No Reserve – 1992 Honda VFR400 NC30

Description

Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

Essentially a scaled-down version of Honda’s legendary RC30, the VFR400R, or NC30, was a race-bred 400cc superbike introduced in the late 1980s. A smaller and cheaper alternative to the VFR750R, the 400 still possessed the same bodywork and livery as the 750, as well as its stellar reliability and fit and finish which had become Honda hallmarks.

Powering the NC30 was a carbureted, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, V4 with gear-driven cams that gave the NC30 a unique roar. With a relatively flat torque curve and a redline of 14,500rpm, the NC30’s V4 was good for around 30 ft-lbs of torque and just shy of 60hp. Top-speed was a respectable 130mph, and with a wet weight of only 400lbs, the VFR400R’s dual front 296mm discs and four-piston calipers were more than sufficient at slowing things down.

The trick little 400 was also an early adopter of various features such as its 360-degree “big bang” firing order, TRAC (Torque Reactive Anti-dive Circuit) 41mm telescopic front-end, and ELF’s Pro-Arm single-sided swing-arm. Just like its three-quarter-liter sibling, the welterweight VFR used a competition-derived aluminum twin-spar frame. A four-into-one exhaust exited on the left side of the bike, enabling easy access to the 18” rear wheel, and the suspension’s preload and rebound were both adjustable.

The VFR400R was created for the Japanese domestic market, though it was officially sold in parts of Europe for a time, albeit in limited numbers. Produced until being phased out in ’94, the NC30 wasn’t ever sold in the US, though grey market examples have found their way to US shores.

This example is VIN: NC301101856. The seller acquired the bike from an importer in 2022; he has only started it in his garage throughout his ownership.

The odometer shows 2,180 kilometers (1,354 miles).

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean and sync the carbs, replace the battery, rebuild the brake caliper, and flush the brake fluid.

Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:

Tire Year Front/ Rear: 3017/3217
Tire % Front/ Rear: 100/100
Tire Press Front/ Rear: 32/35
Brake % Front/ Rear: 70/75
Hydraulic: ok
Oil: ok
Coolant: ok
Low Beam: ok
High Beam: ok
Turn: ok
Tail Light: ok
Brake Light: ok
Plate Light: ok
Kill: ok
Horn: ok
Battery: New
Notes: ok, some corrosion.

RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
Rear brakes are rusty, some components may need rebuild/replacement.
Forks are leaking, need rebuild.

Modifications:
Tank pad.

Battery tender lead.

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 tires with date codes of 3017 and 3217.

The sale includes two aftermarket keys.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Vermont registration (Vermont does not issue paper titles for bikes older than 15 years) through March 2024.

Have any VFR400 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!