NC21 VFR400 - thoughts pls

HarryMac · Derestricted Danger Joined: 04 Oct 2020 Karma :

Hi folks,

Looking to buy at an NC21 Shocked

Seen a few (old) comments that they’re “not very good bikes” and “expensive to maintain”.

Bike is on about 45k km. and has had some (£2k) money spent “recommissioning” it. Has been MOTD for the last 3 years with about 200km more each year.

TIA

superstacker · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Karma :

I had a VRF400 NC24 back in 2004 and even then it was considered old. Parts were not easy to come by.

Id look for something more recent to be honest.

martin734 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 28 Aug 2019 Karma :

The Honda 400 V4's are great little bikes, enormous fun and quite easy to ride very fast, but you will need deep pockets to keep one running and looking good. You can pretty much guarantee that it will have been thoroughly thrashed at some point and many will be track day veterans so look for worn engines and repaired fairings. Avoid any bikes with lock-wired fasteners and try and get an official UK model if you can. Rather than the NC21, I would try and get the later and (imo) much better looking NC30. The best of the bunch though is the NC35 RVF400. These are even more expensive and never officially imported into the UK but they are possibly (probably, imho) one of the best handling and most exiting bikes to ride, they can out-corner anything but a housefly.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

It's had 30-35 years of abuse from generally young and inexperienced riders who do little to no maintenance.

The £2k spent recommissioning it could mean it's had loads of fiddly mechanical stuff done and it'll be running sweet for ages now or it could mean someone has spent their money on tarty shit that doesn't help anything mechanically.

Whether or not buying one is a good idea depends entirely on what you're wanting from it. If you're after a bottomless pit to throw money into then it might be just what you're looking for.

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

How about this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124889294829

martin734 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 28 Aug 2019 Karma :

redeem ouzzer · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Karma :

They are good bikes but unless you know the bike and the person that did the work it's a lottery as to if it will be a useful tool or a bottomless pit into which every coin is thrown until you starve to death.

200km a year smells fishy for the amount spent on it.
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

They were crap 20 years ago. Not going to be any better now.
If you're really after a 400cc sportsbike, at least look at an inline-4. Less of a pain in the arse to work on (and they need a lot of work). Easier to obtain or make parts for.

But really, if I wanted something lightweight, unreliable and 400cc to have fun with, I'd go for a newish KTM. You can get parts for them, and the suspension and brakes are meant to be pretty good.