HONDA VFR400 (1988 - 1994) Review

Version: VFR400 NC30

Year: 1989

Annual servicing cost: £250

My favourite sports 400 out of all the models released during the 80s-90s. Honda really got it right. I could never sell it. I bought my VFR400 as a restoration project. I have fully restored the bike from being a complete junk heap. It now drives and rides like a new bike.

Buying experience: I paid 800 euro for a really badly run down bike. In the end, after restoring it all I got was the fame and a set of wheels. It was a really great motorcycle restoration project. When I look at the bike now it makes me smile.

Year: 1992

Annual servicing cost: £100

Popular with dwarfs and ladies, these are fantastic pocket rockets .... handling is superb and forgiving so can enjoy the full sports bike experience. On twisties, you can carry the speed much to the annoyance of larger sports bikes.I bought mine to push the boundries safely rather than experiment with a Fireblade.Could be the best real world sports bike Honda ever made ... and you can pretent to be a RC30 super hero :-)

Buying experience: Becoming harder to find especially nice ones. Mines was an NC30 ... the RVF version is more expensive, rarer and arguably slightly better.

Year: 1994

PERFECT!!!

Year: 1989

Annual servicing cost: £75

A truly great bike that flatters good riding, forgives bad and always puts a smile on my face. After owning one for 4 years and selling it, I grieved for another 4 years before buying another. Styling is oh-so-90's, but also really cool. This bike turns heads everywhere, and even an average rider can run rings around someone on a modern 1,000cc sports bike on the twisties. Everyone should try one of these bikes at some point in their lives!

Buying experience: I bought my first bike from a dealer and was a bit fleeced because I was inexperienced and using my heart and not my head. My second example came from a dear friend and is practically in concourse condition.

The VFR400 was my first road bike. Its forgiving nature attracted me to it, not just its stylish looks high red line. I still have it now even though i dont ride it much, i still refuse to sell it. it has so much character and the ride feels like something special. Its Low powered engine damands very skillfull riding to get the best out of it. but once you've finally mastered the engine it can easily keep up with bigger bikes on the tight twisties. Its stiff chassis and low center of gravity coupled with a short wheelbase and sharp brakes make the VFR an immense back road scratcher. with the ability to out corner most bikes. The gear box is very smooth and well spaced to make the most out of the high power band (11,000 - 12,000 RPM)and quick shifiting helps in keeping them revs high. if you let the revs drop corner exits become soggy and slitghtly boring, but if your not screaming the VFR you simply missed the point of the bike. Brakes are very impressive for their age and have the right amount of feel to be used well as variable braking rather than on/off. The VFR is the perfect bike to hone your skills and could be compared to that of a 250 two stroke. The simple back to basics of the bike make the rider work to get the most of it, which is most rewarding. Reliability wise the engine on my bike has never faulted and is still running very sweet with regular oil changes. The only fualts have been a slipped clutch (due to an unwitting father putting fully synth in), a blown rectifier and a sticky front brake piston. The bike is now due a new rear suspension unit and re-worked forks as its 21 years old. The engine is totally standard and runs great. the carbs are due synchronizing as the rev range has a few flat spots across it. the only problem people may have with the bike is the small riding postion and the hard to get hold of tyres when you do find some there is only a small selection to choose from. Great bike, highly recommended

The VFR400 was my first road bike. Its forgiving nature attracted me to it, not just its stylish looks high red line. I still have it now even though i dont ride it much, i still refuse to sell it. it has so much character and the ride feels like something special. Its Low powered engine damands very skillfull riding to get the best out of it. but once you've finally mastered the engine it can easily keep up with bigger bikes on the tight twisties. Its stiff chassis and low center of gravity coupled with a short wheelbase and sharp brakes make the VFR an immense back road scratcher. with the ability to out corner most bikes. The gear box is very smooth and well spaced to make the most out of the high power band (11,000 - 12,000 RPM)and quick shifiting helps in keeping them revs high. if you let the revs drop corner exits become soggy and slitghtly boring, but if your not screaming the VFR you simply missed the point of the bike. Brakes are very impressive for their age and have the right amount of feel to be used well as variable braking rather than on/off. The VFR is the perfect bike to hone your skills and could be compared to that of a 250 two stroke. The simple back to basics of the bike make the rider work to get the most of it, which is most rewarding. Reliability wise the engine on my bike has never faulted and is still running very sweet with regular oil changes. The only fualts have been a slipped clutch (due to an unwitting father putting fully synth in), a blown rectifier and a sticky front brake piston. The bike is now due a new rear suspension unit and re-worked forks as its 21 years old. The engine is totally standard and runs great. the carbs are due synchronizing as the rev range has a few flat spots across it. the only problem people may have with the bike is the small riding postion and the hard to get hold of tyres when you do find some there is only a small selection to choose from. Great bike, highly recommended

My NC30 is my first 'big bike' after passing my test. Cheap, superb handling, beautiful engine, and in my opinion one of the best looking bikes I've ever seen. Don't be misled by the 400cc engine. It still has plenty of power, and you'll be hard pushed to find a better bike on the twistys. Aswell as the beautiful V4 engine sound. Only downside is parts, which can ocassionally be difficult to acquire due to its age, but thats probably not helped by mine being a Jap import with different electrics to the UK models.

i had an nc30 in 1997 to 1999 it was and still is tne best handling bike i`ve owned these bikes are seriously quick down twisty roads and would not not get left behind by anything despite having 60bhp as the corner entry and speed is without peer.i can remember chasing a guy on a ZZR1100 he was braking like hell getting all out of shape for a corner and i went past him without even braking such is the confidence these bikes instill in the rider.if you`ve passed your test and a want a sportsbike look no further it`s faultless

After about 6 years away from owning a road bike, through a very good mate of mine, I bought one of these for not a lot of money, basically to get my confidence and awareness to road riding back and believe me you will not be disappointed. Like the article says, go for mechanical rather than cosmetic, ie some sort of service history. There is shed loads of info on the web for this bike, great owners clubs, advice, etc, etc. The bike I was fortunate enough to own was, in my opinion, one of the best bikes I have ever ridden, the engine was strong, brakes were very good and it handled like a dream. I can only remember getting out of shape once, which was probably down to me anyway. Its only draw back and again it is down to myself is that it is a bit of a small bike! Yes, I have eaten too many pies!