VFR400 - Buying into a problem?

[cypher]

Hey Peoples,

Going through the processes to go in for my Restricted Access (im only 19) and have been looking at the VFR400 for sometime. This may be a dumb question but are parts gonna be a problem? Specifically for the NC30 version? This bike will be the workhorse, going anywhere and everywhere I need to go and naturally I am gonna need a good source of spares.

In addition while im thinking about it.....

Do you lot think it wise for me (driving for 2 years on L's) to go straight on to the test after passing my theory? Or should I do some lessons with a driving school first? I feel pretty confident... thoughts?

Are there any things I need to watch out for on a VFR when im buying/looking at one? Some useful haggle points maybe ?

Thanks in advance for your replys

[mattgirv]

You shouldn't have much trouble getting parts for the VFR400. For some more obscure items you may have to wait around a couple of weeks and do some searching to find what you want but on the whole parts are readily available.

The engine is pretty bulletproof when looked after, you are much more likely to have problems with the electrics, and obviously if you crash the chassis.

If you feel confident about going straight for the test, then why not. You will pay about £50ish, I can't recall the exact amount, and if you are competent on the road you won't have any problems. That isn't to say you might be unlucky and run into trouble or have something occur that you don't expect and react badly but after 2 years I'd expect you are fairly competent.

You should do some research though and find out exactly what they expect for the test and make sure you can implant that into your riding if it hasn't been already. Make sure you are using and reading the road properly and are doing the correct shoulder/mirror checks when moving around and away.

I'd look for a VFR400 that has actually been used often rather than one that has just been sitting in someones garden for years at a time. As I said, an often serviced VFR400 should be pretty reliable.

See if the reg/rec has been upgraded to the one with the heatsink as well, that will definitely die at somepoint otherwise and might do anyway.

You want to check for crash damage as well, I had a few nasty surprises with my CB-1. I found out after having problems after about a thousand miles that it had been in a crash and ruined the front end at some point. Though only one of the forks had been replaced, both were straight but where they were both from a different pair, one was more worn than the other and it needed servicing when the spring had shagged itself.

Rather annoying, try and avoid any bodges/cheap fixes people have done. They aren't always easy to spot but it helps if you aren't naive as to it being your first big bike when you buy.

Good luck!
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[cypher]

thanks mattgirv, much appriciated. And thank you anyone else who posts while im writing this

Been looking at this one Autotrader link

Was '89 a bad year for the VFR400 at all?

[mattgirv]

No it wasn't a bad year at all. That actually looks like a very clean example, but you could definitely find one cheaper privately. You'd probably wait a while though.

Would be worth it if the dealer offers any kind of warranty on the bike, and you know they can do the work without pissing you around. :p
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

That's pretty steep for an NC30, 1200-1500 should get you a MINTER privately + 200 for the restriction.

400's have nose dived in price lately, so you should be able to get a good little bike for little money.

https://www.400greybike.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=63564&whichpage=1

I don't know if that bike is still for sale, but figures of 1300 were being tossed around for it, along with all those spares, so 2k for that NC is very steep.
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My Flickr

[Stiffler]

Well they do need a fair bit of TLC although you can find ones that are very well looked after. Mines cost me a small fortune to get back to a suitable standard. I'm going to be selling it in the next couple of weeks but it's a high milage example with 49,000km on it. It'll be going for about £1150

Tim
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[edd]

[TUG]

lol its the peice of paper that costs the most unfortunatly
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Polarbear]

[TUG]

unfortunaly ye, stupid restrictions are no good anyway, make something run like shit and if not set up correctly cause damage. but its better to be legal.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[mattgirv]

[TUG]

how do you mean, it has to be restricted as part of your license, the paper part gets put on police record, so everytime they pull you your legal.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[mattgirv]

Firstly, the only legal requirement is to have the bike restricted. Having the piece of paper makes no odds if you get pulled. What is to stop you taking the restrictors out after getting the piece of paper?

Also the chances of being pulled and having your bike stripped/checked would normally mean you have done something pretty serious to warrant that in the first place. I am inclined to believe the police wouldn't actually waste their time and money checking in the first place otherwise.

The certificate itself is irrelevant because it is a vehicle used by FI to force people into thinking they have to spend a load of money, with them, in order to be legal on the road. Rubbish, the law states 33bhp is the limit of a bikes horsepower on an A2 license, and not that you need a certificate or anything else.
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[TUG]

all i know is i havent been asked to show em my docs cos my infos been on their database, he knew my bike was restricted before i could tell him that, cos of that peice of paper. i dont see what the big deal is? you pay £200 to get the bike legal for road use. or if you want to put washers in but when you get pulled they will want to know why your not on the database for having it retricted. and they will check the bike.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[mattgirv]

That is deluded because most police officers won't actually know how the system works in the first place. The amount of times I have been pulled over on a large capacity bike and been asked whether it should have L plates on is unbelievable.

If you want to pay £200 be my guest. But you shouldn't feel like you have to put them in to be legal on the road. That is not true. You might expect hassle, but same goes for having a restriction certificate anyway, I would wager a bet that most police officers out on the road don't really know about how motorcycle licensing works anyway.

Obviously if a traffic cop stopped you, yes you might have some explaining to do and they might want to check it, but frankly if you have been stopped by one of these guys you probably have more serious issues on your hand.
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[TUG]

ok mate, dont worry about it, this blokes saying you dont need it restricted, dont bother with it and say yourself £200, but when they impound it its like £200 a day charge,
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[mattgirv]

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from spending £30 getting a dynograph printed of your bikes output.

That is easily as much proof as the certificate.

As I said before, police don't impound for nothing. You'd most likely have to be riding like a twat.
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[cypher]

More than likely what I would find myself doing is getting the restriction cert sorted out (yeah 200 sucks but *I* suck at lying to bacon sooo.....) and the washers put in then riding about and getting used to things on the new bike and then maybe make them accidentally fall out maybe...

I dont usually try and go for police attention anyway, I mean hell I already have 6 points on my license.

<possible stupid question>Its possible to take your A2 on a 125cc isnt it?

[vfr800]

I know some one who went to a bike shop to get the washers fitted, bugger me they only forgot to put the washers in but dtill gave him the certificate,

What wallies eh, as if you would fall for that one

Hes been pulled loads of times for loud zaust, small number plate and going a bit too fast, but never asked about restrictions.
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don't take it easy 'ride it like you stole it'

[TUG]

police do routine stops mate, sorry but your slightly wrong, i got pulled for nothing twice, we all take risks tho, all i know is i dont need to sweat when gettin pulled, i paid my £200. sorry but if i offend you by paying £200 i'm really sorry, try not to lose sleep over it, its my money and the reason i earn it is to spend it.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[mattgirv]

[TUG]

o rite, cyper dont get a restriction you dont need one mate
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[mattgirv]

[TUG]

lol. grip gotten, i dont have a problem, i just fail to see y so many people have had their bike restricted the same way as me if theres no need to and you can go down to the local b&q to get spacers put em in and get it dyno'd?? dont understand mate, i really dont.
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Haz ER-5, innit!