NC24...to buy or not to buy???

[gmblnmstr]

Hello everyone...after browsing the site...I finally decided to register.

Close to where I live there is a guy with a v24 for sale. The bike looks to be in good condition and sounds comparable with most of the nc24's that I have seen videos for, and the price is right (about $1000usd). Call it a mid life crisis purchase if you will...but this will be only my second bike and first sport bike...so experience is not there...lol.

To my question...at this given time...Is an v24 a good purchase? In any condition? I know parts are next to impossible to find (at a reasonable price). But are these bikes durable...meaning if I buy a bike of this age that is running and riding good will I be able to get a year of good riding out of it? Or should I just hold out for a v30 or save more for a rvf35?

Any suggestions experience or advice is welcome...thanks

[Neosophist]

Hmm.

Depends whats been done to it.

The NC30 is an all around much better bike (frame / brakes / wheels / suspension) are all leaps and bounds over the 24 so it feels a lot newer to ride and can be pushed harder.

The NC24 can easily turn into a money pit, parts are hard to come by and due to the sheer age of the bike a lot of things are well past their best.

If its had a lot of money spent on it then no reason why you cant get a year of riding out of it, the engine is similar to the NC30 engine (they all share a common base) so as long as you change the oil and do the valve clearances its bullet proof.

Tyres / Chain Sprockets / Brakes and bearings all around can add up to a lot of money, suspesnion is pants unless you upgrade it, if its worn out its even worse.

The questions a bit too open ended.

How do you envisage your year riding?

A good NC30 will give a lot more than an NC24, but if you only want to tootle around and spend the least amount of money possible then a CBR600F jelly mould will be cheaper and easier to maintain than both of the above.

Quicker too.

[gmblnmstr]

Actually sorry for not providing more info. This bike will be a back road and night bike...not track bound...something to push myself if not necessarily the bike(if that makes sense). Because all I have right now is a 150cc and a 250 so I am looking for something with some more "grunt" to add to the fun factor. My own thought was that because this was designated as a "race bike" that it might be a lot more temperamental and maintenance needed that I might not be able to do or find someone to help me do, especially given the age. I did decide to pass because right now there are 3 nc24's, 2 nc30's, and 2 cbr 23's within an hour of where I live...all within my price range with the nc30's being only slightly more expensive then the 24's. So I after reading your post I have ditched the idea of a 24 and just trying to get the time to go look listen and ride some more till I find the right one.

I would love to get a 600 but for some reason...600's are at a premium (any 600)...I can pick up a cbr929 cheaper then the average 600 price.

[Neosophist]

600s offter a good alround package so probably why the command a premium, 900s have way too much power to use it all on the road and an experienced rider might find the 400 a tad slow.

True the NC30/NC24 are sports bikes but the basics of them are the same as any other bike, just the seating position and handles are "race" oriented.

Even NC30 parts can be scarcer but there are more bits availble, much more advice and overall the extra you spend on getting a 30 will be repaid by what the bike offers.

The NC24 motor is very strong, just like the 30, as you become more expeienced you can easily outride the stock brakes and suspension of the NC24 so your limited by what the bike can do.

You can push the NC30 a lot harder on stock equipement. So even though its only a road bike for now, shoudl you ever decide to take it to a track it will be much better position.

[duncan]

I have had an NC21 and a 24 and currently have one of the VFR400K training school bikes.The 24 may not handle quite as well as a 30 but there is more space on it so it is a more comfortable ride.They are fairly reliable but watch out for the exhaust pipes because if rotten you have to take the motor out to change it,and they can suffer from Mr.Honda regulator/rectifier disease.