Honda VFR400 - SV650.org

arc123 · 19-04-05, 11:11 AM

Anybody know much about the vfr400? I'm thinking of getting one to use as for the odd track day and a bit of back lane scratching - and from my limited knowledge look ideal for this. Anybody had any experience of riding/owning one? anything to watch out for etc etc.

The one i'm looking at is up for sale at around £1600 - and i'm awaiting further info regarding age/mileage etc etc etc. Any info greatly appreciated.

Chief.

19-04-05, 11:13 AM

Bloody expensive spark plugs

See here

fizzwheel · 19-04-05, 11:24 AM

My brother has an RVF ( NC35 )

Its smaller than my SV and its feels flat until you get it into the power band and then it takes off

Parts are expensive, also it feels heavy compared to my SV and not as comfortable

HTH

19-04-05, 12:02 PM

I know I go on about Bikers Oracle, but they are worth a visit

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/index.php?

and they are very friendly.

19-04-05, 12:09 PM

They are very good bikes, produce about 60 bhp - a mate has one, from what he said the things you need to watch out for are engine components, servicing costs, and the bodywork (which you will need a small mortgage to replace apparently). The swingarm will bend easily as well if you crash it

arc123 · 19-04-05, 01:03 PM

Thanks for the replys guys. The plugs

I'm awaiting further feedback from the chap selling it - he's done all of the servicing himself in the past so I'll ask him about costs and difficulty etc. If I buy it then it will be on the condition that he helps me out with the servicing! maybe an opportunity for me to learn a bit also as I currently know NOTHING!

Biker Biggles · 19-04-05, 02:15 PM

Have a good look at the sellers hands.If he has serviced it himself his hands will be a,small and b,covered in cuts and bruises.If not then he probably never bothered to change the plugs

arc123 · 19-04-05, 03:03 PM

Your description also covers self-harming dwarfs by the sound of things

sorry, so not PC.

I sort of know the seller (my brother's boss) so will bear this in mind when I shake his hand!

19-04-05, 06:02 PM

Find out if it's an import.

They were only officially released in the UK by Honda in '90 & '91 I think (I really must find the time to read this at work so I can check this out whilst there rather than havingto rely on my rather feeble memory!) everything else is an import.

Imports are a pain in the proverbial to order parts for. Honda are remarkably tightlipped with the relevant part numbers and differences/similarities with the UK spec. Many dealers will just order the UK part and it doesn't alway fit in some of the most surprising and annoying ways.

If it is an import, remember to have the frame no, the engine no, year of manufacture and country of origin to hand when ordering anything.

The parts aren't generally dearer, just occasionally harder to get hold of and for older modles, many are in the process of being discontinued.

Also you may find trouble where over the years original parts have been replaced with UK spec and potentially 'forced to fit'.

That said an awful lot were imported and were a favourite of trackdays and boy-racers - kind of a two wheeled version of the Ford Capri!

Great fun bikes, though many have been thrashed to hell and back or crash damaged - not true for all, good'uns are out there, and becomming more and more cherished.

19-04-05, 08:24 PM

My girlfriend owns a VFR400, great little bike for starting out on, doing any work on it can be a pain unless you have tiny hands, I have no knuckles left, and sparkplugs can be expensive as we have just found out, great handling bike will show up bigger bikes on the bends if ridden right, the v4 engine makes a wonderful noise, check out the site below full of useful information,

www.400greybike.co.uk

19-04-05, 11:11 AM	#1
arc123 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 53	Honda VFR400 Anybody know much about the vfr400? I'm thinking of getting one to use as for the odd track day and a bit of back lane scratching - and from my limited knowledge look ideal for this. Anybody had any experience of riding/owning one? anything to watch out for etc etc. The one i'm looking at is up for sale at around £1600 - and i'm awaiting further info regarding age/mileage etc etc etc. Any info greatly appreciated. Chief.

19-04-05, 11:24 AM	#3
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	My brother has an RVF ( NC35 ) Its smaller than my SV and its feels flat until you get it into the power band and then it takes off Parts are expensive, also it feels heavy compared to my SV and not as comfortable HTH __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

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19-04-05, 11:13 AM	#2
Cloggsy Guest Posts: n/a	Bloody expensive spark plugs See here

19-04-05, 12:02 PM	#4
Aurora Guest Posts: n/a	I know I go on about Bikers Oracle, but they are worth a visit http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/index.php? and they are very friendly.

19-04-05, 12:09 PM	#5
Anonymous Guest Posts: n/a	They are very good bikes, produce about 60 bhp - a mate has one, from what he said the things you need to watch out for are engine components, servicing costs, and the bodywork (which you will need a small mortgage to replace apparently). The swingarm will bend easily as well if you crash it

19-04-05, 01:03 PM	#6
arc123 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 53	Thanks for the replys guys. The plugs I'm awaiting further feedback from the chap selling it - he's done all of the servicing himself in the past so I'll ask him about costs and difficulty etc. If I buy it then it will be on the condition that he helps me out with the servicing! maybe an opportunity for me to learn a bit also as I currently know NOTHING!

19-04-05, 02:15 PM	#7
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,071	Have a good look at the sellers hands.If he has serviced it himself his hands will be a,small and b,covered in cuts and bruises.If not then he probably never bothered to change the plugs

19-04-05, 03:03 PM	#8
arc123 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 53	Your description also covers self-harming dwarfs by the sound of things sorry, so not PC. I sort of know the seller (my brother's boss) so will bear this in mind when I shake his hand!

19-04-05, 06:02 PM	#9
K Guest Posts: n/a	Find out if it's an import. They were only officially released in the UK by Honda in '90 & '91 I think (I really must find the time to read this at work so I can check this out whilst there rather than havingto rely on my rather feeble memory!) everything else is an import. Imports are a pain in the proverbial to order parts for. Honda are remarkably tightlipped with the relevant part numbers and differences/similarities with the UK spec. Many dealers will just order the UK part and it doesn't alway fit in some of the most surprising and annoying ways. If it is an import, remember to have the frame no, the engine no, year of manufacture and country of origin to hand when ordering anything. The parts aren't generally dearer, just occasionally harder to get hold of and for older modles, many are in the process of being discontinued. Also you may find trouble where over the years original parts have been replaced with UK spec and potentially 'forced to fit'. That said an awful lot were imported and were a favourite of trackdays and boy-racers - kind of a two wheeled version of the Ford Capri! Great fun bikes, though many have been thrashed to hell and back or crash damaged - not true for all, good'uns are out there, and becomming more and more cherished.

19-04-05, 08:24 PM	#10
manxsv Guest Posts: n/a	My girlfriend owns a VFR400, great little bike for starting out on, doing any work on it can be a pain unless you have tiny hands, I have no knuckles left, and sparkplugs can be expensive as we have just found out, great handling bike will show up bigger bikes on the bends if ridden right, the v4 engine makes a wonderful noise, check out the site below full of useful information, www.400greybike.co.uk