I continue to marvel at how seemingly available the FZR400 is in the U.S. I remember reading about it in motorcycle magazines and how it would’ve been the ideal first bike for me. But the FZR400 proved difficult to find and I ended up with the much more common FZR600, and while it was a blast, I still wonder about the 400 when these ad’s come up.
Check out this 89 FZR400 For Sale on eBayMotors:
quote from seller’s eBayMotors listing:
1989 Yamaha FZR-400 collector bike. Original motor, aluminum frame, fully operational, runs very well, exceptional handling. Avon tires. Up to 60 mpg on regular gas.
I used to commute to/from work on this motorcycle. Due to financial hardships, I am forced to sell this motorcycle. I am the third owner, purchased it with approx 9k miles on it in early 2006 in Richmond, VA. Currently has a CA title.
Damages you see are all repairable, a tie-down failed in the moving truck and the bike fell over/slid into the side of the truck. This bike has NEVER BEEN LAID DOWN on the road. Very well cared for, except for this unfortunate incident. Never raced. Needs a bath right now though.
The FZR400 has an aluminum frame compared to the steel frame of the FZR600, which is cheaper and heavier. Many FZR400’s were snapped up by club racers and never to be seen on the street again. But apparently there are more out there ready for street duty than I thought!
dc
Update: This post is pretty outdated. Check out these FZR’s on eBay right now:
[AffomaticEbay]Yamaha FZR[/AffomaticEbay]
[…] 1989 Yamaha FZR 400 For Sale in Vegas: The FZR400 has an aluminum frame compared to the steel frame of the FZR600, which is cheaper and heavier. Many FZR400’s were snapped up by club racers and never to be seen on the street again. But apparently there are more out there ready for street duty than I thought! […]
I owned a 1990 FZR400 from 2000-2003, when I replaced it with a VFR750. The baby FZR was a GREAT bike. It was my 1st street bike, though I’d had mx bikes from 1990-1996 and again off and on from 98-00. I bought the bike a week after graduating college and had an incredible summer that year riding EVERYWHERE. Mine dyno’d at something close to 60 rwhp (jetted, some kind of exhaust I can’t remember the name of, pod filters, ignition timing mod). The only caveats were the utter lack of torque….great fun to rev up though. I could keep up with my 2 748 Duc-riding friends everywhere but in a long straight line! The ergonomics sort of sucked as well. Very mid 80s as the US market FZR was the 1986 (?) JDM model.
A very common mod was to drop in the FZR600 engine for a mini R6 on the cheap. I also had Race Tech emulators and a Fox twin clicker on my bike and it certainly was more capable than my skills or level of aggressiveness.
Wish I never sold it – the super fast VFR was like riding a couch by comparison. A funky, competent, and cool bike, but a different animal altogether.
PS I used to buy tires from a guy who raced FZR400s. His was wildly modified. Gixxer 750 forks, total loss ignition, the works.
I’d like another 400…maybe after I get my 911 on the road…and that vintage YZ125 I’m also obsessed with…the girlfriend wants a ring…sigh.
Hey Dan,
Thanks for sharing your FZR400 experiences. Sounds like yours was one of the better ones for sure!
Take care,
dc