POCKET ROCKETS
The other route to affordable Japanese exotica is the home market grey imports of the 1990s. The big four all made small-bore 400cc four-stroke versions of their superbikes, and 250cc two-stroke race-reps, sold only in Japan, due to licence regs. Most of them weren’t officially imported into Britain, but independent importers brought them over in container loads in the late 90s and early 2000s, and many are still around.
Most of the strokers are silly money now, but there are some 400s that are still affordable. Something like a ZXR400 or FZR400RR is unusual, has a decent chassis and specs, and if you can find an unmolested one, they can make decent buys for the odd trackday and Sunday blast.