Meh, don't worry about it being 'too good' and stuff, life's too short for that nonsense. Just accept you got a bargain and use it. Nothing worse than an owner who's worried about putting miles on a bike. Get out and enjoy it!
I have a totally unproven theory, based on no evidence or observation, that says that things like 400/4s are collectible because people over 50 cherish them from their youth. As these people die out or stop biking, younger riders (who have since become older, nostalgic and cash-rich) won't give a toss about these things because they will have no connection with them. Thus prices will stagnate or decline. Does anyone have any evidence of this? Brit bikes of the 60s or 70s might have been prone to this, but I suspect that the rocker image and the fact that they are relics from a time which Brit Iron ruled the roads means they haven't suffered this fate. But are things like Z650s highly collectible? Or Yam DOHC 750s? Hmm.
Ask people who own Z900 Kawasakis........I know a number of young bikers who drool over them.... But I would do my utmost to turn them off a Z400..................... A Yamaha RD350B would be another object of desire.... You have to remember Glid, that some people like you and I would probably give their right arm for an HRD, Scott Squirrel, Sunbeam, G5 or even an Ariel Arrow..............so why shouldn't people half our ages or younger want classics from 'our era'? AL
That looks like a lovely bike, in great condition, but its no classic and is there to be used. Just because you want to use it as a commuter doesnt mean you cant look after it. Keep it clean, park it somewhere safe (nowhere near scooters in cent lon for example) and it will be worth exactly what you paid for it in a few years. Now I wouldnt use it as a winter hack, thats the job of a ER5, SV650 or a Hornet. Bikes are for riding, so ride it. If you sold it on, I think you'd regret it
I beg to differ with Funky - take a look at some of the "modern classic" magazines, or on "midlifecrissis" website... Some things I wouldn't ever give shed room to are being sold for ever-increasing prices. It's a generational thing - people who are now approaching middle-age are paying top dollar for the bikes of their youth, either what they actually had or what they wish they had, and 95% of that is now Japanese...
Its a ZXR400 painted to look like a zx7r, so not original paint and looks like a standard model. On the proviso that the paint job is not covering up damage, I would look to pay £1200-£1300 max as there are a lot out there to choose from these days. The rare ones are the SP models but they still don't have anything significant other than the single seat unit so don't fetch much more. The engines are nice and revvy but camchain tensioners are a weak point. Mine like all of them had a grabby clutch, low bars and a tall first gear, a proper pain for commuting in traffic imho.....I always wanted to put a ZX9R lump in mine..... They are a cracking bike, not the best of the 400's and not a classic, perfect for sunday morning thrashing (most of them are hammered by now!)
