NC21 VFR400 info?

[toymachine]

Hey all. Well at this moment i'm contemplating buying one of these later today. Admittedly, before going to see it I was under the impression it was a NC24 (he said it was 1988) but it doesn't have the single sided swing arm, so it appears to be the NC21.

It's a project bike, I don't need it rideable anytime soon, but obviously would eventually... he jump started it for me (flat battery) and I rode it up the driveway and back (sounds awesome, yoshimura exhaust), but it does need a fair bit of work. (first time i've crash started a bike... it doesn't idle cold)

So.. what i'm wondering is, given it's not an NC24 or 30, is this a stupid buy? Yes it doesn't have the single swingarm, so I doubt there'll ever be an interest with regards to selling, but i'm more thinking parts wise. He said he'll take 800 cash which is kind of the region I wanted to spend to get a project bike, and i'd doubt i'd get a Nc24 or 30 like this for the price... and it runs... of a fashion.

So if anyone has any opinions/info to provide on the bike, my likelyhood of doing it up without spending megabucks... fire away...

Ps- not much on google

[nudemetalz]

I've ridden a couple of these (way back when they were the hot thing !!) before
Great sound, handle well, good having gear-driven cams so no "Honda cam-chain tensioner" woes.
If the engine is sweet then most of your battle is won. Can be an expensive rebuild if not.
Keep up oil changes and oil filters regularily.

AFAIK, there's minimal differences between the 21 and 24's engine, I think the 24 redlines at 14K and the 21 redlines at 13K.

[gamgee]

engine work is a maaassive pain in the arse on these, depending how bad it is $800 could be alright, I'd offer him $500 tho, is it regoed and wof?
I paid $1500 for my nc30 and the engine ran perfect, all I had to do was fix a couple oil leaks, new chain and sprockets, new fork seals, new oil and filter, new fairings, tank and blade, and repaint all the new bodywork, and now it looks and sounds and runs mint (see my profile pic)

I'd go for an nc30 tho, far more rewarding project bike, they just look so much better and I think they had better suspension and a better engine as well

[notme]

Never owned a VFR but a couple of mates have, and I borrowed one for a few months once.

Electrics are apparently troublesome on VFR's - mainly the reg/rectifier and water getting into conenctors. Google will tell you the specifics....not hard things to fix on a project bike though.

That V4 engine..... weird sound huh? :dodge:

[toymachine]

He's agreed to $700, so i'm gona pick it up tonight and see what happens... I wonder if any parts are interchangeable across the nc24?

It sounds bloody nice, it smokes and doesn't like to idle unless warm, but it sounds nice. As I said i'm not in a huge rush to get it on the road, my bandits my daily ride and I can't legally ride the 400 anyway. Can't wait to get my hands dirty on it, my poor bandit seems to protest at my tinkering

[notme]

Since it's a project bike i might mention that this week a guy bought my CBR600RR's factory exhaust for a project VFR....so it's gonna be a VFR with an undertail exhaust......:shit: interesting!

[toymachine]

Comes with a nice exhaust... though yeah being a project bike I suppose I could get creative!

Would like to do it as right as possible, but don't want to spend a bundle (don't have a bundle to spend!) so might be calling on KB/KB'rs when needed if anyones happy to help.

Granted it doesn't look nearly as nice as the nc24/30, I was really looking forward to the single sided swing arm... but hey, it's sexy sounding, runs and needs work... sounds like a project bike to me.

[James Deuce]

Mate, don't worry about the single sided swing arm business, they're heavier and more complicated, so they just slow you down and have more bits to go wrong. I had an NC24 and it was the only bike that I could absolutely wring it's neck and then just do oil, pads, and brake fluid and get back out and do it all over again.

The V-Four 400cc range is one of the best range of bikes Honda have ever made, IMO.

Bloody good bikes, and the engine is hugely over-engineered thanks to that mess in the US with the VF750S.

[gamgee]

:pinch: a smokey vfr that doesn't idle properly, shit you're braver than me, hope you don't have to do the oil rings cause that'd be a c*nt of a job
but if you have to buy it, clean and balance the carbs first

[toymachine]

:pinch: a smokey vfr that doesn't idle properly, shit you're braver than me, hope you don't have to do the oil rings cause that'd be a c*nt of a job
but if you have to buy it, clean and balance the carbs first

Not braver, stupid maybe. I get an idea in my head and just leap in unfortunatly!

[xwhatsit]

Well for that price, it's not exactly a huge investment you have to worry about, is it? They do sound lovely; well I heard one with the original silencer on it (this is a single-side swingarm, don't know what NC-thingie that is), and even that sounded very nice. Very refined, but still belying some anger underneath. Beautiful.

Have fun playing around with it! Changing piston rings can't be that bad, is it? I mean, there's only four cylinders... lol...

[gamgee]

Have fun playing around with it! Changing piston rings can't be that bad, is it? I mean, there's only four cylinders... lol...

in double V configuration :yes:

[nudemetalz]

The reason for the different noise is that the 21/24 had a 180 degree crank and the 30's have a 360 degree crankshaft. More even firing pulses gives it the distinctive (and beautiful) drone.

The VFR750/800's still utilise the 180 degree crank to give the V8 noise.

[scracha]

V8 nose? You been smoking summit?

[crazybigal]

is this the one on trade me with the bung cdi unit?


Hey all. Well at this moment i'm contemplating buying one of these later today. Admittedly, before going to see it I was under the impression it was a NC24 (he said it was 1988) but it doesn't have the single sided swing arm, so it appears to be the NC21.

It's a project bike, I don't need it rideable anytime soon, but obviously would eventually... he jump started it for me (flat battery) and I rode it up the driveway and back (sounds awesome, yoshimura exhaust), but it does need a fair bit of work. (first time i've crash started a bike... it doesn't idle cold)

So.. what i'm wondering is, given it's not an NC24 or 30, is this a stupid buy? Yes it doesn't have the single swingarm, so I doubt there'll ever be an interest with regards to selling, but i'm more thinking parts wise. He said he'll take 800 cash which is kind of the region I wanted to spend to get a project bike, and i'd doubt i'd get a Nc24 or 30 like this for the price... and it runs... of a fashion.

So if anyone has any opinions/info to provide on the bike, my likelyhood of doing it up without spending megabucks... fire away...

Ps- not much on google

[toymachine]

Nope, I saw in the quesitons it's about $1k to replace one! Hopefully this one's fine, lol.

[gamgee]

ok to be honest I think you're mad buying an nc21 in that condition...

[toymachine]

It's not the one with the faulty CDI..

or just the smokey non idleness makes you say that?

I'd completely forgotten about a VIR :gob: Going to get one before heading over...

[gamgee]

It's not the one with the faulty CDI..

or just the smokey non idleness makes you say that?

I'd completely forgotten about a VIR :gob: Going to get one before heading over...

yeah the price, the smoke and idle, the fact that it's an nc21, just doesn't sound like a wise investment to me, I like to be able to actually make money, not lose it when I'm investing time and money into restoring a bike, otherwise ya may as well go and buy one thats already had it all done and save yourself some money

[Hellraiser]

If its going to be just a TD bike why not get this one http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=40692

[toymachine]

yeah the price, the smoke and idle, the fact that it's an nc21, just doesn't sound like a wise investment to me, I like to be able to actually make money, not lose it when I'm investing time and money into restoring a bike, otherwise ya may as well go and buy one thats already had it all done and save yourself some money

Oh i've no illusions, I don't intend to make money on it. It's more for my satisfaction and to learn a load.

[nudemetalz]

V8 nose? You been smoking summit?

Nope, what I meant was a v8 type of noise... :rolleyes:

[insane1]

if help is needed in teardown pm me im keen to have a look at one of these.

[Hawk]

if you are unsure on the model, check the frame number, normally found on steering head, it should begin with NC something. Thats the model. mine begins with NC25, yes its a 88 but not a vfr but a v twin bros, single side swing arm, Naked. At the moment a daily commuter, but come winter.. a project bike.
good luck

[toymachine]

Monday 18th December, 2006:

Fired it up for the first time since owning it...

spent a good 45 minutes with jumperleads trying to start it... then tried a crash start... 'What the f**k am i doing wrong?'... the last fella started it first pop.

So sitting there on the concrete, rain softly falling, I had a brainwave... it's not firing... so chuck the bloody thing on reserve! lol!

Strangely enough with some fuel it fired first go... and christ it sounds sexy.

Learning already! Engines need fuel! LOL :whistle: :whistle: :done:

[gamgee]

Monday 18th December, 2006:

Fired it up for the first time since owning it...

spent a good 45 minutes with jumperleads trying to start it... then tried a crash start... 'What the f**k am i doing wrong?'... the last fella started it first pop.

So sitting there on the concrete, rain softly falling, I had a brainwave... it's not firing... so chuck the bloody thing on reserve! lol!

Strangely enough with some fuel it fired first go... and christ it sounds sexy.

Learning already! Engines need fuel! LOL :whistle: :whistle: :done:

been there done that - with mine, lol mine sat around for about a month, and someone had flicked the killswitch to off, so i couldn't figure out why it wouldn't wind over ohhh the killswitch is off, shit now the battery is flat, shit why can't I push start it? the tank is on primary, ahhh put it on reserve and off we go to the petrol station, and that was the first time I rode my bike after finishing it :innocent:

[DEATH_INC.]

V8 nose? You been smoking summit?
Na man, a mate had one wif a small straight through muffler on it and you'd have sworn a sprint car was coming down the road if ya couldn't see it.

[SPman]

A nephew has got a rat one with just about a muffler on it. Does sound good.....

[scracha]

Na man, a mate had one wif a small straight through muffler on it and you'd have sworn a sprint car was coming down the road if ya couldn't see it.
Fuk. That's the VFR going on rETARDME then. Only 'merricans and Australasians are stupid enough to drive V8's