Hello. Hope I am not breaching some forum etiquette by just registering to ask a question, but... this weekend I'm going to look at a CB400 Super Four (NC31, 1996) and am wondering how much of a good/bad idea buying it would be. It's the first bike I've seen that has made me go "ooh" and I've been looking for a while. Medium sized bikes just don't seem to exist any more and I really don't need or want a large bike.

I've been riding on L plates for years and years but passed my test only a year ago (will need to get it restricted) so it is by way of being a first big bike. My current bike is on its last legs so I need to get something . Bike is my main form of transport, mainly for getting round town. I probably won't do much work on it myself but my mechanic won't turn his nose up at it. The thing I'm most apprehensive about is getting bits for it as presumably I won't get much from breakers in the UK. Any advice?

DaisyGrubber wrote:Hello. Hope I am not breaching some forum etiquette by just registering to ask a question, but... this weekend I'm going to look at a CB400 Super Four (NC31, 1996) and am wondering how much of a good/bad idea buying it would be. It's the first bike I've seen that has made me go "ooh" and I've been looking for a while. Medium sized bikes just don't seem to exist any more and I really don't need or want a large bike.

I've been riding on L plates for years and years but passed my test only a year ago (will need to get it restricted) so it is by way of being a first big bike. My current bike is on its last legs so I need to get something . Bike is my main form of transport, mainly for getting round town. I probably won't do much work on it myself but my mechanic won't turn his nose up at it. The thing I'm most apprehensive about is getting bits for it as presumably I won't get much from breakers in the UK. Any advice?

Hi iam 50 years old and had lots of bikes big and small the nc31 superfour is the best bike i have rode. its ok for around town but just right for when you need to open her up etc . parts are ok breakers and two or three shops selling all your service parts etc i use mine for work and weekend rallies and the harleys cant keep up with me.

I had an NC31 a few years ago and moved onto a firestorm and rode lots of other big bikes. I have now moved back to an NC31 and definitely don't regret it, it is definitely the most fun bike I have ridden, especially around town, but it can sometimes lack that little bit of excitement. It is tricky to get the adrenaline flowing unless you really start pushing it but when you do it can keep up with most other bikes. They are amazingly reliable, I used my first NC31 for weekend blasts and thrashed it every weekend all weekend and it never skipped a beat. As long as you maintain it, which is easy to do, it will last for ever. As for parts they are surprisingly easy to get hold of, they are often used on many other bikes. For example I needed a new end plate for my swingarm and my mechanic found out it was the same part as a Hornet 600. I still think they look the part too, they don't look old and dated like some 400's especially if you get a clean one. Mine is bright yellow and people are shocked when I tell them it is an 18 year old bike. I think the only criticism I have of mine is the suspension is knackered, and can make for a horrid ride on bouncy, potholed roads even when you are not pushing it but there are aftermarket parts out there if you want to fix it.

Hope that helps, I definitely recommend getting one. Feel free to ask more questions and I will do my best to help

I have two,I love them,

I've ridden and owned quite a few bikes, but my Super Four is the only bike I've ever bought from a dealer. I paid a bit extra to get exactly the bike I wanted - Toffee Crisp orange -v R (bikini fairing) with 900kms on the clock.

I loved it from the 1st moment I rode it home. I did loads of miles on it, commuting to work every day. Trips to Europe, including a two week tour with top-box and panniers.

Mines tucked at the back of the garage now, as I don't ride so much these days. But I'm still looking to get it back on the road.

They are a very, very good bike. Never found getting parts a problem - if anybody tells you "ooh, grey bike, can't get the parts"; ignore them, they clearly know nothing. All the information you need is out on the net, and around here.

There are a stack of bikes in my garage - Goldwing, FJ12s, XS650s and more. I love motorbikes and would very highly recommend the SuperFour.

Thanks very much for all the feedback. In fact the bike I went to see was a bit ratty - it had been sprayed from yellow to blue and back to yellow rather unsuccessfully, he had to jumpstart it and the tyres were like paper, so I walked away. But I still think a Super Four could be the bike for me, specially if I can find a yellow one!

I should admit that I'm a fairly sedate biker though. I got into bikes more because it was a handy form of transport for me than because of the thrill of the road.

Also I'm going to need to be able to carry a fair bit of weight on it, and will probably get a custom rack made.

I still haven't found one that's in good enough nick, but there is one coming up that I've got my eye on (not sure if it's an NC31 or what) and meanwhile I managed to get in a little test ride on an old courier bike. I found it generally nice to ride, but my knees felt very squashed up. Is this just that it's a more sporty position than I'm used to? I think I'd get used to it ok but wondered if it would be uncomfortable over longer distances. I'm 5' 8" and fairly long in the leg.

I've had my superfour since passing my test (it previously belonged to my girlfriend as it was her first bike and she got me into biking, so I got her an SV and took her SF), and that was 6 years ago. I went through a phase of wanting and looking for a bigger bike (CBR600, Thundercat etc) and decided that as it isn't broken, don't fix it! The SF has been great, parts are piss easy to find and I do most of my own servicing as everything is so easy to get to and do. The only problem I have is that I'm 5' 11'' and the bike is a bit small for me, however it is something I have just got used to and although I am a little cramped on the bike, I rarely travel anywhere that is more than 1.5 hours away (although I did do the 700 miles to the south of France with no problems) and I'm just used to it now.... keep looking and a bike you like will turn up soon, don't expect to find one straight away and be prepared to wait a good couple of months until you find the right bike!

Hi DaisyGrubber - was that "ratty" yellow - blue - yellow NC31 in Croydon by any chance? The bike I've just got hold of was yellow, then blue, and now yellow again, with an iffy paintjob - all cracked and paint-shrink marks over the tank. The previous, previous owner was in Croydon around about that time. Be interesting to know if it was the same one?

PB1 wrote:Hi DaisyGrubber - was that "ratty" yellow - blue - yellow NC31 in Croydon by any chance? The bike I've just got hold of was yellow, then blue, and now yellow again, with an iffy paintjob - all cracked and paint-shrink marks over the tank. The previous, previous owner was in Croydon around about that time. Be interesting to know if it was the same one?

The post is from July 2010...