Author Topic: 91 B400 for sale in NY (Read 4052 times)

vadim · « **on:** March 30, 2006, 11:21:01 AM »

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/146501440.html

The bike's not mine. I am just posting here in case anyone is interested.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2006, 11:30:14 AM »

3300 miles?

vadim · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2006, 11:43:35 AM »

Or so they say... At first I thought that it might be good for my girlfriend, but 418lb is way too heavy for her. I'll keep looking for a 250 ninja.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2006, 12:16:26 PM »

Where did you get 418? IIRC, they are about 370 or so dry.

vadim · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2006, 01:06:14 PM »

Did a quick search somewhere on the net. Still I think it might be too heavy for her and probably too powerful as a first bike. What'd you say is a fair price on it?

PitterB4 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2006, 02:04:28 PM »

Admittedly, I’m a 160lb guy but it has been a good first bike for me. She’s going to get tired of the 250 pretty quickly I would imagine. The B4 doesn’t make good power in the lower revs so it’s easy to get used to without snapping your head back. It has a low seat height, too. Price? I think that’s a little high. Those look like the orig tires. They’ll need to be replaced. It’ll probably need a new petcock and car o-rings soon, too. That’s just my $.02, though.

Katamaniac · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:20:20 PM »

I think the B400 is an excelent choice for a starter bike. That is why my wife has one. They are very light compared to most bikes, handle real well, and have a pretty low seat hieght for the type of bike it is. Don't get me wrong, that 250 ninja is a good bike for what it's made for, but she would probably outgrow it within a year.

vadim · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:56:43 PM »

Cool. I'll try to find out as much as I can about the bike, but if it has old tires, chain that wasn't maintained, old brake lines and fluid I can easily see the prep cost climb to over 500 bucks. Not to mention my time spent on valves, etc. On the other hand, it'd be cool to have two bandits in the house. ;) How difficult is it to get parts for b4?

Racerruss-ducati · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2006, 05:54:58 PM »

I'm with Pitter on this one. $2500 seems overpriced. KBB is only at $1740 in cherry condition. I got my '93 two years ago with 2,900 miles for $1600. With what you mentioned it needs, It should be $1500 or less.

As for a first bike, my wife started on a Suzuki 250 single cruiser (nice and low, light and not much power) which seemed about perfect to learn on. Within a year, she wanted to do a little highway riding so we got here a 500R Ninja. She liked it, but it was a little too tall for her. She rode it a couple of years and then we sold it due to kids coming. Then we got the 400 Bandit and she rode it a few times, but she felt it was heavier and wider than the Ninja (key word is felt) and the high revving nature turned her off, so she always had an excuse not to ride. I wound up turing it into a track bike, so now we are both happy.

BrianM · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2006, 08:31:58 PM »

Eh, I'm a mod over on the ninja250.org forums (and Duane from here is over there too).... the only time I got borred of the 250 (keeping in mind that I'm a 12 year riding vet, have over 100k miles and 3 years of semi-professional roadracing) was droning along the highway for hour after hour... and I get tireed of ALL bikes when doing that. Past that, it was a BLAST for in-town riding, one of the most nible when it came to curves... and quick enough that I could harrass an ex-roadrace friend of mine on a GSXR1000 in the N. GA mountains once we got into the tight twisties.

It's stupidly simple for newbies to learn on because of a heavy flywheel (hard to stall, almost like a diesel... you can just ease out the clutch without touching the gas and it'll start going). Plus, go take a look at our FAQs sometime... :D Newbie resource heaven.

My wife wants a Ducati Monster though (styling), so the B4 is the cheapest alternative to spending $6k on one of those. I suspect it'll be just fine to continue learning on (or start on).... But I can honestly say that this was the Last place I expected to hear any uninformed "you'll get tired of a 250 in no time" bashing, considering the B4 isn't that much removed (HP and weight wise).

PitterB4 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:07:29 PM »

Sorry Brian. Wasn't bashing. That was the experience of several friends that learned on Ninja 250s. Maybe they would have gotten sick of the B4, too. Dunno. Out of curiosity, what are typical stock hp and weight figures for a 250?

BrianM · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:38:31 PM »

It's in the 350/wet and 28hp at the rear wheel areas. And it's proven that it'll go 102.5mph (fastest timed run at a sanctioned top speed event)... though, put someone my size on it and it slows down to about 85~90mph.

Or, since the B4 only lists dry weight of 364 (the 250 dry is 300), and Crank HP of 54 (the 250 has 36) ~ a slightly more direct comparison.

Anyway, more than enough to keep me satasfied. But I'm not one to want warp speed acceleration on the straights... at least not anymore

Got that with my 142rwhp ZRX. I like light weight and handling more these days (though it's been in my blood forever, I learned on a VF500f and roadraced a RS125).

PitterB4 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:21:06 PM »

Again, not bashing (I truly have no beef with the 250 and no doubt you can have a scream on one) but:

36hp/300lbs=.12
54hp/364lbs=.15

That's ~25% difference in horsepower to weight ratio. My 400 will run up to 110 (indicated) pretty effortlessly. IIRC, the mags back in the day got them up to about 116 in tests.

Again, I'm not hating on the 250. It just seems that, depending on your riding style, could keep your interest a little longer which was my original point.

interfuse · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2006, 11:17:53 PM »

I've owned both a GS500 and GSF400. I was bored of the GS after one year and then upgraded to the bandit. I've owned the bandit for 3+ years and I can honestly say the bandit OWNS the gs500 in every aspect (well other then parts availability).

It has nothing to with HP, weight, or the displacement -- its all about the revs! Something about screaming up to 14k is more fun. Doesn't matter if you're in 1st or 6th. 14k is more fun. I can't imagine what kind of fun I'd have with a modern 600ss...

duane · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2006, 01:55:56 AM »

I've got two Ninja 250's in the garage parked, right next to my B4. One Ninja is bone stock and the other one has drop bars modded intake, carbs, and aftermarket exhaust. (Brian don't tell the guys on the 250 list I'm syaing this), but the B4 may be easier to ride. (Is that really possible?) It's so well ballanced and riding the cones at the DMV, while my wife was practicing for her endorsement, was easier on the Bandit than the Ninja. It's a great beginners bike and for me the Bandit kicks ass in the corners when going fast.

Quote

She’s going to get tired of the 250 pretty quickly I would imagine.

After living with the Ninja250 for as long as I have, I've heard that before and believe that's a misperception. The little 250 flat out hustles and kicks butt. (My other bikes have been a Kawi Concours and I currently own VFR800.) The dollar to fun ratio on the 250 is the best.