Fun in the sun!! 400s-v-SV650

[Blue_SV650S]

I commute daily on my SV, so rarely just go out for ‘a blatt’ as, well I ride plenty … but today I decided to go for a jolly!! :)

Thing is I took my little 400 out, not the SV :-# … I can’t remember the last time I took it out properly (I have had it years and tend to just give it a run every now and then) but as the MOT was up for renewal in the week, I had already fished it out the back of the garage … so as it was a sunny day, I figured I’d go for a spin on my fave backroads ...

I had forgotten what a chuckle that bike is!!! :riding: Ace!!

So what do I think is the better bike?? … well it isn’t that easy … basically it ‘Depends!’. The SV makes for a great commuter, it not only does the commute, but makes it fun (unlike my old GPz). The torque of the V-twin is entertainment in itself and means wheelies are a constant phenomenon, but also means that it can be ridden sensibly and due to its size/build it has some 'road presence', so can be used for pleasure or business if you will. By contrast, the 400 is all about revs, flicking it about and having fun, and it tiny, a real 'toy'!! :)

I had so much fun abusing the 400, but you just can’t ride them sensibly (well I can’t it MAKES me do things I shouldn’t!! [-( :lol:). But it is also a back breaker, within 20 mins on the bike and my back and writs were uncomfortable #-o , and hour or so later and I was in serious discomfort, (and I had stopped for fuel&drink so not an hour straight), good job I was having so much fun!! :D

So although it is a great crack for a sunny blast, I couldn’t imagine using the 400 day-to-day, it is too uncomfortable!! The SV does both, but I have to say if I want to go out purely for giggles, I’d probably be picking up the 400s keys!! :) If i wnated to go for a longer ride, the 400 would stay under its cover!! 8-[

Anyone else got/tried both a SV and a 400 race rep?

p.s. I saw a Yellow curvy ontop of portsdown hill about 1-2pm going the other way, was that anyone from here?? At that point I wished I was on the SV and I would have harassed them/you as I was feeling mischievous!! !!! :D

[squirrel_hunter]

I have an SV650S and a CBR400 NC23.

They are both great fun and completly different!

I find the 400 handles better, its easier to flick about and making it scream all the way to the red line is funny :twisted:
But the SVs grunt and sound (umm Renegade) is just as good.

I would agree the SV is a more comfertable ride but I comutted for 2 years on the CBR including some long trips and didn't have a problem. Its really horses for courses!

Oh and as for harrassing an SV on a 400 its possible. I have done that on the CBR and against others they might get you on the straights but in the bends the CBR can stay with anything :twisted:

[Blue_SV650S]

I have an SV650S and a CBR400 NC23.

They are both great fun and completly different!

I find the 400 handles better, its easier to flick about and making it scream all the way to the red line is funny :twisted:
But the SVs grunt and sound (umm Renegade) is just as good.

I would agree the SV is a more comfertable ride but I comutted for 2 years on the CBR including some long trips and didn't have a problem. Its really horses for courses!

Oh and as for harrassing an SV on a 400 its possible. I have done that on the CBR and against others they might get you on the straights but in the bends the CBR can stay with anything :twisted:

I wasn’t going to harass the SV when on my 400 as although they would be a fair match in a fistfight, well the SV bloke would have just thought “what’s he on!?” rather than “cool another SV, game on!! :)” What I meant when I saw the yella SV is that I wished I was on my SV not on the 400 and would have turned round to harass them/say hi, as I was on the 400 I just rode on!! :)

I am just shy of 6 foot, how tall are you?? I used to have a gull arm too, this is a VFR, the CBR was tiny too, but more comfortable than the VFR. I don’t think having low race clipons on the VFR is helping matters either!?! :D

[BILLY]

I used to own a CB1 400 every time I rode it the red mist came down and I had to cain the tits of it (hense 9 points on my license) I loved that bike but it had to go when Ibought the SV, Maybe I'll get another 400 later just for track days though!!! :riding: :riding: :thumbsup:

[Vfr400]

I had a VFR400 before the SV and I'm 6ft tall and an hour was as much as my back could stand. The howl it makes at anything over 10k is addictive but in a different way to the SV. Bemsee run a 400/Minitwin (mainly SV's) shoot out at some of there race meetings and as far as i can remember they seem to be well matched.
chris

Imagine what a man sized vfr600 would be like :D

[Razor]

Not anymore but I had a ZXR400, brilliant bike for twisty back roads.

[squirrel_hunter]

I wasn’t going to harass the SV when on my 400 as although they would be a fair match in a fistfight

:lol: :lol:


I am just shy of 6 foot, how tall are you??

I think I'm about the same 5" 10ish. Not rode a VFR but had a go on a RVF found it a similar style but a much harder ride.

And I'm sure lower clipons wouldn't help, I can only imagine the pain :lol:

[Blue_SV650S]

Vfr400 - When the minitwins series was in its infancy, they used to tag the minitwins onto the 400s all the time, they were indeed pretty well matched, even back then, remember watching them by the sideline!! :)

A mansized VFR400 …. Humm now there a thought :) … hang on, Honda already did that one … the legendary VFR750 (RC30), streets ahead at its time. Still a very desirable bike, they are worth a fortune now!! :) A modern-day VFR600 would be most interesting :)

Razor – Had a go on a ZXR400 once … the howl they make is very distinctive (and addictive :) ). Looking at the results, the ZXR400 appears to be the best of the bunch when it comes to racing.

Squirrel_hunter – we are about the same height then, you might just be a bit more flexible/younger?!?!!? :D

[Razor]

The ZXR was the only 400 offcially imported AFAIK. That was my reason for buying it, and that bootiful noise :D

[squirrel_hunter]

Squirrel_hunter – we are about the same height then, you might just be a bit more flexible/younger?!?!!? :D

Flexible, No!

Younger, maybe...

I got the CBR when I was 18/19 rode it every day for 2-3 years.
Its been sat on my parents drive for the past 2 years, I miss riding it but haven't got the cash to get it back on the road propper (Uni).
Spent the last few years on the SV, which I love. But when ever I get to theirs I have to walk past it, would love to be riding them both again...

[Sid Squid]

The ZXR was the only 400 offcially imported AFAIK. That was my reason for buying it, and that bootiful noise :D

VFR400 NC30 was an official import for a couple of years too.

[Razor]

Ah OK. Never saw any baby VFR when I bought my ZXR. Turned out to have been a crashed re-built job with a ZX9 style paint job. That'll teach me to trust people. Now I HPI every time.

[22]

Got a cbr400 nc29, cured the ride hight by fitting a rear shock from a cbr600, it has raised it enough to be more on a par with the sv. As for fun riding give me the 400 any day, went to the MCN Butlins bash on it two up with luggage no problem.

[northwind]

I was looking for a nice 400 of some sort before I got the SV... But finding a good one at a reasonable price beat me. I relaly like them, though they've been left a bit behind now IMO (the new R6 weighs less than an NC30, apparently) Wish they'd go back to the class, just think what they could do with new technology and a V4 400 these days...

[Blue_SV650S]

Was out on the 400 again today :) I have run the tank dry again now (2 tankfulls in 2 days :D), so have put it to the back of the garage again to rest and will 'draw' the SV next time I go out (tomorrow)!! :D

It is a shame they stopped making the 400s, as the import market proves, there is plenty of demand still!!

The advantage of a 400 over the modern 600s is that you can rag it to the max and you are not doing insane speeds, which is better for smiles, license and your health on the road!! 8)

Only downside is that everyone thinks you are a girl and the ‘pub biker’ thou’ boys scoff at it I am sure … but I couldn’t care less, I love my little 400!! :)

[21QUEST]

Ha ha. Rode a CB1 on Saturday. Forgotten how revvy these little things are (used to have a ZXR400H2).

I quite enjoyed it. Take of , second gear , up the box , next gear up the box ....... Don't think I was ever lower than 8000-9000 once I got moving. SV felt like a bag of nails when I got back on it.

If my memory serve me right a ZXR400 was once clocked as fast or almost as fast as a 750 on a test by a magazine 8) .

Cheers
Ben

[Razor]

Mine was the L, looked kinda like the pic but it was plain green and had a black bellypan. Didn't say 400 on it and everybody used to ask me if it was the 750.
I low sided it coming off a roundabout back in '98 :oops: I got up just in time to see it get hit by a transit coming the other way :shock:http://www.wemoto.com/wem/pic/z8.jpg