1994 rvf400

[denefoster]

So, I thought I'd pick up something more impractical than an Italian dirt bike, RVF400 here I come !

Bear in mind, this is my first sprots machine, and mostly in comparison to the Husqvarna SM610

Fork me but this thing is small. Elbows on knees, turn lock about 1/4 of the Husqvarna's, boy.. couldn't have made a better choice for impractibility !

So riding it around town is no fun at all. Let's try this motorway business. Again, fork me, this thing scoots. Where the Husky is in 6th gear by 110, the RVF is barely getting out of second, all in about half the time. It's only after getting 128kms (completely pants really) to a tank that I found the other 4 gears. Straight line speed is all well and good, and at legal-ish numbers, a bike is a bike. So no big difference apart from looking like one o'them monkeys dancing for an organ grinder.

Ah, straight lines finally over, up to the Takas. Nice sunny day, this should be more the business. Fork me thrice over, while the Husky is a big sledge hammer smashing everything with mountains of torque and high speed instability, the RVF is a surgical instrument. Apart from looking like a right cock, hanging off it all Rossi-like (not by choice, it's just *that* small!), that is the best motorcycling money I think I could spend.

Even with a shot rear, and a road attack on the front (same as the Husky really) I couldn't upset it at all. Long sweepers which had the Husky fretting had me scared of losing my license. The marked 25 and 35 corners which had the Husky and it's 910mm seat feel like a giant skyscraper just flowed without having to do quick maths about lean angles. Over and back again with nary a clench. Back home using all 6 gears, and onto the motard made the seating position feel like I was riding standing up and the giant single 576cc despite being 16 years newer felt about 50 years cruder. Ah, but torque and turn lock. Such bliss in the city.

All in all.. what I paid for it seems a pittance really. Will probably have to wait till next year for a track day to see what she can really do. Highly recommended

[racefactory]

Honda V4 NC family- very old, very good. Should give you totally trouble free fun. Only weakness is Reg/rectifier crapping out but could have already been changed... not a big deal anyway! Nice man!

[sil3nt]

Are they worth $6000? I would love one but you can get a lot of other decent bikes for $6k.

[Morcs]

I sold mine for 7k... had 10k on the clock though and was mint.

Get a jackup plate for the rear shock. I had one as well as footrest riser plates to sort out the lack of ground clearance on the track.
Other than that, derestrict the speedo, get some good rubber, and away you go.

[Jonno.]

Are they worth $6000? I would love one but you can get a lot of other decent bikes for $6k.

There's deals to be had.
What kind of decent bike can you get for 4-5k? (Although you're not gonna get a nc35 for that only an nc30).

[ecko_nzed]

Well I paid $4k for my 92 RVF, that was a stolen and recovered write off. Getting it complied and registered cost close to $2K, but was worth every penny. it keeps up with most on the Taka's and is only held back by my lack of talent. I've ridden a number of the different 400 sports bikes from the same era and none have made me feel instantly comfortable and able to start carving up the corners. Some times I long to have more power, that a modern 600 would give me, but the oportunities to use that power are getting fewer. So for now I'll save my pennies and buy some goodies to make it look better and I'll lose some weight to offset the lack of power :-)

[sil3nt]

Whats it like for a pillion? Im guessing pretty rubbish but i want an nc30 or nc35 next year and the girl wants to come along...

[ecko_nzed]

Whats it like for a pillion? Im guessing pretty rubbish but i want an nc30 or nc35 next year and the girl wants to come along...

You Guessed correct, better off with something a bit bigger, unless you're both lightweights

[HenryDorsetCase]

You Guessed correct, better off with something a bit bigger, unless you're both lightweights

even then the pillion seat is rubbish and the footpegs an afterthought. Really not the bike for two up.