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FZR 400's

Started by Monsterlover, August 08, 2008, 04:29:53 AM

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Monsterlover

August 08, 2008, 04:29:53 AM
Anyone know anything about these little bikes?

I have the chance to pick up an ex WERA endurance bike in the $1500 neighborhood.  It has spares and stuff that goes with it, but I don't know all the details yet.  It's been sitting for about 5 years (local bike)  It's already wired and race prepped.

Google has shown me that these are somewhat popular.  With some work a CBR rear wheel can be made to fit (lets you run a 180) and I've seen other bikes with GSXR front ends (radial brakes, 120 front etc)

Im seriously considering trading my 675 in on a 950SMR that I've been lusting over and then picking the FZR up for track duty.

I already joined the yahoo email list for these bikes.

I saw on one the net with the GSXR front, a 600 cc hybrid motor (683 actually) that made 100hp at the wheel and the bike weighed 335 pounds   :o :o (or something close to that)

Thoughts?
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

2001cromo

#1
August 08, 2008, 06:11:56 AM
That bike was one of the best handling bikes of it's time (late 80's). It came with an aluminum frame and it ran circles around most other bikes. The only downside is it didn't make a lot of power. It's an air cooled I4, I don't think it's got the genesis (5 valve) heads.  The FZR600 was based on that bike, but was actually a steel frame and I think the geometry was changed slightly.  That's why it's so easy to swap in the 600 engine from the same era.

Regardless, $1,500 for a track bike that's already set  up ( as long as it's healthy) is a great deal.  Only time it could drive you nuts is on the long straights when the bigger bikes pass you by.

A buddy of mine spent some time trying to graft in an RZ350 motor into one of those. But gave up after he ran out of money.

Good luck

A.duc.H.duc.

#2
August 08, 2008, 08:10:49 AM
I had an FZR600, swapped in the 400 lower frame members, and a 400 swingarm, lightened it a little bit.

Bike went really good though, sometimes I wish I'd done it the other way, started with the 400 and put a 600 motor in it.

Race plastics are cheap and easy to find, Forks/brake system can easily be adapted to earlier non-upsidedown YZF stuff. With more work you can make it even nicer.

The FZRs were narrower than the YZFs which I really apreciate. I like a skinny flickable bike. I still think my FZR handled better than the R6 on good roads.

I say get it, if anything you'll end up with a love affair. Even if you end up hating it in the long run, it's the journey.
"Listen, not a year goes by, not a year, that I don't hear about some escalator accident involving some bastard kid which could have easily been avoided had some parent - I don't care which one - but some parent conditioned him to fear and respect that escalator."

Monsterlover

#3
August 08, 2008, 12:47:42 PM
Thanks for all the input everyone.

The main reason I'd be into the 180 rear swap is I have a stack of 180 power races that Id like to burn up.

The suspension is my main point of worry.  I like to go fast, but Im ok with a 120 or less top speed.  This particular bike I did sit on and while I did fit ok on it, it seemed really really really soft, especially the front.

I didn't get a chance to check and see if there was adjustable preload or not, but it felt like there was no compression damping.  Or very little at least (in the front I mean.)

If I ran the stock wheels, is there a good supply of tires that fit it?  The rear is a weird 140-18 (i think) and the front is a 110-17 (again, I think)

Access to a quality tire supply is important to me as well.
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

Monsterlover

#4
August 08, 2008, 01:48:08 PM
Noted.

However, you mention non adjustable forks.  Do you mean preload?  This bike has compression adjust down at the bottom.

Don't remember if it has rebound too.  Or maybe that's reversed, since the forks are "the wrong way"

So maybe that's rebound down there.
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

Monsterlover

#5
August 08, 2008, 02:27:34 PM
Not misinformed.

My own incorrect assumption ;D
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

JustDucky

#6
August 08, 2008, 02:54:44 PM
The little fizzers were great bikes.  They make about 50hp when well tuned.  No power until after 11K, redline at 14K.  With a V&H SS pipe they sound like a F1 car.  The '90 models (like the pic above) are the better of them.  4 piston caipers and deltabox style swingarm compared to the older ones with 2 piston calipers and basic square tube swingarm.  The stock forks are completely non adjustable and way too soft for track use without work. The 400's feel tiny and weightless compared to just about any other sportbike I've ever ridden.  They are liquid cooled with 4 valve heads.  Official yamaha statement was that the size of the combustion chamber did not benefit from their much hyped 5 valve design.  The stock shocks suck too.  Those are easy to to get aftermarket.  If you must have more power, an FZR600 motor is a direct bolt in if used with the 600 wiring harness.  Just remember the 600 has a MUCH lower redline 10500 or 11 if memory serves.

Good luck.  Let us know how you make out with the deal.

Speeddog

#7
August 08, 2008, 03:18:21 PM
One of our SoCal crew, RST, ran an FZ400 for a while, he may have something to add... shoot him a PM?
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Monsterlover

#8
August 08, 2008, 03:38:58 PM
PM sent. . .
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**

darylbowden

#9
August 08, 2008, 04:00:39 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on August 08, 2008, 03:18:21 PM
One of our SoCal crew, RST, ran an FZ400 for a while, he may have something to add... shoot him a PM?

Yeah he won a class championship on that thing and I think 8th overall at WSMC.  Also had the largest highside in Fizzer history.

JustDucky

#10
August 08, 2008, 05:14:25 PM
j.davis- very respectable.   [thumbsup]

Monsterlover

#11
August 09, 2008, 02:33:28 PM
Thanks for the info!!

I have an appointment for 7pm this wednesday to go check it out.  He needs time to pull all the spare stuff out of storage

8)

I have a full gsxr front end off, of an 00 or thereabouts bike, lined up from another board for $300 (complete front with wheel and all)

Im getting excited ;D
"The Vincent was like a bullet that went straight; the Ducati is like the magic bullet in Dallas that went sideways and hit JFK and the Governor of Texas at the same time."--HST    **"A man who works with his hands is a laborer.  A man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.  A man who works with his hands, brains, and heart is an artist."  -Louis Nizer**
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