshee top end on and mick abbey tuned it. With the bigger barrels he had it up to 90hp on the dyno in the end 😂😂 so I can’t imagine how quick it was. He did a few crmcc seasons and surprised many bigger bikes lol
@@barebonesmc A TZR"350" with 90bhp - if I'd known that was possible back then I probably wouldn't be here today!.. Sounds like a lot of fun. Looks as though you can get a 421 big bore for the 350 head too. I'm going to have to count my pennies and start searching ebay now
@@minesadab when he told me my first reaction was "never" then he showed me the dyno run and i shut up. my only comment was Bl@@dy hell lol. Mick Abbey is a genius tuner, he has taken over the mantle of Terry Beckitt and Stan Stevens and in the UK is the go to guy for any of the Yamaha's and im sure some of the other strokers too. have a great day mate and chat soon
I love light great handling 4 strokes. I had a lone of both a Gsxr 400 and a Fzr 400 around the same time that I had a Z 650 both of them would take the old Z to the cleaners. I love Honda V twins like the transalp Ntv650 and deauvills so I feel that I have been blessed to pick up a 1989 Bros 650 last year. It's got a light stiff alloy beam frame that is the same as a nsr 250 apparently a single sided swinging arm like a RC30 it only shares the engine cases with the get you to work stable mates. It's a much faster tune with a close ratio gearbox. Mist fun bike I ever rode in my life and I have had fireblade and all sorts. Not the fastest but the handling is fantastic and when I trash it a bit I have great fun without putting myself in licence losing territory. If you like twins but fine 1 liter Japanese bikes too thirsty and ducati's to maintenance hungry it just might be the ticket 👍
He won the lightweight TT in 2000 but after the race his bike was measured and found to be 600cc. He blamed his sponsor which was nonsense as he owned the bike and vowed to return next year and win again but the powers that be weren't having that and banned the cheat from the TT🏁🏁🏁@@barebonesmc
The RVF had the 17" rear which arguably gave better tyre choice but BT90's were available in those days so it never bothered me. I did end up putting a 17 conversion from the early 750 although I can't recall it being any better.
Such a great time in motorcycle history with the 400 screamers. We got cheated out of the majority of them over here in the US. But i read all the magazines as a kid and remember having that baby blade poster in my bedroom. The good old days. I was blessed to have grown up when i did because these kids now are really missing out. It looks like Japan just doesn't need to constantly battle it out between the big 4 when it comes to speed and performance anymore. I have high hopes for CF Moto and i never ever in a million years thought id be saying that. It doesn't even feel right.
Nice one mate, I do hope you’re well. We did get these in a very limited quantity in Australia regarding the larger 2-strokes. However, the bike that bred about 8 Australian World Champions and many more racers in the big leagues was the RGV-250 which dominated the 250 cc Production Series in Australia from 1888 - 1998. I still have one out of the two I raced with the original fairings untouched as it they were purchased just for the track. It (a MY95) hasn’t been started in around 25 years and each time I mention I have one whilst in discussions with another enthusiast the first question I get is how much do you want for it. When discussing this particular machine with others who ended up racing overseas will always say they had the most fun racing in this category. My house mate/team manager during the 90’s had the RG500 and to be honest (apart from the glorious sound) it was a bit of a pig to ride from memory back then. The RGV-250, with a rear sprocket change, would achieve 220-225 kph just past the start/finish line at Phillip Island. This just made it a bit harder to launch from the start, especially as the first 3 rows at Phillip Island are uphill, where the rest are slightly down hill. The 400 screaming 4-stroke machines also made their way here, just weren’t as quick as the 250 2-strokes and cost more (hence they weren’t converted into a racing class). Keep up the great work mate. Simply love your work and hearing your voice. All of my 2 wheeled friends also love your channel now. 👍👍
I'm very glad to see this posted, "prayers" have gone out & I do hope things are progressing. Great video here, if I were looking for a straight up Street Bike, I'd want a 400cc - 500cc bike that could be tweaked for speed, agility, & handling. Again, thoughts are w/ you guys...... peace & Godspeed my Friends !
Yeah man, I did happen to enjoy the video,,,,, it enlightened me about the size of motorcycle I think I'd want for a street bike. These 400cc - 500cc bikes are just under the radar of Insurance Policies that stick you hard for those dreaded 600cc bikes. The insurance rates soar from 600cc's & up. So you struck a nerve in the very bikes I'd look to have. I just don't know which one could be beefed up the most & is the best handling. I'm more into handling since I've lost my athletic abilities in my older age...... I was also enthusiastic seeing ya posting, I can only tell you that you guys are on my mind here. Please be well & we'll chat when you're feeling better. Tell the little lady I said hello from Texas. Do take care & I'll remember ya'll in prayers. peace & GB ALL
Over time, and eschewing dogma, the same model asserts itself continuously; up to 60hp- 350lbs and as sharp a chassis as the available tires allow for. From Cammy Nortons, through Guzzi Bicylindrica's and anything in the Turner (and etc.) Twins gene pool, right up to the modern day- on public roads, less *is* more.
Rode and club racd an Aprilia RS250. Really moved around corners! Alas, I had a TBI and failed to move onto my RC3? bike. My TBI was at over 120mph, coming out of the first, huge sweepnig right hander at Mallory Park. Long since recovered and back on bikes... more post TBI than before -- 18 or 19 in total, so far.
I always thought the 400cc bikes were the perfect size and power and it really bothers that nobody really makes an inline 4-cylinder 400cc 4-stroke anymore. All I can find here in the states is two cylinders that sound like a thumping helicopter and not pleasant. Need a screaming 4-stroke 4-cylinder and nobody really makes a modern version that's not a twin, or a zillion dollars. What a bummer.
I nearly bought a CBR400rrrrrrrrrr but figured out every ride would have been trying to hit that mental red line and would sooner rather than later have me piloting it into the scenery. What a toy!
@@barebonesmc Agreed, the CB-1 didn't catch on at all in the US - to our loss. I think that early small Bandit was one of the early open trellis bikes too.
I love my Bandit 400, everyone thinks its Italian and they are surprised to hear it pre-dates the Monster by many years. Plus, GSX-R suspension/brakes bolt right up and really completes the package. The CB-1 and Hawk 650 are both favorites of mine and didn't quite "fit in" at the time, but are getting to be collectable rarities today.
I loved my 83 cbx 400 f it was fun i rode one time and stones sticking to the tires 13,500 redline .i love to buy a cbr 400 rr i have a cbr 900 rr sc 33 i hardly get move the throttle 400 be way more fun.
the first FZ400 sported an old air cooled lump an XJ derivative I think 2 valve heads and humble box section steel cradle but was regarded as an absolute blade for handling
The Suzuki GT380 (nearly a 400) "won" the Castrol Six Hour, which was a production race in Australia open to any production bike. A huge deal in Australia and often used in pub arguments about what the quickest bike was. Sadly it was disqualified as the horn had been moved.
The other interesting "400" in Australia was the GSX-R 400 raced by one of the bike shops in Sydney shortly before the GSX-R 750 was available. They had squeezed the 750 Katana engine into it that had itself been taken out to 1000cc. So maybe not technically a 400, but used to great effect by Robbie Phillis.
Not a 400cc bike lover, but they can be much fun if you like to ride hard and corner hard and more affordable than the big boys. And they are cheaper to run on a day to day basis
I feel that 400cc is the perfect capacity for a motorcycle. Inherently lighter but enough weight to be still stable. The maximum capacity for a single before vibration and balance are too much, ideal for a V2 looking for revs and smoothness, brilliant for screaming in line 4s. All will offer plenty of speed and potentially good acceleration. Perfect options for older riders who are over the weight and size of larger machines. It’s worth noting that Honda have built many premium machines in this capacity over the years that gave nothing away quality wise to larger capacity machines. Given the shed space I’d build up a collection of the great Honda 400 cc machines from over the years.
NC30 has always been a nearly. Had through choice RD500LC,FZR1000,GSXR750J.FZX750, '85 FJ1200. NS was nikasil bores. Never owned a kawasaki. Didn't want an RC30 at the price, ow01 was more than I could afford. GSXR1100 was too much. FZR1000 exup frame Didn't fit. Then I got a Harley 883 because I couldn't find a black shadow at the time, still wanted a Vincent until I got my '99 Harley twin cam FXDL. Now I get to shower it with shiny gifts and anyone who says they can hang on to buckhorns and forward controls into a gentle breeze past 130 is probably full of crap. Got 170+ out of the '85 FJ12 35 years ago,my brother still owns it. 155 on an FZX750 without a fairing was uncomfortable.
Yep. Anything over 125 mph without some sort of screen is hard work lol. One of my exup 1000s has a YZF750 swingarm and cams 🤣🤣🤣 they are a big beast though 😊
i always wanted a zxr400 , got a v4 instead just how things played out the big bang 360deg crank and distinctive sound has grown on me will probably never sell it would love a new zx4rr to keep it company and to have an alternate ride for months like these need to sort the rusted/leaking tank
I am interested to see how the new ZX does sales wise, it was a brave move by Kawasaki. thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
Im sure it was ian duffusi saw or hutchy at knockhill circuit , win a race a piece . ,if i could afford one thojgh id buy the little gsxr with the twin lights , a photogenic little rocket in gun metal grey, and red !
I don’t hate the bikes as such. I just don’t like PMG and what they do sometimes 😊 but a single however hot. Will never be in the same league as the 4 pot screamers like these 😊 even a 690r would struggle I think. Although an smc690r v these would be entertaining 😊
@@simplerick3851 the ecu cuts power in top gear if I remember right. So it can be remapped. A healtech ATRE Might help but you’d need to check. I’m working from memory there lol gearing is the key. Acceleration or top end. But both more complex 😊😊
Those were the days, when riders were riders and bikes were bikes....none of all that tech nonsense today's bikes have wot with traction control, launch control, multi riding modes, etc that today's bikes are infested with.......
I raced the ex-Martin North RD400E in the 1980 season, it had been home tuned by Martin and his brother and featured in MCM magazine. What a beast that machine was, unlike the Beckett/Stephens tuned RDs, it had a very strong mid range due in part to increased primary compression ratio. My home circuit was Snetterton with a very long back straight, but if I got the exit from Sears just right, I could stay in the slipstream of the GS1000 / CB900Fs, all the way down the straight, then whip out of the slipstream at the end as they braked and stay flat out for another 50m. Boy that bike was fun, whupping the 1000s and 900s.
The joys of the giant killers 😊😊
I had a ZXR400RR which I raced. Beautiful, lovely bike. A bugger to pull away as it had a close ratio box with a loooong 1st gear, also different carbs and it went like crazy ! The CBR400 could'nt stay with it. I loved that it revved forever and I had an open pipe and it sang !!!
It was a case of some years the xx was better but others the cbr was. It made it much more about how well you rode them 😊
Got an 94 nc30 vfr 400 and other several bikes including an Aprilia rsv4 RF and the nc30 is still by far my favorite one❤.
Great video 👍
They do just get it right sometimes 😊
The only one of these bikes that we got in the States was the FZR400. I raced one for years, culminating with running a team in the last motorcycle 24-hour endurance race in the U.S. in 1993. There was no lightweight category at that time, so we ran it in Middleweight Production and took 3rd place, beating all but two of the 600's. The trophy is behind me in my office right now.
Cheers for sharing mate. That must have been fantastic to watch. And a credit to you for bringing home a trophy 😊💪👌 as I said. Bigger isn’t always better 😊
@@barebonesmc If you search RUclips for "Nelson Ledges 24-hour" you'll find a 2-part video that someone shot of this event and put on line just a couple of years ago. At 25:55 in the second video you can see my team in post-race celebration.
It sure is fun passing 600's on a 400.
Riding a 400cc was the most fun i had on a motorcycle. Chose it over a 250cc two stroke. no regrets. Cheers
Couldn’t agree more mate. People get too obsessed by big bikes and never really learn how to use them 😊
if i had a blank cheque i'd full carbon a 125 and mod it to 40hp , i'm 50kg + 5ft7 riding a 400cc feels like a honda goldwing to me
@@TheCraigy83 maybe a Mito?
@@barebonesmc more strap an engine to a carbon road bicycle end of the spectrum 😂 .
my actual bicycle has 25kg lead strapped to it as a test bed for a kx65 or even 125 engine , when you're 8st like me you have 50kg wiggle room on even a bicycle /120kg rider limit . reinforce frame + swap rear wheel.
I'm happy enjoying 0 - 50mph it wont be geared high / my moto x bike was a ktm sx 125cc did about 70 ish on the factory sprocket .
@@barebonesmc i went on a gs ? 400 and honestly if it fell on me i'd be stuck until someone noticed 😂 , and i'm not using an actual carbon road bicycle ive already broke 1 , i'll use an alloy , they're still about 3lb .i'm a bicycle mechanic btw .
I had an NC30 in the proper RC30 colour scheme. Still the most fun I've ever had on a bike. It's not just a great little bike, it's a great bike regardless of its engine capacity. The V4 engine at high revs on a race can is one of the sweetest sounds you'll hear
Indeed😊 I’ve had many track day battles with the vfr and rvf’s 😊 following them is a sweet sound 😊
Another banger brother! I'm in the US and for some reason many people look down on anything less than 650cc. A lot of people it has to be 750. My bikes are all on the smaller side, though. My daily is a 73 CB350. The crazy thing is a lot of the people that ride the bigger bikes don't have much skill and can't get much out of them. I can blow by them on a twisty road with not much effort and they always come up to me later and say "I don't know how you were able to go by me so much"
have you seen the video with the CB350 in? ruclips.net/video/fBr4QONXBmU/видео.html we caught the same disease as the States on that one, size became a status symbol so everything just got bigger and fatter, just not for me. if rather have a smaller lighter version anytime
Had a UK spec FZR400RR for 7 years, same as the one in the video - it ran faultlessly and was great bike for the roads with Maxton TT spec forks. While it was off the road after a car knocked me off I had an NC30 with a standard silencer modified to run a straight through baffle like a race can. Sounded awesome! The Honda felt more powerful than the Yamaha but actually wasn’t, and the Yamaha handled better. The UK FZR400RR cost more than the FZR600 but you could see why with the much better finish and chunky aluminium chassis. The RRSP model cost even more but most of those went on the track I think
Sometimes they do just get it right 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
My favourite is the VFR400R looks just like an RC30 my all time favourite super bike, we did get some of these bikes in Australia but unfortunately not all and today there worth as much as newer super bikes. Excellent video as usual 👍🇦🇺
Cheers mate 😊 even back in the day the vf400 was more to buy than the 750 here
As the old saying goes. With large capacity bikes you can use some/most of the performance some of the time. With 250 strokers & 400 fours you can use all the performance most of the time. I'm lucky enough to own a 1993 TZR 250 RS, (3XV9, ported to SP model spec. ), and a 1990 GSXR 400 L ( GK76a ) & I love wringing both their necks to the red line.
Fun with a capitol F. 🤪 I've ridden both of the above at Cadwell Park track days, which is a cracking track for small capacity bikes. Enjoyed the video by the way, thanks for putting it together.
Loved the Japanese F3 racing clips. 😎 ( The crashes made me wince tho' ! 😱).
Wise words 😊 and a nice garage 😊 I let my last tzr go a few years back. A 1kt with loads of Belgarda tweaks 😊 a mate took it and it was given the mick abbey treatment 😂😂 I wonder if we have passed each other at cadwell😊 the best track there is for bikes 😊 have a great week 😊
Excellent put together video with loads of great information. Thank you 👍👍
Bless you mate cheers 😊 have a great weekend
@
Thank you, and you too👍👍
@@Blueboy9055😊
Ive got an 87 VFR400 NC24. An absolute hoot to ride
Truly masterful bikes
I had a HONDA VFR NC24 great bikes loved mine 👌👍
@@darrenmcphillips4706 Loved mine too, was my first sports bike at the time and I couldn't appreciate it for what it was back then. A few bikes like the VTR1000 SP1, Fireblades, and Ducati superbikes later, I can.
Your the best when it comes to info.
Cheers mate 😊 I do my best 😊 thanks for the support
As a freshly minted young rider in the 80's, with limited funds and parents to persuade, smaller capacity bikes were always where it was at for me. I distinctly remember poring over the mags at these bikes with my mates, debating endlessly the 1 or 2 hp or kg differences between these machines and how that might influence which one you'd choose. It was a great time to be into bikes, with manufacturers pushing eachnother to ever higher levels of excellence and almost unimaginable performance.
As I got older and the practical concerns around bike ownership largely went away, my tastes did not change. I still get more excited over big 2 & smaller capacity 4 stroke bikes than any others. Thank you for this wonderful video, and all the best!
Wild days, and even wilder nights 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
The 400cc JDM had a lot of interesting models that luckily made it to the UK back in the grey import days many of which I wish I had owned, I do have a 1996 Honda CBRR 400 Fireblade, 2001 NC35 400 Honda RVF and a 1997 250 Hornet.
A great collection 😊 the mini blade is a favourite of mine 😊 ride free brother 😊
Probably my favourite motorcycle channel this one. From country south Australia.
Welcome aboard and cheers for the support mate 😊 have a great weekend
The NC35 was built for a more broader spread of power, with longer duration cams but smaller carbs.
Chucking the cams into the NC30 gave it a bit of a boost and made better use of the bigger carbs and slightly bigger inlet valves.
I had an NC30 with a full Yamamoto system. Sounded awesome
Cheers. A riders eye comment is always good😊😊
My first bike was an NC30 with full Yamamoto system. I've kept it for 17 years and don't think I could ever sell it. It is without a doubt the best sounding motorcycle I've ever heard.
I found an absolute mint NC35 in a Japanese import car yard, they had brought it back from Japan in the back of a van to make a quick buck, but couldnt get it started, I gave them a stupid low offer, and they accepted. When I got it home I found a previous owner had spent a LOT of Yen on it. HRC F3 kit ecu, air box, radiators, jet kit for the NC 30 carbs, and a lovely TSR full system with under/over cans. Carbs were gummed from sitting so long, after a clean, and a Nitron shock & heavier springs it was good to go. A total weapon on NZs twisty roads, the guy I foolishly sold it to, recently advertised it for 19,000 NZ$ (around 8500 pounds) 😆
@@uhtred7860 😊 even stock they were great so sounds like a gem
@@uhtred7860 sounds like it was a nice spec, should have kept it! I do love the NC35's as well. I've only seen a few come up for sale in Canada.
What a fantastic video thanks so much ❤
Took some doing this one but it needed doing 😊 cheers for the support 😊 just hoping RUclips doesn’t crucify me too much because the only want 20 minute videos now
As you said at the beginning, handling/cornering is the most fun. Drag racing,, ah boring. Every ride from skis, skate boards to military fighter jets, everything in between handling is #1. It's kind of like duct tape & zip ties, you just can't live without it/them. Thanks for another great video. Going out for a ride on my 398cc now
Hope you had a great ride mate. Here’s to the pocket rockets 😊
Fantastic videos keep it up. Well done and thank you for all the great videos
thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
Always wanted the rvf
Sometimes they do just get it right lol 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
Had a VF400F as my first big bike after passing my test in '89 on my Honda NS125F... I was 17 & I loved it! 😊
Great bikes
I will always miss my NC30.
Glorious machine.
Awesome bikes 😊👌💪
I never owned a 400, started riding on a 1989 ZXR 250. Then I rode a 1989 Suzuki RGV 250 Slingshot, imported from Japan in 1990. I had to own it! Sold my car and purchased it the next day. Utterly useless below 7k! Then WHAP! Extremely intimidating increase in power. At 280lb it was so nimble! I installed a hand fabricated race exhaust, sharper power band. Extensive carb work on a dyno produced between 65 and 70hp at sea level depending on the temperature between 8500-10k. Kept around 9k it flogged most 750cc bikes till the ton. But the sound! My god it was a Chainsaw through Steel. Alas riding in the hills near my home town in Australia, flying around a corner a dim witted Roo was standing in the middle of the road. Wack ); I was fine (ish) But that beautiful unicorn of a machine was destroyed!
It's way more fun to ride a small bike fast than a big bike slow!
Great story cheers. Although obviously I’m sorry about the roo. And couldn’t agree more. Too many people are obsessed by size 😊
400cc was always a fun ride, I remember keeping the rear tire pressure lower for traction. ✌️
thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
I had a GPZ400R as my first 'big bike'. That seat was a ball buster but I didn't understand how to ride it properly, hence why I thought it was gutless. I like fairings but I'm just not a fast rider. That's twice you made me smile. :D
🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. a smile is always good 🙂Ride Free 🙂
Had a NC30 after a couple of RD's. NC was probably nicest bike i've ever owned.
Truly awesome engineering
Far and away the best of the lot! Best sounding , handling and looking!
which? 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
I owned a Honda NS400R back in the day and absolutely loved it! I had gone from an RD350Lc which was fantastic to a GPZ 600R which I was a bit disappointed with so in 1988 I found a two year old NS 400 and traded the Kawasaki in. To be back on a two stroke was epic and the NS sounded brilliant too! I love the smell of two strokes and I remember that I used to come home smelling much more from the NS with it's high level exhaust, happy days! I love lightweight bikes and went from that to a KR1 250 then two RGV 250s.:)
That’s a nice collection of rides you’re had 😊 and cheers for the story 😊💪👌
I owned a FZ400 then a CBR400RR both great bikes, the FZ would wind off the clock in 5th with a gear to go, and my CBR used leave my old mates Ducati 750 sport in the dust. Thank you for the memories 👍
Thanks for sharing mate 😊 happy days 😊
My first 'legal' bikes were a RGV250 then an NS400R. Theres a reason that i swaped a 2 stroke for a GPz550. That being said the bike that ive most coveted ever was a Bandit 400 in red circa 1990. My wife had a VFR400R which was fun to throw around but still hard work.
Being honest I came to the vfr from bigger bikes so I found it a breeze to ride. Once I’d folded myself into position 😂😂
Sire you remind me of narrator to a audiobook. 😊
I will take that as a compliment 😊. It has been said I should do it 😊😊😊
I have an 88 FZR400 and a 86 VF500F in my collection. Always looking for the others to add. Hard to find. Great video!!!!
Nice 😊 and cheers mate. I do my best
I MUCH prefer smaller, lighter bikes. I wish they had continued developing the 250cc twin two strokes of the 80’s and 90’s. To me, they were THE perfect daily, track and back road/canyon bikes. The 400cc in-line fours of that era were also just so exciting to ride! I lived in Japan during my high school years and had a Honda VT250R four stroke twin. It was a fabulous little bike for my 16 year old self. Great times!
Wild days😊 and even wilder nights 😊
Vfr400 nc21, two of them. One was the quite rare factory street fighter with the cool bellypan. 18:29 this one 😢 And gsxr400 in black and gold owner in the past, can't remember the designation number🥲. Two of my best and most reliable motorcycles ever. Taught me about corner speed and proper gear selection.
Wild days 😊 and yep re learning how to get the best from any bike 😊👌💪👍
Im about to receive a 1991 GSX-R 400. Its been almost 24 years since i sold my 1991 cbrr400. Damn I can't wait 😊
Lucky you 😊
@@zoegirl9818 I had a 84 GSX-R 400 (GK71), they were sold as a new model in NZ, I’d love to find another to restore, but I haven’t seen one for sale here for a long time. Very fun bike, and the very first GSX-R.
I had a stock Bandit 400, and one with 1990 GSXR750 shock, forks, clamps, gauges, clipons, 6 piston Tokico calipers, and a high mount pipe. That bike was a blast!!!
It’s time will come 😊
Loved my '97 cbr400rr good times
Truly great bikes 😊 wild days 😊
I had a CBR400F, I think I had it for 20 years. Acceleration was quick, especially when the REV cut in
🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
top video always a pleasure when i watch your well constructed vids wd my freind ride safe
Thanks 👍 have a great week mate
As always a great video the 400" are one bike i simply never got the chance ride sadly, but I've still got my Suzuki RG500, and seeing this footage of the 400 and someone tucked behind the fairying at full song & that wonderful sound certainly bought back some good memories. To be honest I don't buy anything over 650 I can't see the point of haveing more CC's along with more weight ,when you can get more bang for your buck, and more fun from these bike's they are much more enjoyable to ride in the Twisties. And not a great deal slower overall anyway
💯 👑👍
Let’s face it. They are still faster than most riders or roads 🤣🤣🤣
Have fond memories of my vfr400 NC30. Once fairly cheap. Unobtainable below 10.000€ in good nick nowadays.
Madly enough there’s been some serious bargains at no hams go through this year. Prices has dropped like a stone. Saw a mint mvx250 go for £3000 and vfr much cheaper than I’ve seen them in years 😊
I’ll be honest that’s what I thought. But that info came from Suzukis own records. Just like the yamaha records say the genesis engines were 5 valve heads. So cheers for correction. My memory sometimes deceives me so I do look to the records and if they are wrong it doesn’t help. 😊
Vfr400 nc21 and gsxr400 in black and gold owner in the past 🥲. Two of my best and most reliable motorcycles ever. Taught me about corner speed and proper gear selection.
A golden era 😊
The YAMAHA FZR 400 for me every time, mate.
My choice too really
I kept a 4dx on the road for 14 years .... Beautiful machine ...
Love my 87 fzr400! Sadly, the us couldn't get the vfr400. Still, glad I still have my fzr!
Truly great bikes 😊
I remember encountering an NS400 when I had my YPVS350. I was shown a very clean pair of heels through a section of twisty road which left me very impressed.
Been there mate lol. I think my ultimate lesson in humility was being passed by an old 70s Honda race bike when I was on a bike with around 4 times the power 🤣🤣🤣 sad but true🤣 the only thing that saved my pride was passing a 500 gamma later that day lol
@@davidbarringham7992 The Honda shop I worked for supplied and sponsored a guy with a NS400, he won that years NZ junior production championship on it, but the hordes of RZ350s didn’t make it easy for him, they were certainly as quick in a straight line, but the NS braked and handled better. We also got the NS250 as an official import, and that bike ended the TZR250s dominance in the 250 class, both NS models are great bikes.
The NS400R wins as the only motorbike in the class with a faired in sidestand.
I know these are all quicker than the 400 class of today, but I will attest to the huge amounts of fun I have on my little KTM RC390. It's renewed the joy in riding that started to wane away after decades on big bikes. I'm giggling inside my helmet on a regular basis.
smiles per mile is all that matters in the end mate 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment . Ride Free 🙂
Enjoy it mate. I rarely ride the bigger bikes these days 😊
I had a ZXR400 for a while in the eighties. Absolute pocket rocket.
Stunning bikes for sure
The FZR600 didn't have 5-valves either. In fact, the 5-valve idea wasn't all it was cracked up to be and had its compromises, which Yam finally conceded when they dropped it after 20 years.
The Genesis idea included 5 valves per cylinder but didn't require it. It was more about mass centralization and a lower center of gravity. The angled cylinder block put the heavier engine lower down and tipped the carbs up, giving the intake a straight path towards the valves. The light airbox went up high and forward, closer to where cool, pressurized air could be routed in. The heavier gas tank moved back and down towards the center of the bike, being more vertical and using the space that is typically occupied by the airbox.
Also, bikes like the TDM/TRX had 5-valves and inclined cylinders but no Genesis badging......so it wasn't a hard-n-fast rule regarding what defined a Genesis. As owner of an FZR600, FZR1000 and TDM850 I can see clearly the familial connections Yamaha put into all their 90's bikes, even when they didn't really work all the time. The 5-valve head was too complex for the smaller 600's cylinders, and it makes the big 850 Twin want to rev while hurting lowend torque, something you'd expect a big twin to do well and instead you have to rev out a 360* twin which already shakes enough without wanting to live above 4000rpm.
Interesting. I have 2 FXR 1000 exups and had a tdm for years. Which regardless of badging always considered a genesis engine. And my only criticism would be the ridiculous tolerance of the piston and block. I love the 180 degree early TDM more than the 270 degree ones. Did they do a 360 degree crank? Cheers for adding anyway mate. You live and learn as they say 😊
See other reply😊
I loved my CB400/4. Did everything I wanted at a reasonable cost. The RD400 was the hero bike at the time. It just begged to be thrashed all the time. Owning the Honda probably saved my license, and almost certainly my life. I had to use a car by the time the bikes you featured here (work and wife , you know).
I went 500/4 then 350LC 😊👌 wild times 😊
The Genesis was a 5-valve head and had the cylinders tilted forward with the down draft carbs. Yamaha also wanted to use a 5 valve head for the Ford Taurus S.H.O. and it was putting out about 300 BHP but, Ford didn't want that much power in a FWD car so Yamaha went to a 4 valve head and reduced power to 225 or so. I was never aware of a 16 valve 400 but, knew that the American FZ600 was a 400 chassis with the FJ 600 2-valve. I raced an FZ600 that was about 68 BHP stock going against CBR600's that had about 82 BHP but, the weight difference made a big difference in handling. I currently own the '76 RD400 in the profile pic.
Cheers for adding mate. There’s someone else’s take in another comment. All a bit confusing in the end.
Those triarm and gullarms with BT092 tyres were commonplace among my crew growing up. Couldn't get my hands on a ZXR400L, so opted for the even rarer ZXR250C. I miss the 18k screaming engine down the Blackwall Tunnel at 17! Would rather wear my rose tinted specs than to be lumbered with a restricted A2 bike.
50hp can still be fun though 😊
@@barebonesmc Don't get me wrong, the most fun I had in recent times (god, it's been 6 years!) was on my CBR500R. Budget suspension that was actually well damped and set up for UK B roads and 40bhp-ish at the rear wheel. Wide open throttle everywhere, pretending you're a Moto3 rider! My lesser experienced mate on his 990SMT was confused as to why he couldn't keep up on the twisty stuff - The joys of cutting my teeth on the 250 back in the day.
@@Titot182 better to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slowly 🙂
Everything from Japanese bikes with 4 cylinder is fantastic (no matter what the CC).... I know they can make parallel twin, v twin, v4 or whatever but 4 cylinder just another brilliant machine....
They do make some great 4 pot engines😊
@@imunknownsource8696 I love a 4 cylinder engine for a road bike, in-line or V-four, it’s my favourite engine configuration. The late, great motorcycle journalist & tech writer once said, the V-four is the best compromise out of all the configurations and should be the perfect motorcycle engine. Looking at moto GP, it seems he was correct. It’s a shame manufacturing costs and emissions have pretty much killed off the smaller fours.
In New Zealand we got the RG400 brand new as well as VFR400 and NC30,GSXR 400,Suzuki Impulse 400 all as new imports.We had very little import regs so any excess or superseded, but new, JDM bikes were sent here. Not all good as Yamaha gave us the horror that was the XZ400.
thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
Hi. Regarding the Genesis term used for the Yamaha's, it was described in their press blurb as the designing of the frame and engine together rather than as separate entities and then making them match. It strikes me as a bit of marketing as all engine designs would have to be done with a view to fitting them in a frame and visa versa but I bought the idea at the time if not the bike. Thanks for the video.
Cheers for adding mate. On the yamaha mv history page I found it still specifically talks about the 5 valve head. So did confuse me 😊
@barebonesmc That's interesting...I've always liked the 5 head design. When first introduced, Yamaha said it caused trifluricarion (as I recall, my spelling may be way off) which was a term used to describe the way the three inlet valves caused the gasses to mix more thoroughly.
Please keep the videos coming. I very much appreciate them.
Another excellent video with great footage and as always, all the appropriate facts delivered by a human being - a rare treat in these days of AI infestation.
I do feel that Honda’s domestic market CB-1 deserves at least an honourable mention here.
Although it’s a naked sports bike (arguably the first - predating the Ducati Monster), a heavier tubular steel perimeter frame, basic rectangular steel swing arm, and comically heavy wheels, top speed (perhaps thanks to gearing) is equal to its CBR400 bothers. Some people even race them.
The export model with Smurf blue or yellow tanks, was less well equipped with a black painted mild steel exhaust, and basic foot pegs (in place of the Japanese model’s very high quality stainless steel and bolted-on aluminium ones) and detuned for the Kommunist state of Kalifornia.
Somewhere I have a couple of them, maybe two and a half or three. They best suit the smaller lighter rider, mainly due to the foot peg position and the rear shock. Sadly the online forum is run by a tyrant who’s apparently more interested in the ad revenue than allowing free debate. But that’s another story.
Ride safe
Choose your flags wisely
Peace 🏴
A red dragon is always a good ally 😊 I had the cb1 and others in. But it didn’t quite fit here as I wanted so it will follow later 😊 have a good un mate
@@barebonesmc Indeed. The flag I was born under, and the only flag I will ever identify with.
I get that the CB-1 is far more of a street bike than the others. However, the reason I mentioned it is because of its very close relationship with the Baby Lade CBR400s, and its surprising power, speed and handling capabilities.
There was a company that made a fairing for the CB-1, and some fitted them for racing, though the purists of course considered that inappropriate on an iconic naked bike. Indeed, it’s possible that the absence of a fairing was one of the main reasons why it was such a quick bike. They are known to beat 600s on track days and through the twisties. Impressive.
Ride safe and free
Peace 🏴
My first road bike was a gsxr 400 on a 1990 plate. Loved that bike was such a involving ride. Followed by a RGV 250 n ad have the 400 over it every day of the week.
It was a wild time when engineers were more important than beancounters 😊
I had the Honda NC30 in Taiwan. Fitted a Tyga Maggot pipe and rear-sets. Would embarrass many large bikes in the mountains there. I geared it down as it was too long legged for those mountains
Glorious bikes 😊
400cc bikes I've owned - an NC24 (which was my first sports bike), an NC30 (a rare UK model sadly stolen), an NC35 (a bloody fast bike and a tad better than the NC30 (and 17" rubber)), and an (probably 1992) FZR400. They were all great bikes. I'd have an NC35 again if I had spare money and garage space, or maybe the baby blade. As it is, I'm considering doing something daft and getting a new ZX4RR on PCP 🤣
Great story 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. i am interested to see if the new ZX makes an impact. Ride Free 🙂
Great video. I raced an FZR400RRSP for a couple of seasons 20-odd years ago in the BMCRC. It certainly was a great handing bike, especially in race trim, but it didn't come close to my road-going RGV250M when it came to braking and steering. Compared to that, the FZR felt like a bus, but I guess it's all relative. I had some exciting times on it and what it lacked in agility compared to the RGV, it made up for in smoothness and power.
I’ll admit my bias on that one lol. The rgv is better in many ways for sure and I love strokers but I had a tzr 1kt with lots of Belgarda bits and a beckitt tuned 350LC before that. So I was spoilt 🤣🤣
@@barebonesmc The 1kt was another great bike. I had one of those before the RGV - not as powerful when stock but so much fun. Mine was naked with a round headlight, and with someone on the back, it was hard to fight the front wheel back down every time it hit the power band in first - hilarious. Still remember the "speed" light :-)
@@minesadabmine was a proper Frankensteins monster lol. Came from the track. Belgarda usd forks rgv rad and short subframe with solo race seat. Tuned by a guy who was winning a lot. But after me it went to someone who threw everything at it. He put a banshee top end on and mick abbey tuned it. With the bigger barrels he had it up to 90hp on the dyno in the end 😂😂 so I can’t imagine how quick it was. He did a few crmcc seasons and surprised many bigger bikes lol
@@barebonesmc A TZR"350" with 90bhp - if I'd known that was possible back then I probably wouldn't be here today!.. Sounds like a lot of fun. Looks as though you can get a 421 big bore for the 350 head too. I'm going to have to count my pennies and start searching ebay now
@@minesadab when he told me my first reaction was "never" then he showed me the dyno run and i shut up. my only comment was Bl@@dy hell lol. Mick Abbey is a genius tuner, he has taken over the mantle of Terry Beckitt and Stan Stevens and in the UK is the go to guy for any of the Yamaha's and im sure some of the other strokers too. have a great day mate and chat soon
I love light great handling 4 strokes. I had a lone of both a Gsxr 400 and a Fzr 400 around the same time that I had a Z 650 both of them would take the old Z to the cleaners. I love Honda V twins like the transalp Ntv650 and deauvills so I feel that I have been blessed to pick up a 1989 Bros 650 last year. It's got a light stiff alloy beam frame that is the same as a nsr 250 apparently a single sided swinging arm like a RC30 it only shares the engine cases with the get you to work stable mates. It's a much faster tune with a close ratio gearbox. Mist fun bike I ever rode in my life and I have had fireblade and all sorts. Not the fastest but the handling is fantastic and when I trash it a bit I have great fun without putting myself in licence losing territory. If you like twins but fine 1 liter Japanese bikes too thirsty and ducati's to maintenance hungry it just might be the ticket 👍
That engine is pretty bombproof 😊💪
Geoff McMullan had a rocket ship of a 400 in the 2000 Isle of Man TT Lightweight race.🏁🏁🏁🏁
Not a name I know well but cheers I’ll check him out
He won the lightweight TT in 2000 but after the race his bike was measured and found to be 600cc. He blamed his sponsor which was nonsense as he owned the bike and vowed to return next year and win again but the powers that be weren't having that and banned the cheat from the TT🏁🏁🏁@@barebonesmc
The RVF had the 17" rear which arguably gave better tyre choice but BT90's were available in those days so it never bothered me. I did end up putting a 17 conversion from the early 750 although I can't recall it being any better.
🙂Cheers for watching and for adding the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
I remember riding a mate's Triumph T120R & drag racing another mate on his CB400 Four. Yes, the Bonnie got it's arse kicked.
Been there mate 😊 people always underestimate the pocket rockets 😊
Enjoyed the video very much!!! I just got back from a zx4rr ride. Woo hoo
Sounds like you enjoyed it. Have you ridden any of the 80's-90's 400s? If so, how does it compare?
@@TheOriginalCoda only 1976 RD400 and CB400. Closest would be FZR600. The 2024 ZX4RR is nice. US model is detuned but still rides and sounds great.
@@Adv-caveman Thanks for getting back to me. It is perplexing why the bike is crippled in the US, considering it only puts out
@@TheOriginalCoda Yes, just a flash to get full potential from 11500 to 16000.
Knee down elbows out 😊😊
I like your taste in bikes!
Aprilia tried a 440 4stroke V-twin for MX that was supposed to fit in a RS250 frame. Could have been great.
The bike that got banned it was so good 🤣🤣 not the 450. But I had a ride on the 550 supermoto on a track and it was truly mental 🤣🤣
Such a great time in motorcycle history with the 400 screamers. We got cheated out of the majority of them over here in the US. But i read all the magazines as a kid and remember having that baby blade poster in my bedroom. The good old days. I was blessed to have grown up when i did because these kids now are really missing out. It looks like Japan just doesn't need to constantly battle it out between the big 4 when it comes to speed and performance anymore. I have high hopes for CF Moto and i never ever in a million years thought id be saying that. It doesn't even feel right.
lol. I know what you mean re cf Moto and others like Voge and kove. They seem to be delivering and listening to customers which has to be good
Nice one mate, I do hope you’re well. We did get these in a very limited quantity in Australia regarding the larger 2-strokes. However, the bike that bred about 8 Australian World Champions and many more racers in the big leagues was the RGV-250 which dominated the 250 cc Production Series in Australia from 1888 - 1998. I still have one out of the two I raced with the original fairings untouched as it they were purchased just for the track. It (a MY95) hasn’t been started in around 25 years and each time I mention I have one whilst in discussions with another enthusiast the first question I get is how much do you want for it. When discussing this particular machine with others who ended up racing overseas will always say they had the most fun racing in this category. My house mate/team manager during the 90’s had the RG500 and to be honest (apart from the glorious sound) it was a bit of a pig to ride from memory back then. The RGV-250, with a rear sprocket change, would achieve 220-225 kph just past the start/finish line at Phillip Island. This just made it a bit harder to launch from the start, especially as the first 3 rows at Phillip Island are uphill, where the rest are slightly down hill. The 400 screaming 4-stroke machines also made their way here, just weren’t as quick as the 250 2-strokes and cost more (hence they weren’t converted into a racing class). Keep up the great work mate. Simply love your work and hearing your voice. All of my 2 wheeled friends also love your channel now. 👍👍
You are a gem mate and I never tire of your stories 😊 the rgv was special 😊
I'm very glad to see this posted, "prayers" have gone out & I do hope things are progressing. Great video here, if I were
looking for a straight up Street Bike, I'd want a 400cc - 500cc bike that could be tweaked for speed, agility, & handling.
Again, thoughts are w/ you guys...... peace & Godspeed my Friends !
Cheers mate. Managed the longest walk of the year so it’s goin ok so far. And glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Yeah man, I did happen to enjoy the video,,,,, it enlightened me about the size of motorcycle I think I'd want for
a street bike. These 400cc - 500cc bikes are just under the radar of Insurance Policies that stick you hard for
those dreaded 600cc bikes. The insurance rates soar from 600cc's & up. So you struck a nerve in the very
bikes I'd look to have. I just don't know which one could be beefed up the most & is the best handling. I'm
more into handling since I've lost my athletic abilities in my older age...... I was also enthusiastic seeing ya
posting, I can only tell you that you guys are on my mind here. Please be well & we'll chat when you're
feeling better. Tell the little lady I said hello from Texas. Do take care & I'll remember ya'll in prayers.
peace & GB ALL
I don't care what the numbers say, that NS400R is a shockingly quick bike. Rides nice too.
Indeed. Much stronger than the specs 🤓😊
I bought the bike I could afford, an old RD350. The bike I wanted was the FZR400. Good times!
Been there 😊 they were wild days 😊
Over time, and eschewing dogma, the same model asserts itself continuously; up to 60hp- 350lbs and as sharp a chassis as the available tires allow for.
From Cammy Nortons, through Guzzi Bicylindrica's and anything in the Turner (and etc.) Twins gene pool, right up to the modern day- on public roads, less *is* more.
Wise words 😊😊😊
Smaller bikes are always fun to ride!
You got that right!😊
I Love the Kawazaki & FZR!
I am just biased with the fzr😊😊👍💪
Rode and club racd an Aprilia RS250. Really moved around corners! Alas, I had a TBI and failed to move onto my RC3? bike. My TBI was at over 120mph, coming out of the first, huge sweepnig right hander at Mallory Park. Long since recovered and back on bikes... more post TBI than before -- 18 or 19 in total, so far.
Gerard’s is always a challenge 😊 glad you pulled through
I always thought the 400cc bikes were the perfect size and power and it really bothers that nobody really makes an inline 4-cylinder 400cc 4-stroke anymore. All I can find here in the states is two cylinders that sound like a thumping helicopter and not pleasant. Need a screaming 4-stroke 4-cylinder and nobody really makes a modern version that's not a twin, or a zillion dollars. What a bummer.
Dunno what prices are like there but the cb1 is worth a look maybe? A future classic
Kawasaki has the new ZX4RR.
Nearly 50 years ago, (holy smoke) I had a KZ650, and my friend had an RD400. I had to lash the hell out of that Kawasaki just to keep up.
I had a 350lc and a z650(later) and they are both great bikes. The RDs were just special though
I nearly bought a CBR400rrrrrrrrrr but figured out every ride would have been trying to hit that mental red line and would sooner rather than later have me piloting it into the scenery. What a toy!
They were glorious bikes😊
For the money the Suzuki GS4OOF Bandit was hard to beat - very sure-footed streetbikes.
As with the cb1 and others it just didn’t quite fit here. It’s time will come 😊
@@barebonesmc Agreed, the CB-1 didn't catch on at all in the US - to our loss. I think that early small Bandit was one of the early open trellis bikes too.
I love my Bandit 400, everyone thinks its Italian and they are surprised to hear it pre-dates the Monster by many years. Plus, GSX-R suspension/brakes bolt right up and really completes the package. The CB-1 and Hawk 650 are both favorites of mine and didn't quite "fit in" at the time, but are getting to be collectable rarities today.
My buddy on his fzr 400 would smoke me in the turns on my zx 11 all day long.
Been there😂😂😂
I loved my 83 cbx 400 f it was fun i rode one time and stones sticking to the tires 13,500 redline .i love to buy a cbr 400 rr i have a cbr 900 rr sc 33 i hardly get move the throttle 400 be way more fun.
Truly great bikes
the first FZ400 sported an old air cooled lump an XJ derivative I think 2 valve heads and humble box section steel cradle but was regarded as an absolute blade for handling
Right. But was a 4 valve head 😊👌 pukka bikes
Regarding build quality, nothing comes close to the RVF 400
They were/are gorgeous bikes
Thanks
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
Had a NC29 and a FZR 4003TJ, both were great but the FZR was annoyingly restricted to 112mph!
They could be freed though 😊 great bikes 😊
I would pick the VFR but then I an biased as I ride a VFR 800.
😊😊
The Suzuki GT380 (nearly a 400) "won" the Castrol Six Hour, which was a production race in Australia open to any production bike. A huge deal in Australia and often used in pub arguments about what the quickest bike was. Sadly it was disqualified as the horn had been moved.
The other interesting "400" in Australia was the GSX-R 400 raced by one of the bike shops in Sydney shortly before the GSX-R 750 was available. They had squeezed the 750 Katana engine into it that had itself been taken out to 1000cc. So maybe not technically a 400, but used to great effect by Robbie Phillis.
Great story mate cheers for sharing 😊 I feature the 380 in the 2 stroke terrors video 😊 my favourite of the gt range 😊
Correction mate. The Suzuki was a 350 twin, not a 380 railhead triple. 2:24
You want mental? I'll show you 'kin mental. (Every 400 rider ever)
Lol
Need me a NS400R, for reasons. Or a CBR400RR. Or a ZX4... Or a GSXR400...
🤣🤣🤣
Still got mine...
which? 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
Not a 400cc bike lover, but they can be much fun if you like to ride hard and corner hard and more affordable than the big boys. And they are cheaper to run on a day to day basis
if we all thought the same it would be a boring world mate, 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
@barebonesmc o yes definitely
FZR with an RZ 500 motor would be cool!
Indeed 😊
I feel that 400cc is the perfect capacity for a motorcycle. Inherently lighter but enough weight to be still stable.
The maximum capacity for a single before vibration and balance are too much, ideal for a V2 looking for revs and smoothness, brilliant for screaming in line 4s.
All will offer plenty of speed and potentially good acceleration.
Perfect options for older riders who are over the weight and size of larger machines.
It’s worth noting that Honda have built many premium machines in this capacity over the years that gave nothing away quality wise to larger capacity machines.
Given the shed space I’d build up a collection of the great Honda 400 cc machines from over the years.
That’s a video I’ve been looking at lol. The cb1 etc just wouldn’t have fitted properly in this one. But……😂
Yes the CB1, Bros 400, CB400SF, GB400TT, original CB400F (which I stupidly sold), all would make a great collection along with the VFR400 and CBR400.
@@ultimateiphonedng8756 so many 😊😊
NC30 has always been a nearly.
Had through choice RD500LC,FZR1000,GSXR750J.FZX750, '85 FJ1200.
NS was nikasil bores.
Never owned a kawasaki.
Didn't want an RC30 at the price, ow01 was more than I could afford.
GSXR1100 was too much.
FZR1000 exup frame Didn't fit.
Then I got a Harley 883 because I couldn't find a black shadow at the time, still wanted a Vincent until I got my '99 Harley twin cam FXDL.
Now I get to shower it with shiny gifts and anyone who says they can hang on to buckhorns and forward controls into a gentle breeze past 130 is probably full of crap.
Got 170+ out of the '85 FJ12 35 years ago,my brother still owns it.
155 on an FZX750 without a fairing was uncomfortable.
Yep. Anything over 125 mph without some sort of screen is hard work lol. One of my exup 1000s has a YZF750 swingarm and cams 🤣🤣🤣 they are a big beast though 😊
9:00 put in Honda here
🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂
i always wanted a zxr400 , got a v4 instead just how things played out
the big bang 360deg crank and distinctive sound has grown on me
will probably never sell it
would love a new zx4rr to keep it company and to have an alternate ride for months like these
need to sort the rusted/leaking tank
I am interested to see how the new ZX does sales wise, it was a brave move by Kawasaki. thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
Im sure it was ian duffusi saw or hutchy at knockhill circuit , win a race a piece . ,if i could afford one thojgh id buy the little gsxr with the twin lights , a photogenic little rocket in gun metal grey, and red !
Imagine the tales they could tell lol, thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂
I know we like to hate on KTM but my 390 absolutely Rips! Braaaap!
I don’t hate the bikes as such. I just don’t like PMG and what they do sometimes 😊 but a single however hot. Will never be in the same league as the 4 pot screamers like these 😊 even a 690r would struggle I think. Although an smc690r v these would be entertaining 😊
@barebonesmc I get what your saying. Also, Top end on 390 sucks and zero power after fourth gear but I think I got the 0-60 under 4 seconds.
@@simplerick3851 the ecu cuts power in top gear if I remember right. So it can be remapped. A healtech ATRE Might help but you’d need to check. I’m working from memory there lol gearing is the key. Acceleration or top end. But both more complex 😊😊
Those were the days, when riders were riders and bikes were bikes....none of all that tech nonsense today's bikes have wot with traction control, launch control, multi riding modes, etc that today's bikes are infested with.......
Anti wheelie devices🤣🤣🤣 on a sport bike??? 😂😂😂😂 pmsl
Having missed 2 x CBR400 "Babyblade's" & a KR1S. I've lost the Patience a found myself an 98% original Kawasaki ZXR 750 H2 🙂
Great bikes 😊👍💪👌