Wanting to buy a VFR400 or Similar : Questions.

[anthony_r6]

Hi Guys,

I've begun saving for my next bike, which I will hopefully be able to purchase around the end of January/Early Feb. I was initially thinking R6/CBR600, but to be honest, they don't interest me any more. As per the title - I'm looking at VFR400s, as it's caught my eye. Now I don't know much about them, but I see people speaking fondly of them, and I know some people have them on here. My question is : How much am I looking at to get one that's in good condition, and what kind of things should I be on the lookout for when it comes to them? Also what's your opinion on the bike as a whole, compared with other bikes on the market.

They remind me the game Road Rash, with their shape, which is quite possibly the reason I want one Are there any other good bikes with that sort of design that I should be looking at?

Thanks as always

Anthony
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[P.]

RVF400, CBR400, GSXR400, ZXR400..



Insurance on a sports bike is a bit of a bugger.. but if it doesn't bother you, then cool.

Think its a general assumption that 400's have been ragged, so may not have.. but most would assume they have.

[Moxey]

In almost the exact same boat as you lol

Was looking at getting a VFR 400 NC30 myself (also due to influence of a certain 90's Amiga game beginning with R), to cater for my liking of the 90's style sportsbikes and V engines. Had a change of heart though and was told I would be better off with a CBR 400 by a few mates, don't really fancy another 4cyl in the garage so just going to wait until I have some more £ and maybe get a TL1000R ( because I am ).

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=2964516&highlight=#2964516 My thread with some helpful info in about them when I asked .
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Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[binge]

Go with the CBR400 NC29 Gullarm.

Here's my old one:

https://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/166392_496230660605_506045605_5971020_4882181_n.jpg


Faster than the VFR, more reliable, sounded nicer etc.

I had 2 CBR400s, and a VFR400. Prefered the CBRs.




Ben

[Slacker24seve...]

I have a CBR400 Gullarm, purely as a 'daylight MOT'ed' plaything. I like it. I have not ridden any of the others so therefore my opinion is meaningless, however they do sound tasty and there is a reasonable amount of go at the top end. Its got nothing on a typical newbie, 600 naked in that respect. Having said that, it does drop into corners beautifully, I have got to the point where I'm fairly confident on the Hornet but the NC29 is just flattering!

Unless your a midget don't plan on doing any serious miles on it though
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[chegg]

im on me second vfr at he moment there a good little bike to learn on and can run with any of the big boys today (600,750,1000) with the right rider and on a twisty road they aren't the fastest thing in a straight line and are a absolute pig to work on unless you have really small hands and a lot of patients, both of mine have been ridden daily apart from when it snowed and not had a single problem with either you can get hold of parts easy enough if you do stack it there are plenty being broken for spares only things i can moan about is the servicing and getting one that hasn't been abused i spent 8 weeks looking for the first one i had and the same again for the second one all in all a good bike if your under 6ft as they are a bit cramped oh and insurance wise mines £500 tpft with 1 accident and 3 points for speeding
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well that fucked it, ive got more power in me left testicle and thats plastic

[ninja_butler]

My sister used to have a Honda VFR, it was a wicked little machine but if I had the choice (and the extra cash) I'd buy the Honda RVF.

I mean, just look!


(edit* whoops, you're right, I'll change the photo to a 400)

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Honda%20RVF400NC35%2094%203.jpg

Hard to believe it's practically a vintage bike now.

[wilz1234]

Thats the 750 isnt it? The 400 was the nc35

[anthony_r6]

A turns out trying to find a decent VFR is pretty hard. Been looking all over the net. Beginning to give up hope, and may actually buy a Ninja I've seen and get that restricted. Who knows at this point.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[chegg]

yes thats a rc45 and the nc35 for a half decent one your looking to pay around 2500 for a decent nc30 you can give as little as a grand i know this because i paid this for the first vfr i had they are hard to come buy but if you look for the ones that have had the shims done (valve clearances) and has had regular services and not had to many owners then you should be alrite my last one when it got written off by a car had done 55000kms which is not bad for its age and was still mechanically sound just the fairing was a little tatty, but all these bikes are 20 years old minimum so yes it is hard to find a decent one but ill help you find a half decent one through ebay if you want then its down to you to do your home work on them and decide if you really want one
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well that fucked it, ive got more power in me left testicle and thats plastic

[Deckx]

Don't know why manufactuors don't make these bikes anymore.. even IL4 250s.. obviously there is a market for them

Those shit single 250s that Honda try to pass off as a sportsbikes are are a fcuking joke

[Tim..]

Because of their age alot of them are run ragged.
It seems top be they are mostly either f#@ked or very well looked after.

Keep you eyes open if the nc30 is what you want, a good condition fairly original one will cost around £1100-£1500.

OEM fairings are getting harder to find so anything that looks mint are probably cheap chinky copies.

Look at the condition of the regulator rectifier and its wiring (for burns/dodgy fix's etc), these are a weak point.
That said I think they are an amazing bike, but I may be slightly biased.

The for sale section on 400greybike can be good
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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

[Kickstart]

[crm250]

Picture above is a NC35 ie the 400. the RC45 was a solo seat and round headlamps and quite different.

a good NC30 will cost, the hardest part is finding a good one, i have bought and sold more 400's over the years than i care to remember.
upto around 2005 i could find good useable NC30's for £1500 all day long, now they are all scrap for sub a grand and not many are in good original condition for sub 2k anymore.
the RVF you may see for 2.5k or 3k but they rarely sell. 2k is a good benchmark for a early useable tidy RVF but be aware the quality of the rvf is not quite the same as the NC30.

As for CBR's someone mentioned the gullarm is faster - Hmmm well none of the ones i had were however i have had a few slow NC's too. i think on average a good NC is faster than the gullarm, the tri arms go well though and are worth considering, but the grunty V4 wins for me everytime. the IL4 engine on the CBR is too buzzy and a pain in the tits cruising over 70 unlike the NC which seems to go smoother the faster you go.

Good luck and buy the best most original bike you can find - not the best you can afford.

[wilz1234]

The pics changed

[wilz1234]

The last pic was this one i think:

https://londonbikers.com/forums/uploads/Images/fc0f7469-ce21-4b5a-a914-563c.jpg

[crm250]

aye that explains it.
not even close are they. bit like the NC30 and RC30, similar colours that's about it
https://www.crm250.com/assorted_images/ncandrc/1.jpg
https://www.crm250.com/assorted_images/ncandrc/2.jpg
https://www.crm250.com/assorted_images/ncandrc/3.jpg
https://www.crm250.com/assorted_images/ncandrc/4.jpg

[anthony_r6]

Beautiful Bikes!
Love 'Em
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Moxey]

You could just go for a CBR 400 to broaden your search a bit, the one i got was really just pure chance and swapped the bandit for it but looking at it now I'm glad I didn't go for a VF with the complicated cylinder arrangement and other little quirks + I forgot just how nice a 4 cylinder sounds with a decent can and redline at 14k
____________________
Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[ninja_butler]

I like the CBR 400 but a lot of people say it's just a neutered CBR 600 so you might as well get the 600 for the same money - that's what they say anyway.