Found an RVF400 - need advice

[fletch90]

Hi everyone,

Looking at buying an RVF400 and just don't want to make a huge mistake.

[url]http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gladston ... 981120/url]

The bike in the link is what i'm looking at. I understand carby problems seem to be quite common so if this is an easy fix I don't mind pulling the trigger on this as long as everything else checks out and it is JUST a carb/battery issue. Would also replace the regulator/rectifier as they seem to be rather crap from what I have read.

Don't mind spending a bit of money/time on a project but if it has major issues, I will steer clear of it.

If anyone has any thoughts on whether or not this seems dodgy or not that will be great.

Cheers!

[Neosophist]

Honestly I think thats a big mistake.

Why?

1. "Fastest learner approved motorcycle"

Doesn't sound like the owner has given it a good life

2. "Bike has stopped working to a carbie over-flooding"

Carbs don't just over-flood for no reason on these bikes... if the statement is true then the float needle has busted and requires replacement, probably along with the plugs, if the owner already knows the problem why not fix it themselves?

3. " you kno bikes this is a bargain for you and could make $$$$ if you get it going and reselling it"

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is, if its that easy to make $$$$ why not repair it themselves, as they have already identified the problem if you believe their other stuff.

Not withstanding the respray and other bodges on it.

You have to remember these bikes are 25 years old now, most have had hard lives, espeically in Aus where they can be used as a learner bikes, even the most well cared for bike will probably need a lot doing to it to get it back on form / upto spec.

Its not like the mid 90s where due to cheap yen and a flood of them you could get these bikes for cheap and there stuff was in good nick, nowadays even cheap chinese / korean clone bikes proabbly outperform an uncared for vfr/rvf.

Get the best you can buy and if you plan on keeping it for any length of time expect to spend what you paid again keeping it in good form and on the road.

There not a bad bike at all but by no means cheap and adds like this seldom let you mae $$$$$ just buy knowing bikes, if it were that easy somebody else would have already bought it.

[CRM]

now i appreciate carbie rhymes with barbie and this is a downunder local thing, but i agree i think i would hold out for a better one

[fletch90]

Thanks for the honest replies guys. Really appreciate it. I think I might wait for a better one to come up. It does sound a bit sus that he hasn't fixed the issues himself if it's such an easy fix.

Thanks again!

[Ben_OB1]

Hi everyone,
Looking at buying an RVF400 and just don't want to make a huge mistake.
Cheers!

Hi Fletch,

If you're looking for a nice RVF, my recommendation is be prepared to travel to Melbourne (where the "grey" importer Sumoto is located) as RVFs are quite abundant down there. Perhaps line up a number of possibles and make a weekend of it. There are many motorcycle movers in Oz who could transport the bike to Qld for you.

I bought my RVF on *cough* EBAY from a mature-age fella in Melbourne (I'm in Adelaide) and it was refreshingly un-tampered with and original (til I got my hands on it). Even my bike which was in excellent condition but far from mint, had a few bodges due to the nature of it being a grey import and a number of owners in only a few years.

I took the family on a weekend roadtrip to Melbourne to collect the bike, with the trailer on the back of the old wagon.

There are not many original RVFs in Adelaide...

PS- A door fell on my bike last weekend and cracked the perfect nosecone fairing... repairable but will never be the same again

PPS- If you find an OEM nosecone fairing in your search, please flick me a line as I'd love to replace with an undamaged part!

Ben.

[fletch90]

Hi Ben,

I'm fine with traveling to melbourbe for the right bike.

I haven't really looked on eBay due to the amount of dodgy sellers these days. But sounds like you got yourself a genuine one!

I have heard of sumoto...and their reputation. I would prefer the ordinal fairings if possible.

Sorry to hear what happened! If I see a nose cone fairing I will definately let you know!

Cheers mate