Description
Additional photos of this RVF400 can be found here. Please let us know if you require more images!
In 1994, Honda introduced the RVF400, or NC35. Successor to the VFR400 (not confusing at all), the NC35 was two things: a mini-me of the legendary RC45 and one of the greatest 400s ever built. Just like its 750cc big brother, the NC35’s fit and finish was top-notch, and the model had all the trappings of a full-size superbike in a potent 400cc package.
Think about what a 400cc sportbike means nowadays – then look at what this offered over 20 years ago with the single-sided swingarm, V4 motor, endurance racer-inspired air ducts, and gear-driven cams! The NC35 made it clear that small displacement bikes didn’t have to be cheap. In addition to all the nice details above, the liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90-degree, 399cc V4 with four-valves per cylinder, gear-driven cams, and quad 28mm carbs that made just shy of 60hp at 13,000rpm. A 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400 makes 45 and will never inspire the same passion that this beauty does.
Housing the V4 was an aluminum twin-spar frame paired with upside-down 41mm Showa forks and a monoshock out back. Beefy dual front discs help to slow the 400 from its roughly 125mph top speed.
Never officially sold outside of the Japanese market, the RVF400 sported its big sibling’s iconic looks, though the shape of its side-by-side dual headlights was styled similarly to the single unit on Mick Doohan’s Suzuka 8Hour-winning RVF750 endurance racer. The RVF also got a 17” rear-wheel — an inch smaller than its predecessor’s.
This example (VIN: NC35-1005979) shows 13,164 kilometers (8,227) miles on the odometer and it presents as most imports we see from the island of Japan – a quality rider with some spots of corrosion.
The most significantly impacted areas are the fork lowers, but there’s also chips in the fairing and bellypan as well as a scuff in the muffler and a tear in each seat. Photos of all are included in the album at the top of this post.
This NC35 is highly stock, with a few common modifications: aftermarket rear-sets, a full Sugaya exhaust with carbon muffler, carbon-wrapped mirrors, and some Dunlop stickers on the front fender and Showa stickers on the front forks. Mechanically, it starts up cold without the choke and it just received a carb sync from the expert in-house mechanic at Iconic Motorbikes. This grey market special wears modern Metzeler rubber that has only seen a few hundred miles, and it is sold with a Utah title where it’s registered as a road bike (the bike is currently in Marina del Rey, California).
Got any RVF400/NC35 stories? We’d love to hear them below in the comments! Or, let us know if you have any questions and we will do our best to answer them for you!
