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VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:50 pm
by tolleya12
Hey guys, I'm looking to downsize from my ZZR 600 as it is falling to bits and I love Honda 400's. I'm stuck between the CBR 400 and the VFR 400. I couldn't get insured on the 750 so I'm stuck between these two bikes.
My first question is what would you recommend for someone who has £1600 to buy one, is 6ft 0, does 12k miles a year and not that mechanically able? (I presume the CBR 400 due to being an inline 4)
However, I absolutely love V4 engines so I am wondering, if I buy a VFR for £1600 *carefully* what do you think the odd's of it falling apart down the road are? I test rode a £1300 CBR the other day and it was in rather good condition minus the faded Repsol paint job and the heavily modified track VFR I tried, I could barely fit on.
Are the two bikes level in terms of build quality / reliableness? I could go and buy a 500 such as a GPZ but I think they are nowhere near as fun!
Cheers!
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:58 pm
by CRM
you will find a tidier CBR for 1600 quid than a NC30 if that helps.
i have had both - V4 all the way for me.
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:56 pm
by benny
The only two downsides I heard for the NC30 before I bought one -
Tall first gear
Difficult to work on the V4
Now the first gear makes no difference at all, I read one review saying he had to paddle his feat to push it for a hill start, that's absolute rubbish. And the V4 isn't as difficult to work on as you may worry, there's a lot of help on here for working on the 30 if anything more than the 29.
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 4:01 pm
by bikemonkey
Only ridden the VFR but as stated by many people, buy the absolute best you can.
It won't matter too much to your pocket if it's tatty but mechanically sound, but it'll start eating cash if the mechanicals haven't been looked after as I found out the hard way!
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:35 pm
by Morespeedvicar
Try one of each for size, and get which ever one suits the best, I dont think there'd be much differance between either of them, tho i've never riden a cbr, nc30s sound so much differant from the rest of the inline fours i'd get one just for that.
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:07 pm
by tigerclaw
nc30s sound so much differant from the rest of the inline fours i'd get one just for that.
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:16 pm
by petrolhead19
I'm 6' 3" and the cbr does me fine, the vfr is slimmer and bit smaller and i feel cramped on it.
Can pick up a decent 23 or 29 with 1600 easy, just dont get fobbed off with someone saying its "mint" or its "oem" then it turns out its got hong kong fairings and fooked lol.
There are a few nice ones on ebay at the moment here are a few links
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CBR400RR-Baby ... 1040142804
Sure you could knock him down in price
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-HONDA-CB ... 1093928645
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR-400 ... 1265436461
If i had the money i would buy this just for the fact it still has a full set of oem fairings
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/honda-cbr-400 ... 1271462941
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-HONDA-CB ... 1266147180
If your going the nc30 route you may find the ones around your price range either need some work or a little rough around the edges, here are some examples
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VFR400- ... 0972984468
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-vfr-400 ... 1320600391
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VFR400R ... 2115556233
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VFR-400 ... 1327791093
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:43 pm
by benny
None of your links work mate
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:18 am
by Neosophist
I'd say try and ride them both.
I'd probably prefer a ZXR400 over a CBR400 as it feels bigger and are cheaper and more parts available.
They are all going to be nearly 25 years old.. I'd expect to have some issues with any bike that age, espeically ones that were popular with young racers for a long time.
Bearings and general things often need replacing and brakes overhauling, it does cost extra money and if your not doing it yourself the costs soon shoot up.
CBR600s are also a good bike to consider, espeically doing the milage you state.
Re: VFR or CBR
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:46 am
by petrolhead19
benny wrote:
None of your links work mate
Fixed :)