vfr400?

**denill** · 20th February 2008, 04:50

Hey Guys, what's your opinion of THIS VFR400? that my nephew is looking at.

1 - As a model - ie reliability etc?

2 - Is it good value?

Thanks
Bill

**James Deuce** · 20th February 2008, 05:08

That's an NC24 and it looks to be in impeccable condition, including the original muffler!

I owned one for two years and they are superb. Reliability is VERY good provided it has been looked after. Carb work is a pain in the neck, the rear suspension linkages need regular lubing or they bind, and the 16" front 18" rear wheel sizes are a bit awkward for when trying to find decent rubber for them, though what passes for decent rubber these days would have left anything shod on 1989 slicks wallowing around at the back of the pack.

Comfort is surprisingly good and I made several return trips to Auckland and back from Wellington on my one.

That price is SUPERB value. In fact I'm tempted.

Best get someone to check it out to make sure it isn't 119,000kms, but somehow I goubt it. That whining noise will be gear driven cams, not the transmission

**dangerous** · 20th February 2008, 05:18

Originally Posted by denill

1 - As a model - ie reliability etc?

2 - Is it good value?

Thanks
Bill

They dont come any more reliable (cept for reg/rec issues)
seems bloody good value
awesome wee bikes, an ideal steep between bikes.

**denill** · 20th February 2008, 05:37

Originally Posted by Jim2

That's an NC24 and it looks to be in impeccable condition, including the original muffler!

I owned one for two years and they are superb. Reliability is VERY good provided it has been looked after. Carb work is a pain in the neck, the rear suspension linkages need regular lubing or they bind, and the 16" front 18" rear wheel sizes are a bit awkward for when trying to find decent rubber for them, though what passes for decent rubber these days would have left anything shod on 1989 slicks wallowing around at the back of the pack.

Comfort is surprisingly good and I made several return trips to Auckland and back from Wellington on my one.

That price is SUPERB value. In fact I'm tempted.

Best get someone to check it out to make sure it isn't 119,000kms, but somehow I goubt it. That whining noise will be gear driven cams, not the transmission

Thanks for that. Yes it is loooow ks?

Were some of these brought in as used Jap imports?

**James Deuce** · 20th February 2008, 06:11

Originally Posted by denill

Thanks for that. Yes it is loooow ks?

Were some of these brought in as used Jap imports?

There were only 20 official NZ imports.

They were all Red, White and Blue, and had a red tailpiece, rather than the Japanese market's blue tailpiece.

That colour marks it out as a definite import.

**koba** · 20th February 2008, 06:34

Reliable model yes but like any bike amke sure you check it out real good before talking cash.
I have an NC21, essentaily the same bike with a 2 sided swingarm. Awesome bike.

**koba** · 20th February 2008, 06:40

Oh, and an MC18 NSR250 front wheel may fix the 16' thing.
Swapped mine which has fixed diskes and also gained the nsr floaters. think yours are floating but mounted differently to the nsr disks. either way will probably be a good way to get modern rubber on it. the 18' rear aint a huge problem.

**sugilite:Me** · 20th February 2008, 09:17

Yep, very good bikes, I had one as a commuter for 8 years and it thrived on neglect. I even entered it in a few hill climbs and won the 400 class, all on commuter tyres. I loved the cam driven gear whine too!

**ambler** · 20th February 2008, 12:24

If you don't get that one, don't stress about it because mine (with two brand new tires now...) did actually make it to NZ after all. I wasn't really thinking to sell since I love it to bits but if I could get 3.9 I probably would.