First thrash! a few questions for you...

[CarlosFandango]

First time out today, must say it is an interesting bike, much easier to ride than I thought & more powerful than a 400 deserves to be!

This is my daughters first bike & so want to make sure it is 100% before I let her play!

I noticed a few things & wondered if you could help me out:
1) sometimes it has a complete electrical failure, no lights, power, nothing, if I wiggle the loom on the right hand side it powers up again.
2) I get a bit of a speed wobble, nothing serious but could be disconcerting for a new rider, rims look ok, I put a micrometer on the wheels & they are fairly true. However front tyre is a Koncorde retread (urgh!).
3) bodywork looks a bit fragile - I think I may need some replacements, any suggestions or am I limited to fleabay?
4) I better do an oil & filter change - any recommendations as to a reasonable oil that I should use, nothing too dear, its not my bike! Are filters readily available?

Thanks for any help - Carlos

[Neosophist]

First time out today, must say it is an interesting bike, much easier to ride than I thought & more powerful than a 400 deserves to be!

This is my daughters first bike & so want to make sure it is 100% before I let her play!

I noticed a few things & wondered if you could help me out:
1) sometimes it has a complete electrical failure, no lights, power, nothing, if I wiggle the loom on the right hand side it powers up again.
2) I get a bit of a speed wobble, nothing serious but could be disconcerting for a new rider, rims look ok, I put a micrometer on the wheels & they are fairly true. However front tyre is a Koncorde retread (urgh!).
3) bodywork looks a bit fragile - I think I may need some replacements, any suggestions or am I limited to fleabay?
4) I better do an oil & filter change - any recommendations as to a reasonable oil that I should use, nothing too dear, its not my bike! Are filters readily available?

Thanks for any help - Carlos

What 400 bike is it?

1. Sounds like you have a bad earth, theres an earth in that area so check its' bolted properly.

2. The wheels probably need balancing, all of the VFR's feel planeted and stable so if you have wobbling you either have wheel bearing issues, tyres need balancing, crap tyres or a combination.

Ditch the retread and go for some Bridgstones.

If its an NC21/24 go for BT39/45 rear and BT45 front.

If its an NC30 go for BT92 rear and probably a BT-021 up front, sprorty touring tyres, will last a good while and excellent performers

Unless your feeling sporty / nutcase riding / occasional track, then go for

BT-016 up front and a BT90 (sportiest) on the rear (or even a BT014)

If you have an NC35 or have a 17" rear you can also get

a BT-003 rear (this is on par with BT90 as being a hypersport / track tyre)

There are several other mfgs of tyres that supply in the correct sizes but Im an avid fan of bridgstone for the 400, many people swear by supercorsa's, just ask around. I've tried bridgestone and have no compalints, nor do many members on here

3. Fragile? All the VFR's have nice hard plastic fairings (unless yours has chinese copies on it) new ones are available in limited quantities but your looking well over £1000.00 for what you can get. You can of course get some chinese copies from ebay for a fraction of the cost.

4. They all use the same oil filter anyway: Part # 15410MCJ000 and yes there available as there used on many bikes still made today. You can also get 3rd party ones. Hiflo etc.

As for oil, branded 10w40 semi-synth. Fuchs Silkolene is cheap.

*Note.

Having noticed the bikes got a retread on it would suggest (however this isn't always the case) that the bike may have been run on a tight budget, so there might be a few neglected things here and there that could do with looking at.

When your changing the oil, do the air filter and plugs at the same time.

Fork oil may befit from a change too.

Check the chain tension, condition of chain and sprockets and for play in wheel bearings, head bearings etc.

Couple of hours checkin it over / looking after it will do wonders for the bike!

The only weak point of the bike is the electrical system as the Reg/Recs tend to die more often than they should but if you plan on keeping the bike you'll probably find out about that along the way :)

You can get parts from

wemoto.com <-mainly pattern parts
lings.com <- honda dealer so original
davidsilverspares.com <- honda dealer but has limited patern parts, i check these before lings if im after OEM stuff as they often have NOS parts cheap.

[CarlosFandango]

Thanks for comprehensive reply

Bike is a 92 model VFR400 NC30 R3N. Everything is standard & the quality of parts looks good, better than my 2008 Triumph! (they don't make 'em like they used to.....)

Good tip about the forks - I will check them out.
I also notice that the reg/rec has already been changed.

I have sorted the earth out & electrical failure has not happened again, bike has been standing for a while, supposed to have had new bearings fitted for MOT, however looking at the rest of the bike I reckon the MOT was done over the phone!

Guess what, she dropped it again tonight! on the left this time, 'forgot' that the side stand flips up. Now looking for a clutch lever.

This bike is going to cost me.....

[Neosophist]

lol! Give her your triumph.. a well looked after 30 will fetch more in a few years time

And yes. They certainly dont. The build quality of the NC30 is fantastic, much higher than nearly all of todays bikes by a long while.

There pretty bulletproof providing there looked after and given fresh oil!

[hksooie1]

I'd check the sidestand if it flips up on its owns. They don't usually do this, needs you to kick it up

[mattUKNC]

Now looking for a clutch lever.

This bike is going to cost me.....

I have a complete one for sale if that's any use?
http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/vi ... &sk=t&sd=a
Matt