VFR400R - what is it like?

After reading Bike wax lyrical about the mini V4, I wondered what they were like to ride?

its everything they say ,but it is small ,my brother in law has one (5'6)and loves it .me on the other hand (6'0 )have knees up at my shoulders but its very nive to ride it doesnt have the grunt (torque)of a bigger bike but that goes for any 400 ,my wife has a cbr 400 and its very similiar in sixe /weight but the vfr is the one id choose .just keep the momentum up ,but handling wise -it does feel like its on rails ,you do go faster than u should as the bike is so capable/rock solid at any angle of lean but i think this would goad you into pushing it too far and coming off its quick too -ive seen 140 on it and it feels like it ,all in all a wee screamer

I'm thinking it would be an excellent commuter bike?

Originally Posted by thor

I'm thinking it would be an excellent commuter bike?

LoL, er no!!

Good, no great toy but that is all they are!! I am sure there are examples of people using them 365 days a year, but believe me the SV is easier to live with on that front!! ...

If I remember rightly we are about the same sort of height, its really cool getting on it as you feel all dominant!! You really can throw them about.

If you are serious about getting one although it currently still has tax and mot I don't really use mine - kinda bought it on a whim as I was seduced by having another toy and I always wanted a NC30 since I was a boy ... yours for £750 to get it out of my garage ... it ain't mint but it is fun

Ooooh, tempting!

Commuter bike isn't actually what I meant. Pocket rocket for filtering through traffic is what I would use it for. Is it good at that?

Originally Posted by thor

Ooooh, tempting!

Commuter bike isn't actually what I meant. Pocket rocket for filtering through traffic is what I would use it for.

You can 'nip' through smaller gaps as it is thinner and quicker to turn than the SV. But it does lack that low down torque that makes filtering so easy/lazy on the SV. But to be fair as you can 'nip' so much, you just never need to slow down on the NC30 so I am not sure that is a problem!?!?

The firing order means they have a very distinctive sound too!!

My brother is 6'3 and uses his on a regular basis, mainly for commuting. I am 6'1 and also find in reasonably comfortable, the reason is that if you are over a certain size you sit fairly upright rather than head down, ar*e up.

His doesnt have much bottom end (compared to the SV) but it is meant to be better than a IL4 400. Not sure what power it is meant to give but I am sure my pointy would thrash it at any given speed.

Sounds really good riding it too.

Well basically, in London, the smaller the bike is the better as you can get through gaps and parking it in the bays is easier. I'm always annoyed at how far the SV leans over when parked and therefore parking can be a bit tricky. I'd only really use it to get to work and back and quick nips through town. Would be a **** load more fun than a scooter!

Originally Posted by ivantate

My brother is 6'3 and uses his on a regular basis, mainly for commuting. I am 6'1 and also find in reasonably comfortable, the reason is that if you are over a certain size you sit fairly upright rather than head down, ar*e up.

His doesnt have much bottom end (compared to the SV) but it is meant to be better than a IL4 400. Not sure what power it is meant to give but I am sure my pointy would thrash it at any given speed.

Sounds really good riding it too.

I think the outright HP is similar, but as it has less torque, you need to keep it more in 'the sweet spot' to get the speed. In racing terms the SVs and the 400s are very well matched, so overall there isn't much in it

Thor - I am still not convinced an NC30 is an ideal commuting tool, but everything you said is true. At the end of the day if you got an NC30 (not pushing mine in particular here ) ... they tend to still be very popular so even if you don't get on with it, selling it on shouldn't prove a problem and you shouldn't loose cash

Being a Honda, they are more likely to cope with the winter better too I have never used mine in the winter as I bought it as a bit of fun, but where I don't really do 'blasts'* any more I tend to never use it.

*If I want to go mad I book onto a trackday where I have dedicated bikes and can have as much fun as I can like without having to worry about my license or tractors/BMWs etc

[STRAMASHER]

Sound bloody gorgeous with a pipe.

I know where you are coming from re commuting on summit like that. A real gap buster. What about a 650 bros? Even thinner but a more upright riding position and proper flat torque curve. V2 tho'. Nothing like the ****ey revere/ntv weak pish we UK suckers got