Right........ i purchased my VFR a month or so ago, allthough i also owned one about 5 years ago as well, i have owned a wide variety of bikes since i was 16, so i think im pretty used to good and bad points of bikes!
I,ll start from the front and work backwards!
Front wheel is 16 inch, ... Read review
Right........ i purchased my VFR a month or so ago, allthough i also owned one about 5 years ago as well, i have owned a wide variety of bikes since i was 16, so i think im pretty used to good and bad points of bikes!
I,ll start from the front and work backwards!
Front wheel is 16 inch, which is a pain due to the fact that there is a limited tyre choice, my bike has bridgestone battleaxe bt45s which i dont really like, ... ...bike yet!
The front forks are very soft, (probably due to this beeing a jap import bike and beeing built for 8st japanese people not 14stone lads like myself!) but this isnt really a problem in every day use.
As far as i can gather from forums and my previous ownership fork seals dont fail very often.
Steering head bearngs seem to be fine as these bikes dont get wheelied to much.
Right........ i purchased my VFR a month or so ago, allthough i also owned one about 5 years ago as well, i have owned a wide variety of bikes since i was 16, so i think im pretty used to good and bad points of bikes!
I,ll start from the front and work backwards!
Front wheel is 16 inch, which is a pain due to the fact that there is a limited tyre choice, my bike has bridgestone battleaxe bt45s which i dont really like, allthough this maybe the fact im not used to the bike yet!
The front forks are very soft, (probably due to this beeing a jap import bike and beeing built for 8st japanese people not 14stone lads like myself!) but this isnt really a problem in every day use. As far as i can gather from forums and my previous ownership fork seals dont fail very often. Steering head bearngs seem to be fine as these bikes dont get wheelied to much.
The handlebars are fairly low, but this is a good thing as it puts weight over the front wheel, but can also cause a few aches and pains over longer journeys.
The switch gear is typical japanese easy to use and feels natural in its position.
Clocks are in KPH allthough i have a mechanical conversion unit that changes the kph dials to mph ( a sound investment at 15 quid) backlighting is great on the clocks at night.
The clutch is light and has a good action and the vfr 400 nc21 hydraulic clutch can be fitted with ease.
The front brakes are ok....... but mine has standard hoses and probably standard pads, it feels a bit grabby but im certain this is just 22yr old hoses and dodgy pads! i,ll be upgrading to braided hoses and some decent pads in the near future.
The front light is fine from memory as my bike has a different headlight set up to standard.
The tank is fairly small in its capacity, allowing about £10 of petrol (at 1 quid a litre) but has a very easy to use reserve/on/off tap, sounds stupid but the last thing you want is running out on the fast lane of the motorway and having to fiddle for ages trying to switch to reserve as is the case on a lot of bikes!)
The seat is comfortable enough allthough you probably wont be to happy after more than 150-200 miles!
The rear seat is not a good place to sit! my girlfriend hates it with a vengange, its hard, uncomfortable, slopes down and just isnt nice!
Engine is an absolute peach! a fantastic V4 unit! a fair amount of low down grunt (for a 400!!!) and screams like a banshee all the way to 13,000 rpm, the sound is very unique as the nc24 has gear driven cams as opposed to chain or belt like most bikes, they seem to be very reliable engines as long as looked after. The problem with the engine isnt in the actual engine but its in the exhaust...... the collector boxes on these bikes rot a massive amount....not normally a problem on most inline 4 cylinder bikes but remember this is a V4...... so unfortunately the engine has to be removed to replace either the 2 rear downpipes or the collector box.. a very time consuming job, but can be done if youre handy with spanners, have a good tool kit and a decent space to work in, allthough actually finding a collector box will be a mission! these are not made anymore so finding a good one is hard, some go for £180 second hand on ebay! OUCH! someone could make a lot of money if they made up some stainless units!
The engine does run hot, a bit worrying to begin with but this is usual allthough a bit uncomfortable at times.
If you do buy one of these bikes, get a sports exhaust! i have a scorpian stainless can and link pipe on mine and it sounds absolutely AMAZING!! ive had cbr600,s zxr,s fzr,s etc etc and none of them have sounded as good!!! i love going through tunnels and underpasses to hear the sound bounce off the walls!
The electrics are woefull! well the charging circuit is..... if you are reading this then you may be looking to buy an nc 24, the problem with the charging circuit starts with the battery......... people neglect it, and in turn this cooks the regulator/rectifier...and in turn...this ruins the alternator... its a very common problem and can be very easily diagnosed and if caught early may just be the price of a new battery! For more info on this there are loads of forums.
The rear shock is a good unit and is preload adjustable, seems fine, offers good damping properties allthough due to age mine could do with a rebuild.
Rear wheel is 18inch again hard to get good tyres, but the single sided swingarm looks great and chain adjustment is simple.
The handling is different when you first ride the bike! it seemed odd to me having ridden bikes with modern 17 inch tyres, the handling is very fast, the bike litterally drops into corners without blinking an eyelid, and holds a line easily, beeing a small bike it doesnt intimidate you, and you can wind on the power a long time before you can on a 600/750/1000 and hold some huge corner speed in the process! i have annoyed many a rider of bigger bikes by diving up the inside!
Economy..............is average i havent really worked it out but i imagine its about 40mpg if ridden normally.
So there you have it! i think its an honest review!
Advantages: Handling Disadvantages: Parts prices, reliability.
They made the NC24 for two years, because it was rubbish.
187kg dry. Thats heavy, and a lot of the weight is in the engine. It carries it low, so its not too bad on the move, but pushing it in and out of the garage is a chore.
Getting old now too. That means that all sorts of seals are dried up, and the electrics are decaying. These things have a marginal electrical system anyway, a little age and its knackered.
16 inch front wheel, 18 inch rear. ... ...end is leaning loads and the rear is hardly leaning at all.
V4 400cc engine may sound cool, but it isn't. It runs hot, its a pig to work on, its heavy.
Positive bits. It was fun, when it worked. 14000 rpm redline, and you spend a lot of time touching it.
Being one of my vehicles, it was beset with problems. To try and recall them all now will take too long, suffice to say I bought the bike for about £800 and spent a similar amount in repairs, ...
robachamings1 02.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Honda VFR400 NC24
a japaniese import, made between 1987 and 1989 roughly. nothing looks better than the single sided swingarm, and to my surprise its easier to adjust the chain compared to normal swingarm motorcycles. it looks modern and cool despite being near classic. cheap to insure and buy. cost me about £500 to insure me being under 21 with 2 years no claims. bike cost me under £1000.
mecanically there is nothing wrong with the v4 engine, built well and never ... ...oil and filters are easy its just the exhaust system. the rear down pipes is an engine out job to replace.
the only problem i have had (other than replacing the rotten exhaust) was with the charging system, this was the regulator/rec which was an easy £60 replacement. the local bike specalists said its a common fault with old hondas and the after market ones are spot on.
the only reason this bike gets bad reviews are because they brought out a ...
robbwest 15.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Honda VFR400 NC24
Comfort
Handling
Looks
Features
Fuel consumption
Quick review of Honda VFR400 NC24
I've got an 89 model sat in the garage and although it looks a bit dated now it's a great bike. I'm female, not the strongest or the tallest and I find this bike perfect to handle as a first bike. Not too heavy with plenty of poke! ...
smell49 01.11.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Honda VFR400 NC24
Advantages: v4 engine gives better power Disadvantages: standard mirrors make lots of blind spots
i absolutely love my nc24 and it goes like a 600 its a great first big bike to have and i have had no problems with it whatsoever it is a purebred racing machine with the single sided swingarm and riding position its a fast bike and the midrange is superb
the grey imports are better as they dont have the english restrictions in them and rev higher and go faster top speed is around 130mph and the bike is great for commuting in the low range revs ... ...revs fuel consumption can be anywhere from 40 to 65mpg depending on how you ride it
would recommend the nc24 over the nc30 as its more stylish in the way the fairing is designed and would also recommend over the gsxr400 and the fzr400 as this bike is less likely to break down which the before mentioned bikes are known for a good example will go for around the £1200 mark and if the bike is looked after should increase in price rather than deppreciate ...
pickle1234 16.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Honda VFR400 NC24
