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Post by mekon on Sept 1, 2019 15:09:47 GMT
Sadly this truth. Half of the ZXR400s I've found are just track bikes now. Being a UK home market bike I thought at least the ZXR would in ok supply but I guess they weren't really that popular and at the time everyone wanted CBR400s and NC30s. I had a FZR250 that revved to 18-19k and sounded insane but the only one I've found was a sack of shit with a wrecked fairing for £4000. A 'good' NC30 starts at 5k at least. CBR400 seems to be the most reasonable but you'd be pushed to find one in 'factory' condition, most got stupid paintjobs or abused by an M&P catalogue reader. Just watched a video of another VFR750 exhaust that really did sound the bollocks. I'd happily keep the engine! Sadly all the handling and braking remedies seem to be only ok if you've got a friend that had just wrecked a CBR600F4i and you can take his miraculously unwrecked front end and rear shock. If you look at listings you may as well just buy a different bike as you'll pay through the nose for bits. Not quite sure how Honda managed to make such overweight bike seeing as they made a big effort to slim the blade and cbr600. New RC30 anyone? £80k! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VFR750RK-RC30-MOTORCYCLE/153502166756?hash=item23bd712ee4:g:kZEAAOSwLzZc6cYf |
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Post by mekon on Sept 4, 2019 14:05:48 GMT
Just had a slight stirring of interest in Triumph Speed Triples. I think they still look quite good and different.
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Post by beefus on Sept 4, 2019 14:41:58 GMT
From this weeks MCN wrt buying a ZX9R.
Early B models are cheap, but that’s because they’re overweight and a bit previous generation. Go for a pampered C model (1998 onwards) in the classy all-blue scheme, or a later E or P like this one if you want the most polished dynamic. Popularity means there are loads to choose from, so get the best you can afford. The biggest issue is the gearbox’s habit of losing gears, so get a test ride and try every ratio, up and down the ’box. Brake pistons stick in the calipers if neglected, especially at the rear, and discs warp – check for pulsing at the lever under heavy use.
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Post by mekon on Sept 5, 2019 7:04:49 GMT
The one I had my eye on has disappeared off ebay. Someone must have offered him up to end the auction.
Tell you what I did see the other day that looked ok. A Suzuki 650sv with a twin can conversion and some added shiny bits. It looked nice and sounded good.
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Post by mekon on Sept 5, 2019 11:52:50 GMT
Starting to think Phil has placed a KTM RC390 virus in my mind. Can get them for about £2-3k and they only weigh 147kg.
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Post by Eddie The Bastard on Sept 5, 2019 18:50:00 GMT
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Post by mekon on Sept 5, 2019 20:08:37 GMT
Trouble is now I've gone from one bike to about 15 I like. I'm a bit  at the moment. |
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Post by Droog on Sept 6, 2019 16:02:16 GMT
Starting to think Phil has placed a KTM RC390 virus in my mind. Can get them for about £2-3k and they only weigh 147kg. It's what I would buy if I did buy another bike for the road. I really like them. |
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Post by mekon on Sept 6, 2019 18:53:36 GMT
I kind of like the idea of thrashing something again. I rarely take the VFR past 7 or 8k such is it's flexibility.
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Post by mekon on Sept 7, 2019 8:12:13 GMT
Now this is something I think we can all agree is awesome
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Post by Eddie The Bastard on Sept 7, 2019 9:23:42 GMT
That's the business and no mistake.
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Post by mekon on Sept 13, 2019 9:08:05 GMT
Well at the moment I've settled on buying an exhaust. Hopefully releasing the VFR's real noise will satisfy me and make me feel like I've got new a bike. If I like the sound I'll go on a proper suspension refresh over winter and added braided hoses as well. If that fails then I think I may treat myself to a new RC390. Some place was flogging a 2017 with zero miles for £3500!!
By the end of the day I should hopefully be able to annoy the neighbours with my v4 power.
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Post by Droog on Sept 13, 2019 16:53:22 GMT
I saw a VFR with an RC30 fairing and seat unit on it and a race pipe fitted for some early stock club racing class. It looked bloody good. As I recall the RC30 had the crank spin in the opposite direction to the VFR. Obviously a few other differences engine wise but they do use loads of the same parts. Dig out an old copy of MCN when Ron Haslam raced a road bike VFR in the transatlantic series (I think it was 1987?) but it was modded to have the crank spin the other way. Or maybe I just imagined that?
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Post by mekon on Sept 13, 2019 17:20:19 GMT
You can get some race tail unit for the VFR but only some place in the US seems to be selling them. I don't think it's worth investing too much into the thing as it's still a big fat lump at the end of the day. If I had loads of resources I'd make a cafe racer thing out of it just for the engine sound.
Speaking of which the can is on and it sounds good. Slapped it on but then noticed the logo is about 30degrees off so I need to loosen up the connector and reface.
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Post by neilf on Sept 13, 2019 19:56:41 GMT
Scorpion make very good exhausts. Along with a power commander and K&N filter, and some dyno time, my old K1 GSX-R750 made 130bhp at the rear wheel with one fitted.
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