I own 2 VFR 400 NC30s, one running tip top, one in bits

[mattevans58]

I've got one superb NC30 I just bought a few days ago to (I thought) replace the broken down NC30 in my shed. I crashed the last one and practically wrote it off but planned to rebuild every milimetre of it however this other Nc30 came up and I just had to have it. Now the question I'm left with is do I sell the broken down NC30 and make a quick buck as I'm sure my bank would love me some more! But I can't help but feel like I should keep it to either rebuild or as just general parts as I have 95% of the running bike all laid out. I've told a friend he can have it when he comes up with the cash but I'm feeling rather confused.

Thoughts?[/list]

[MarJay]

There are too many unknown factors to offer advice on this. Are you a decent mechanic? How f*cked is the F*cked one? Would it cost more to repair than it would be worth at the end?

This really isn't something we can advise on... Personally I'd get shot of the damaged one, and I'm a decent mechanic. Sometimes laziness is a virtue, but then again I can't stand clutter and I get frustrated with very long term projects... See what I mean?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[mattevans58]

I see what you're getting at. The engine is sound, cosmetically beyond repair. Few bits and pieces that need to be replaced but most of it is good, I have no doubts about my ability to rebuild it, it's just I'm being offered cash for it now. It wouldn't break the bank to repair it and sell it on but getting shot of it is the easy option I guess.

Cheers anyway!

[redeem ouzzer]

When running old bikes never get rid of anything.

That is all.

[Vracktal]

I have a friend who was in your exact situation, bought an NC30, crashed it, then bought another. He kept the second one until he had the first rebuilt and good as new, then sold it and went back to riding the first one. That's what I'd recommend, because in the process of restoring the first he needed to look at a lot of bits on the second to figure out how they went together.
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2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[stevo as b4]

As said by Marjay etc, it depends on many factors, time being one of the biggest ones, followed by the ability to do the restoration, and then the budget to do it.

How good is the new VFR? If it's as clean and shiny as you'd ever want it to be, and more importantly it rides as well or better than the old one, then apart from being old and sentimental, what will you get out of restoring the old one back to how it was or better?

Could the cash from selling the old one or it's parts be put towards new bits and or upgraded parts for the new one? Is there anything about the new bike that given a bunch of cash you'd like to change or do differently?

Having two of the same bike or same kind of bike only really works if:

1, One of them is a parts Donor, or a reference bike to show you what goes where etc.

2, One of them is a mint clean bike that's too nice to get filthy/wet or crusty in winter, while the other is a cheap hack or dog rough one that's a work horse and nothing more.

3, One of them is a road only bike and one of them is a track bike, and you stick to keeping them that way absolutely.

Otherwise do you just want to keep it as a one day, what if project and do you have the space to do that? Some people wont get rid of anything and can't give a logical reason why, or think everything they own is worth a fortune and will one day be immaculate and restored when they get bit of free time.

It's as weird or bad or stupid as these blokes that restore say 3-4 RD250's or whatever, and do them all exactly original and in factory spec and all standard. Then they keep them all taxed and want to ride all of them?

Your post rings a chord with me though, having multiple KMX's and engines. My mind says one for off road fun and one for looking at and polishing, so all very logical here!

[Rob Fzs]

stick a Chinese fairing kit on it, and ask 2500 quid, that seems to be the done thing now adays
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30> Yamaha RD350 YPVS F2 > Kawasaki ZZR 600 D1 > Yamaha TZR 250 2MA >Suzuki TL1000R > Yamaha TDR250 > Honda 929 blade > Suzuki SV1000 > Honda H100
Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

[Robby]

Run the new one for at least month before getting rid of your parts supply. You don't want to get rid of the spares bike for a song, then find that you need a rad or an exhaust and it's going to cost you silly money.

[dydey90]

Subject to pictures and a detailed description of crash damage, I'd be prepared to offer tree fiddy (£350) for the crashed one.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[jjdugen]

Handy having two similar bikes. Not that I'm suggesting for a minute that a quickly interchangeable number plate should be fitted........
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[binge]

Keep both.
Although the older Honda bikes are nice and reliable, they're also old.
I used to have a couple of NC29s. The spare one was golden! Always coming in handy for looting parts on a Sunday morning when the runner decided to break just before a ride out.

[Ste]

This thread needs pics of the crashed one.

[mattevans58]

Cheers for all your inputs!

I'll go into as much detail about the crashed one as I can.

What needs replacing:
Left clip on
Left foot peg and shifter
Left clutch lever and cable
Rear rim and tyre
Fairings and screen stay

That's all it needs tbf and I've now salvaged enough fairings to be sprayed and put on so there's half the battle. Although I am still 50/50. A mate of mine offered 500 for the lot and I said yes initially but then came to regret it and said I'd need to think about it and apologised, he said that's fine no rush as long as I get first refusal which is fine again. But I wouldn't mind keeping it and doing it up over time tbf, it's stripped down at the moment to just frame, engine, forks and swing arm and all the bits plotted around my shed.

As for my new VFR, it's really special. It's got a custom Repsol paint job with the Tyga rear end to match it has the perfect modern twist on an old classic and looks the dogs. Runs and rides spot on, no faults. However upon taking the tank off to check the carbs, they're not in the best nick, and I've just had the carbs off the crashed bike blitzed and shined and rejetted, just needs some new gaskets and way good to go. Knowing this makes me want to switch the carbs out and rebuild the others but I don't know. My mate really wants the stripped VFR and its all very confusing to me because I don't even know and the worst bit is I still don't!

[.Bishbash.]

We need pics of the 'special one'......like, immediately!
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[stevo as b4]

From your list of parts and faults, and the fact you have some good spares already, it does not sound like the old NC30 needs much doing to get an MOT and back on the road again.

Are you happy riding a repaired crashed bike, as strangely some people have a mental block of ever wanting to use a crashed&repaired bike again, and it puts them off ever doing anything with them?

Your mate has offered you a fair price I would say for the damaged bike, and if he wants it and will fix and use it, then it has to be better than it sitting another year or more in a shed??

But it does sound to me that no matter how nice the new bike is, you still have an emotional attachment to the old one and you want to but can't let it go? If this is the case do the decent thing and tell your mate your going to keep it and fix it, and you don't want to sell it.

At least then he can move forward and start looking for other bikes, without all the will he/won't he sell me that old VFR project?

[mattevans58]

[winz]

She's beautiful.
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Current Bikes: BMW K1200S
Previous: Honda CBR929RR, Honda CBR1100XX, Honda CB600F

[.Bishbash.]

Wow, those wheels....

Pity the tank doesn't match, but by George she's a corker!
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[mattevans58]

Cheers! About the tank, I have an orange one which is supposed to be put on but I really dislike how it looks so I chose to keep this one on!

She's going into storage for a while now though, shame really

[redeem ouzzer]

Seat unit is disgusting.

[mattevans58]

[Dan100tdi]

Lovely bike

[mattevans58]

Cheers for the nice comments

[stevo as b4]

I'd say that your pretty happy with that shiny one, and you don't need another VFR400 as a hack or even a project. I'd also say make sure there are no parts on the old bike that are nicer/cleaner or better than the current one. If so swap them over and put the worst of everything on the old bike.

Once that is done, and your happy the new bike works properly, then ring your mate up and tell him to come round and pick up whats left, especially for what he's offered your for it.

You could quite likely spend all your time riding and fettling the new bike, and not ever get around to the rotter in the shed. Your mate could make a good bike out of it before it gets too crusty or seized or furred up to make it un-viable.