Update 12.17.2013: Posted late last month, this one failed to get any bids with an opening of $10,500. It’s back on eBay with a starting bid of $8500. Links updated. -dc
If you still consider America a colony, look away. While they may be a dime a dozen in the U.K. these are still rare birds here in the New World. At first glance this particular NC35 looks very sharp.
1997 Honda RVF400 for sale on eBay
As I mentioned you get the RC45 looks without losing your wallet. You aren’t going to out horsepower anyone but the 400’s were made for the twisties and I think give a similar experience to riding a street, 250cc two stroke.
It has some miles on it with the odometer showing 23,000.
The story on it:
YOU ARE BIDDING ON A RARE HONDA RVF400 COMMONLY CALLED AN NC35 OR BABY RC45. ONE OF HONDA’S CROWN JEWELS OF MOTORCYCLES WITH IT’S 90 DEGREE V4 RACE DERIVED ENGINE AND 250GP SIZE. IT IS IN ALL STOCK CONDITION WITH JUST OVER 23,000 MILES (I’M NOT THE FIRST OWNER. I’VE HAD IT SINCE 2005 AND IT CAME WITH A KPH TO MPH CONVERTER SO I THINK IS ALL MILES). IT INCLUDES OWNER AND SERVICE MANUALS IN JAPANESE ALONG WITH SOME SPARE PARTS (PLUGS,TURN SIGNAL, REAR PASSENGER PEGS AND OTHER SMALL MISC. PARTS. COMES WITH PIT BULL RACE STAND, ONE YEAR OLD LITHIUM BATTERY NEARLY NEW CHAIN AND SPROCKETS AND VERY GOOD CONDITION MICHELIN PILOT TIRES.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN A TENDER LOVED RIDER (NEVER ABUSED- NO WHEELIES, PEG DRAGGING, TRACK DAYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT). IT’S READY TO GO, BUT THERE ARE A FEW MINOR MARKS. THAT I HAVE TRIED TO SHOW IN PICTURES. MINOR STONE NICKS IN FRONT COWL, SMALL SCRATCH IN BLACK BY SEAT, MINOR RUST ON CHROME EXHAUST SHIELD, SLIGHT FOGGING OF PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS, SMALL NICK IN PAINT ON TANK (MOST OF THESE WERE THERE WHEN I BOUGHT IT). THESE ARE ALL VERY MINOR BUT I WANT TO POINT THEM OUT SO EVERYONE IS HAPPY AT THE END OF THE DEAL
That front end still says Suzuka to me.
It’s clean, it’s stock and it’s rare but I have a feeling the price will be an issue. The bidding starts at $10,500. I’m a fan of all the 400’s but the fact is they just don’t command the dollars. On the other hand, nice examples like this don’t appear for sale all that often; decisions, decisions.
Ian
Is this Chinese bodywork? Look above the license plate in that picture–Honda’s don’t have gaps or crooked decals.
stereotypical, another person trying to squeeze more out of the market than it will bear…
I think it is Chinese bodywork. Those gaps are too big and that honda decal does look crooked. For that price, I’d want OEM bodywork, some trick parts and a CA title. I imported my NC35 for a lot less but then I spent a bunch on upgrades. There’s so much cool stuff out there for these.
Very suspicious on the Chinese bodywork. For $10.5 I would expect it to be totally perfect with OEM original bodywork and in good shape.. The higher miles I could live with. I would love to have this bike, just not for $10,500. The most I would pay with this mileage and condition would be about half that, maybe that’s just me.
The price is a bummer…$6500 would be a better starting price.
These bikes fully registered sell for between $4500-6500 here in australia and there are many here for sale and I agree with the other guys, the body work looks a little suspect.
It would be cheaper to buy one in the UK and get it shipped here. This guy is a dreamer.
I’d gladly drop 6 grand on a rare bike like this with the mileage it has…but 10,500 is used 1098 territory…and for a grand less you could snag a clean rc51 WTF be realistic
I like the model, I have seen this for sale before, for a much lower price! maybe the seller bought it, got some cheap bodywork on ebay, now Jed is a millionaire, in his mind!
That sale didn’t go especially well now did it.
lol
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/mcy/4210258179.html
posted on craigslist for the exact same price as the ebay auction…
ill give him points for optimism
I would be surprised if it sold at $8500. The bike is in good condition but with the mileage, $6500-$7000 seems more appropriate.
$5000 tops
I have owned 2 NC 35’s. It is definitely outside the realistic price. Even with aftermarket Chinese body work absolute best would be $6,000 if title could be transferred to Calif.
They are awesome little motos but clearly not half a RC45 by any means
That is undoubtedly stock bodywork. None of the aftermarket stuff has mesh in front of the lower radiator, nor the cross-slats that hold it up top, nor the v-shaped insert. The weird spot in the tail section is also totally typical for stock parts. The t-shaped part that holds the taillights up slips out of its retaining groove in the tail halves. Honda, in typical fashion, over engineered how the pieces fit together and normal flex causes it to fall out.
As someone who has spend hundreds of hours neck deep in an NC35, I think this bike presents extraordinarily well. It makes me sad that I can’t afford to buy this one to be a stock counterpoint to my highly modified CAB//N replica.
Looks like its going to sell… more than I would be willing to pay but congrats to the seller.