Are bikes like the ZXR400 suitable for restricted licensee’s? what’s the best of this ilk for a novice in terms of price/rider ability etc?
Fanx,
Sneaky 
Personally in that catogory and that age of bike I’d prefare the RVF 400. Looks sweet and sounds awsome for a 400.
Plus who’d ever know if was de-restricted??? 
(Not that I’d have ever done that before my ful licence 
Nice enough bikes, steering lock is a bit tight so taking the test on it might be a bit tricky, and probably better if the rider is a smaller frame, but quite a few examples around of all the 400 sports bikes, although now they will be a little on the old side.
Depends what the budget is, but I would have thought a restricted old gen 600 like the Kawasaki ZX6R G2, 1999 Yamaha R6 or (probably best) Honda CBR 600 F2 would be better bets.
Not much heavier than a 400, and when the rider gets more experience and confidence, instead of trading up for something with more go, they just whip out the restrictor kit and unleash around 90 - 100 BHP depending on the bike.
Top responses!
Sorry, I should have been more clear. The rider has a GC125, but assuming she passes her test, would the ZXR400 be a good bet.
I would imagine she’d be a bit short in the leg length for these bikes. I think that that extra lil’bit of weight might be an issue too?
I tested all the 400 sporters many years ago. I remember the ZXR being a very rounded package. To soft for me, but prolly good for a novice. I called up a Kawasaki dealer today about restricting a bike. He reckons £300-£350 very max depending on the model, inc the fitting.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. The rider has a GC125, but assuming she passes her test, would the xr400 supermoto be a good bet.
turn that lovely lady into a moto mentalist:D
I called up a Kawasaki dealer today about restricting a bike. He reckons £300-£350 very max depending on the model, inc the fitting.
[/quote]
WTF - FI international £150!! your dealer’s going to the wrong place!!
RS250 all the way, light - fast - low seat height…and best of all 2STROKE!!!:D:D
Having seen you on that 660, doing that Mad-Dog thing you do, a supa-retard is exactly what she wants! XR’s are too tall!:hehe:
WTF - FI international £150!! your dealer’s going to the wrong place!!
RS250 all the way, light - fast - low seat height…and best of all 2STROKE!!!:D:D
[/quote]
Too extreme and a time bomb!
400s are great for the short of leg and don’t worry about the age as long as you look for a good one. Personally I’d have a VFR400 (nc30) :Whistling:
Should have bought WASP’s 250 Hornet:cool:
A gr8 bike, but you need an amount of experience/skill to enjoy it fully surely? The broad accessibility of the ZXR should be easier to access for a novice, surely?
Tbh, I’ve not ridden a ZXR but the nc30 is my first sports bike, so although I could commute with my eyes shut I had no experience of ‘more fun aspects of riding’. It’s been good learning on the nc30 and I’ve still got a way to go yet.
My very limited experience of the NC30 are a few test rides. I’d still love to own one now, but its a race-bike-for-the-road and they just dont make the best road bikes. For the skilled rider for The BCR it’d be gr8!:w00t: For a most novices I would guess it’d be too focussed?
To be honest I would be looking at stuff like CB500, EN5, GS500 etc.
Something with a more upright riding position:)
She’s a poser. You have no idea how long it took to talk her into a CG! She’ll only use it for fun so a sports bike will be ok. She seems to think she’s BCR material!
Having said that. She’s on the back of my old Ducati 900ss in this vid. We get passed (at the speed limit:angry: ) in Fyfield at 22secs in the clip, then at 45secs our headlight is in the distance. She does a fab job on her first BCR, ok as a pillion, but she’s right on it!