RVF or VFR 400

[Moxey]

I'm thinking about getting myself a 400 sportbike and from looks of things the VFR/RVF appeals to me most.

Looking to spend £1200ish, think as the winter months set in I'll find one for about that?

Also wouldn't mind hearing any opinions on them i.e. reliability, known faults ( ahem Honda rectifier ) and if theres anything really significantly different between the RVF and VFR.
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[Frost]

I believe the differences are:
Tarty pointless ram air ducts running to the tank
Smaller carbs that are apparently easier to set up on a tuned bike
Upside down forks with the same internals as the VFR
17" rear wheel for more choice of tyres
Pretty bodywork
Shorter first gear (the VFR's is great i think being so long)
RVF was officially imported so you might get a UK one


So basically the differences are mostly cosmetic put that's what 17 year olds who want a 400 care about most.

[andys675]

RVF is actually slower

get an NC30 if you must have one

[ChowderV4]

[Moxey]

Had a little bit of a look on MCN and some of the other sites, the RVF looks nice but can't really see how its much different from the VFR in that aspect (actually prefer the older looking twin headlight VFR).

From a little more research it looks like I'm going hunting for a NC30 then, seem to go for around the budget I'm looking at. Just hope they're as reliable as people seem to say (expecting to do the usual checks and them to have had a thrashing as most 400's seem to have been on the receiving end of).
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[Frost]

The reg rec often blows the battery and various fuses, so look out for bodge jobs. Bodywork and paint is damn expensive so give that a good look over. Mine used to eat front brake pads, but that might just have been me
Check that the chain adjuster (giant C-spanner job) hasn't been mauled to fuck with a hammer and screw driver.
Radiator fans can be dodgy, and peg hangers can cost a bomb.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

For your budget I'd be going for a VFR400. You'll get a snotter of an RVF for that money.
____________________
My Flickr

[neatbik]

My only real experiance of the RVF is after working on a mates bike.

Not the easiest bike to work on, maybe that explains why they are all shagged out.

In my opinion the RVF is a looker, but way too overpriced - for the price of a half decent one you could pick up a newer, more reliable 600.

Unless you really want a 400 that is, in which case have a look at the ZXR400. No more reliable than the Honda (probably a bit worse) but faster and more exciting.

[Glenben92]

I believe we're overlooking the VFRs orgasm inducing good looks. Although I may have a slight soft spot for them.
____________________
57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Frost]

ZXR's can develop some rather nasty and expensive cam chain issues.
Most of the 400's are old, tired, ragged and not maintained. For the money it will cost to get one to be proud of, you could get a great condition 600 non sports bike, like an XJ600. But if you just want one for the winter surely it just needs to be a runner? You could pick up a runner of a VFR for about £600

[Spit-Fire]

thinking about selling my vfr but its a little out of your price range. there isnt many about that haven't be raped so take your time buying, i was lucky enough to find a j reg (92) one with a just over 12,000 miles.
____________________
they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[porndoguk]

NC30

That is all

[Moxey]

Well I'm not after the bike for winter riding its going to be Summer and weekend toy with personal preference and aesthetics taking priority over running costs etc, got my pos Bandit for everything else (though I'm probably going to px it for a 500 twin).

Not too interested in 600's (Thundercat maybe but got raped on insurance quotes) but I'm looking for a 90's style sportsbike of small displacement, hell if I could find one I would rather a CBR 250RR but I stand a better chance of finding the holy grail than that + not a huge amount of difference in running cost between them and the 400s.

Considered the CBR 400 which is a bit cheaper and seems more common (based on ads), ZXR 400s are nice but would prefer the Hondas for the looks and sound.

This would be ideal for me but won't have the funds until October
https://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3173450.htm

(a little put off by people saying about the complexity of the engines and difficulty of maintenance though)
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[WillSwain95]

Anyone know if you can shove a RVF 400 body onto a VFR 400? They the same frame and stuff? (Sorry if you think this is a dumb question )

[Welshd1k]

just get a zxr there faster
____________________
Current >Cb600fx hornet, ns125rk90 21.7bhp@wheel<
Sold >,zxr400 h2 (33bhp kit) rd350 n1 rd350 lc2<

[WillSwain95]

Im after an NC30. First bike and not too fussed about anything bigger because it's gonna be restricted anyway...

And ZXR's are brilliant but both my biking mates have them so i don't want one aswell hahaha

[Blau Zedong]

ZXR400's exist only so Kawasaki can sell head gaskets and valve guides / collets.

And only the H models are fast.
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[wilz1234]

[Im-a-Ridah]

Decent RVF for £1200? I can't see it TBH!

ZXR400s seem like brilliant bikes though I agree!

[Blau Zedong]

[Fisty]

[Fisty]

[Tim..]

VFR!! but I might be slightly biased .
____________________
Project builds: My VFR400 nc30 build thread + Honda Britain Rep VFR + What? Another VFR +Project 'cos I want one' + V8 coffee table
www.marshallracing.co.uk
OCD - Helping to bring the standard of my bikes up and make me slowly go mad since 1999

[crm250]

£1200 lol, anything for £1200 will be either a money pit or scrap - simple as.
Read my guide on 400greybike, but in short but the best you can find not the best you afford, if you cant afford keep saving.
I have had loads of both, my current RVF is in BIKE mag this month, and surprised them all even compared to the other stuff i took.

i have said before and will say again, if i could only have one bike to do it all for life it would be the NC30.

Sure the RVF looks pretty, is a bit more modern in looks and is what the kids will go for "cos it looks better innit" but the quality of the NC30 is much better, and i prefer the way it rides too oddly enough. The RVF is a bit lower and less racey, the NC feels a tad higher and sportier. The standard RVF suspension is not only bad when new its crap by now, the later NC30 equipment was much better and lasted longer, however by now is scrap too.
ignore the "end of the world is nigh" merchants complaining about the 18" rear wheel of the NC30, unless your racing, there is plenty of good tyres available for the road (BT090 - look at crossan for the cheapest at the moment)

[Moxey]

WillSwain95 resd this post so just disregard my original Q from September (I ended up getting a CBR 400 in a straight swap for my Bandit )

Anyway Will I would suggest looking at CBRs as well especially if you like IL4s (they're simpler to work on and still retain the cog driven cams plus normal swing arm you don't need a C spanner to adjust the chain).

ZXR 400, looks nice and sounds dog bollocks but despite everyone raving about them I'm off put by my mates electrical problems with his, only has 7000km on the clocks and was recently refurbished quite extensively yet seems to have some charging issues (considering it was in better condition with a hell of a lot less miles surprised that its left him at the roadside more often than me on my Bandit and that was a piece of shit!) It is nice to ride though when it works.
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'