Honda VFR400 NC30

Small, swift and very, very cute. This pocket rocket seemed to be made for a tiny racer wannabe like me. I almost despaired of going into bike shops and being offered a custom bike. Then I spotted this beauty at the back of the dealer's. I knew this was the bike for me.
This was my first sports bike and what a bike! Beautiful looks, beautiful handling, beautiful screaming four-cylinder engine, and sensational performance from the little 400cc V-4 engine. 60bhp is more than enough to pull a lightweight rider like me along very fast indeed. She turned heads wherever she goes, and manages to outrun much larger bikes on club outings. She was just wonderful..... 

Sadly, she met her end at the hands of a lorry driver in a multi-vehicle pile-up on the M5. Having recovered from the accident, there was no other choice for a replacement bike when the time came....I got another VFR400.

Good points: 

• Just about everything. 
• Sensational fast, revvy and extremely reliable V4 engine, revving to 14.5k 
• looks beautiful - a miniature RC30 
• handles like a dream...suspension hard, steering light, flicks wonderfully
• got my knee down for the first time the day after I bought it
• survived a  crash with minor damage that would have completely mangled the Ducati....
• tickover adjustable from a knob on the fairing, but you don't need to adjust it because it is a Honda....

Bad points: 

• "Only" a 400" - I've never found this to be a problem in practice
• not brilliant for commuting or touring, but then you wouldn't ride an out and out racer like this for commuting... 
• seat gets hot in summer because rear pots are under the seat
• pillion seat is a joke, but then who wants to race two-up?
• reserve tap hard to get at and impossible to switch over to reserve when on the bike, let alone while moving!

VFR400R Number 1- On my driveway in 1998	VFR400R Number 2 - with me on board at Cadwell Park, June 2000
Steve and VFR400 Number 2	And again