Old bikes are big news: fun to ride, joyous to work on and a shrewd investment, too. That’s great for owners, but less so for buyers. Surely all the bargains have gone? Well think again. There are plenty of wallet-friendly classics out there, just waiting to find a place in your shed. Here’s our pick of the bunch for the Middleweight 400-650cc Class !
Honda VFR400R (NC30)
A mini RC30 in every way, the Honda VFR400R NC30 is exotic and timeless. No 600 comes even close to the NC’s build quality or componentry: single-sided swingarm, gear-driven camshaft, titanium conrods, aluminium beam frame, twin rads...
The sound and ride are pure HRC, and because the Honda VFR4000R NC30 is a miniature VFR750R RC30, it has more kudos than its successor, the RVF400. The death of the two-stroke has driven 250 race-rep prices mad. NSR250 MC28s are fetching £6000-plus now so the technically more complex 400s should be worth more – the NC30 in particular. But they're not. Buy one now, While you can...
Honda VFR400R (NC30) Specs
Engine : Four stroke, 90º V-Four, DOHC 16-Valve, Liquid-Cooled, Gear-Driven Camshaft
Bore x Stroke : 55 x 42 mm
Capacity : 399 cc
Induction : 4 x Keihin CVK32
Max Power : 59 HP @ 12.500 RPM
Max Torque : 40 N.m @ 10.000 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 6-Speed / Chain
Frame : Alumunium Beam Frame
Front Suspension : 41 mm Telescopic Forks
Rear Suspension : Single-Sided Swingarm, Monoshock
Front Brakes : 2 x 296 mm Disc, 4-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : Single 220 mm Disc, 2-Pot Caliper
Front Tyre : 120/60 - 17
Rear Tyre : 150/60 - 18
Wheelbase : 1.345 mm
Weight : 164 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 15 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £1100 - £1400
Rider : £1500 - £2500
Minter : £2600 - £5500
Kawasaki Z650
We had to be revived with smelling salts when we investigated what original Z1s and Z1000s are making these days, but there is another way – the Kawasaki Z650.
In one respect the Kawasaki 650 is actually superior to its bigger brethren. Unlike the 900 and thou the 650 actually handles with aplomb and, with less weight to haul to a stop, it’s a better braker too. If you can live without the kudos of a pukka Z1 your wallet will thank you for it, as the gulf between values of big-to-mid-sized Zeds are huge. Mint Z1s can make near 20 grand now, whereas the tidiest 650 will rush you less than a quarter of that. A tidy runner, half that. Need we say more?
Kawasaki Z650 Specs
Engine : Four stroke, Inline-Four, DOHC 8-Valve, Air-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 62 x 54 mm
Capacity : 652 cc
Induction : 4 x Mikuni 28mm
Max Power : 64 HP @ 8.500 RPM
Max Torque : 57 N.m @ 7.000 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 5-Speed / Chain
Frame : Tubular Steel Double Cradle Frame
Front Suspension : Telehydraulic Forks
Rear Suspension : Twin Shock Absorber
Front Brakes : Single 245 mm Disc, 1-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : 180 mm Drum Brake
Front Tyre : 3.25 - 19
Rear Tyre : 4.00 - 18
Wheelbase : 1.420 mm
Weight : 211 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 16 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £1000 - £1600
Rider : £1800 - £2900
Minter : £3000 - £4000
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Honda’s CBR600F was always a hard act to follow, but in the mid-’90s Kawasaki edged ahead in the eyes of many with the brilliant ZX-6R. Sportier than the CBR, but still practical enough to be a road bike first and a weekend track missile second, the Kawasaki ZX-6R finally got the sort of chassis and styling the firm’s epic 599cc motor had been crying out for.
Build quality is second-rate in places, so 20 years on you’ll want to hunt one down that’s been through the hands of a cherisher – and they’re out there. We’ve seen several mint 1995 and ’96 models for less than a grand. Cheap as chips!
1995-1996 Kawasaki ZX-6R Specs
Engine : Four stroke, Inline-Four, DOHC 16-Valve, Liquid-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 64 x 46.6 mm
Capacity : 598 cc
Induction : 4 x Keihin CVKD36
Max Power : 105 HP @ 12.500 RPM
Max Torque : 63.7 N.m @ 10.000 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 6-Speed / Chain
Frame : Alumunium Beam Twinspar Frame
Front Suspension : 41 mm Showa Telescopic Forks
Rear Suspension : Showa Monoshock
Front Brakes : 2 x 270 mm Disc, 4-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : Single 230 mm Disc, 1-Pot Caliper
Front Tyre : 120/60 - 17
Rear Tyre : 160/60 - 17
Wheelbase : 1.400 mm
Weight : 209 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 18.2 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £500 - £800
Rider : £900 - £1200
Minter : £1300 - £1600