My first bike!! WOOOOOOO

Don't even have a license yet so I'll just stick it in the garage and do any bits while I do my test etc in the meantime. Wasn't planning on doing it arse about face but I've not seen one like it. Always liked bikes but after going to the TT last year I decided I needed one!

It's a vfr400 NC30, undergone a bit of a rebuild/tidy up. HPI clear. ZXR upside down forks and clamps, GSXR1000 six pot calipers, NC35 17'' rear wheel, RC30 front discs + s/steel disc bolts, Samco hoses, new brake pads, new DID chain + Renthal sprockets, Titanium sprocket bolts + s/steel nuts, Fitted with Bridgestone BT090 tyres 160 rear. Otherwise STD. Fairing needs a slight tidy but the bike itself looks a minter.

He took some of the pics mid build hence no chain and pics of naked bike

Very nice, excellent choice indeed

Very nice. I used to own the bike your front discs came from

Hard to believe they're over 20 years old now. I had one in Japan in the early 90's. Check pic in my archive. Bad pic cos digi cams hadn't been invented then. Great bikes. Just be careful it doesn't fall off the rather useless sidestand. Mine did this several times and eventually cracked the side casing.

They are a really 'whippy' bike and will give you many hours of fun but if it's your first bike take it easy. It will easily get you in trouble if you don't treat it with respect. But by the same token it will give a BIG grin too

Mm, I won't be taking any liberties. I know the dangers but don't want to let it put me off. My mum isnt best pleased!!!

my mate has an nc35 its awesome! very quick

Be really careful mate - 4 people have died in separate incidents on bikes on the roads around us in the last couple of weeks - I'm bloody glad I don't ride one any more that's for sure.

My girlfriend rides an SV650 having written off her 750 Gixxer.

She just did a Bike Safe course run by the Police. She said it was really excellent and would recommend to anybody. She spent a fair few hours riding round with Police bikers who gave her advice on how to ride better and more safely.

Sign up!

I think she's done some of the other 'observed rides' type courses as well. I think they're run by IAM?


Cheers,
James

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Originally posted by Jasper
Be really careful mate - 4 people have died in separate incidents on bikes on the roads around us in the last couple of weeks - I'm bloody glad I don't ride one any more that's for sure.

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I won't be going near it other than doing odd jobs till I have a full license and then I will probably pay to have some tuition

Thanks for the advice etc!

I almost bought a CBR400RR last month from a guy around the corner from me, but decided against it in the end.... can't even remember why!?!

I remember riding a 125 dirt bike across a mates field for weekends on end when I was 16, but haven't touched a bike since.... Thought I'd treat myself for the summer and do a direct access course and jump on whilst the kit's being built.

Sorta regret not doing it now, but more money to spend on the car and ease the post-holiday credit card burn. Seems I'm getting old now....

Nice bike, but whenever i see a single sided rear wheel suspension I get a flashback of Robert Dunlops crash in the 1994 Isle of Man TT. His rear wheel spokes broke at high speed sending him head on to a brick wall.

Still remember this as being yesterday.

And as a few have told already, take it easy and be carefull.

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Originally posted by Johneturbo

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
Be really careful mate - 4 people have died in separate incidents on bikes on the roads around us in the last couple of weeks - I'm bloody glad I don't ride one any more that's for sure.

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I agree about the being careful bit, but bikes are as dangerous as you make them.

lovely bike i love the single sided swing

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quote:

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Originally posted by Werner Van Loock
Nice bike, but whenever i see a single sided rear wheel suspension I get a flashback of Robert Dunlops crash in the 1994 Isle of Man TT. His rear wheel spokes broke at high speed sending him head on to a brick wall.

Still remember this as being yesterday.

And as a few have told already, take it easy and be carefull.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper

quote:

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Originally posted by Johneturbo

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
Be really careful mate - 4 people have died in separate incidents on bikes on the roads around us in the last couple of weeks - I'm bloody glad I don't ride one any more that's for sure.

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I agree about the being careful bit, but bikes are as dangerous as you make them.

lovely bike i love the single sided swing

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I'm sorry, that's completely naive. Bikes are dangerous full stop, you can drive as safely and carefully as you want and it won't stop someone else hitting you. My mates sister had only passed her full license 2 weeks before, she'd been driving cars for 20 years and is a very sensible person. She got hit while she saw stationary at a junction. 6 years and 8 operations later she's been told she'll have to have her foot off.

If your going to ride a motorbike (and I did for 10 years) at least be honest with yourself and your loved ones about the very real dangers of riding.

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I hope you're below average height if you are going to ride it a lot. I'm 5' 11" and they are way too small for me to get comfortable on. Mind you I am also very old and ride a 900 Hornet .

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Originally posted by Peteff
I hope you're below average height if you are going to ride it a lot. I'm 5' 11" and they are way too small for me to get comfortable on. Mind you I am also very old and ride a 900 Hornet .

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Im Jealous, my all time favourite bike that, i always said if i ever got my full bike licence i would buy a VFR 400 NC30, i reckon with all 5'6" of me, that would be plenty of bike.

You lucky boy

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Originally posted by Yazza54

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper

quote:

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Originally posted by Johneturbo

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
Be really careful mate - 4 people have died in separate incidents on bikes on the roads around us in the last couple of weeks - I'm bloody glad I don't ride one any more that's for sure.

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I agree about the being careful bit, but bikes are as dangerous as you make them.

lovely bike i love the single sided swing

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I'm sorry, that's completely naive. Bikes are dangerous full stop, you can drive as safely and carefully as you want and it won't stop someone else hitting you. My mates sister had only passed her full license 2 weeks before, she'd been driving cars for 20 years and is a very sensible person. She got hit while she saw stationary at a junction. 6 years and 8 operations later she's been told she'll have to have her foot off.

If your going to ride a motorbike (and I did for 10 years) at least be honest with yourself and your loved ones about the very real dangers of riding.

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I'm more scared of other road users, so agreed.









Let's not turn this into a thread about motorcycle deaths please!

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Found a few companies who sell complete fairing kits all paint up so I'll put it back to the original scheme like this



I've not been so enthusiastic about something for a while

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Originally posted by Yazza54
Found a few companies who sell complete fairing kits all paint up so I'll put it back to the original scheme like this



I've not been so enthusiastic about something for a while

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Yeah, the fairings are a bit of an assortment. But it's 21 years old same as me and I've taken a few knocks in that time so i expect the bike has too! It's mint enough under the fairings and it's hpi clear so it'll do for me

[Edited on 17/5/11 by Yazza54]

I had it's bigger brother, an RC30, for a brief time in the early nineties.
I'd had a fair few bikes until then, the RC30 was in a different league...

Enjoy

I was going to say lovely bike apart from the terrible purple screen (I can't imagine why people think they look good!). Putting it back to standard colours will certainly increase it's value and saleability in the future.

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Originally posted by MikeRJ
I was going to say lovely bike apart from the terrible purple screen (I can't imagine why people think they look good!). Putting it back to standard colours will certainly increase it's value and saleability in the future.

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Got it today... as described, fairings aren't great but the bike itself is in exceptionally good condition and very clean.






[Edited on 22/5/11 by Yazza54]

Very nice!

But 6'1" on a VFR400??? You're brave!

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Originally posted by scootz
Very nice!

But 6'1" on a VFR400??? You're brave!

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Not that small??? They're totty-wee! Engineered for a 5'7" rider.

But... if you're comfy on it, then who cares!

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Originally posted by scootz
Not that small??? They're totty-wee! Engineered for a 5'7" rider.

But... if you're comfy on it, then who cares!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Yazza54

quote:

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Originally posted by scootz
Not that small??? They're totty-wee! Engineered for a 5'7" rider.

But... if you're comfy on it, then who cares!

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All my girlfriends have been shorter than me so I'm used to riding small things

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Back in early 90's did the Cadwell Park race bike school on these and they were an absolute hoot. On the road however, I preferred a bit more torque and at least three times as many cubes

I'm a tad under 6' so you'll fit fine.

Join IAM and/or RoSPA and you can do their advanced tests.

ATB

Simon

They're great fun, first bike I ever rode that I could do stoppies (very small ones) on but
unless doing over 60 I found it very cramped and gave me a sore neck. I'm 5'8".
I picked up a ZX9R yesterday.

Regarding the "bikes are dangerous" comments, yes they are so ride as if everyone
is out to kill you and keep your wits sharp.

Enjoy

As above, ride as if everone hasn't seen you, even when you've made eye contact. Car drivers are stupid because "they" switch off - I've had someone cross a central reservation in front of me - I slowed to crawling in anticipation and yep, he pulled right out in front of me - I'd made eye contact as well. I gave him a telling off and he just said, I saw you but thought I'd make it across! I'd slowed to about 10 mph and it was a 70mph limit, so how he'd have made I've no idea!

I've been hit 3 times - once by a woman driving a transit minibus, she cut across both lanes in a one way bit. Once by an old woman at a junction, and once by an old man at a roundabout.

Each time I was very lucky as I stuck out a body part (elbow, leg/foot and knee) and so each time, I took the hit rather than the bike and therefore was able to push back and stay on the bike.

I've come off at walking pace at a junction because of silt/crap on the road and not paying attention, scratched fairing and dented ego, but in front of a good friend, so a-ok...

I've also crashed at Oulton at approx 130mph (Armco, hay bales, and 100metres of somersaults in the dry) apparantly one of the worst crashes that viewers had ever witnessed including watching the TV, all I know is that God/Allah/Buddha/El Diablo or someone was watching over me that day as it was a v v v bad crash (and I have it, sort of, on dvd )

When you've passed your test, get yourself onto the novice group on a trackday, it is not only awesome, but it will teach you in one day what you and your bike are capable of - do it before you change the fairings, as crashing at a track is usually only painful to the bike unless you're being a muppet...

Only use tyres that you are happy with, I always use a race tyre that I buy as a part worn.

Enjoy yourself! I wish I could afford to have a bike again...

Oh, I'm 5'9" ish (I think) and I think a VFR is too small for me...

Do a Track Day!!!

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Originally posted by Steve Hignett

Do a Track Day!!!

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My first TD in the wet taught me more than all the years I've been riding on the road put together...

Money well spent! Although they are quite addictive!

If I had the money for a bike now, I would buy a TD/Race bike rather than a road bike and would see the lack of insurance payments as the TD money each month in the summer.

If I was going to de several TD's I would definitely run slicks and tyre warmers for the dry and wets-on-wheels for the rainy days... Although obv not needed for one off days etc!

Been messing














Other bits going on too but thats all ive got pics of

Where did the shiny alloy radiator come from?

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Originally posted by MikeRJ
Where did the shiny alloy radiator come from?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF67g-FYXI0

Im with Jasper, thank god i dont ride anymore,

Oh great