Oooh, pretty thing is pretty. And somewhat unique. The RVF400 NC35 is one of those bikes that, if mentioned in the company of sport-riding men of a certain age, causes their eyes to go all funny and voice to crack.
Introduced in 1994 and looking very much like the larger RVF750 RC45, the RVF400 NC35 has become a holy grail of a bike for sport-focused riders and collectors. Powered by a 399cc V4 engine, the 364-pound beauty reportedly delivered a peak power output of 59 horsepower and 26.6 lb-ft of torque. It was officially only ever sold in Japan but any number of models have found their way into Western hands.
The bike is particularly sought after in the United Kingdom, where I live. With the whine of gear-driven camshafts and a unique 360-degree-firing-order exhaust note that it shares with the VFR400 (the predecessor of this bike), the RVF400 is audibly attractive, as well as visually. And it’s reportedly a hoot to ride.
“This is Honda at their very best,” reports a retro review from MCN. “It sounds great, is beautiful to look at and handles like a demon.”
This particular example has been lovingly restored to “mint condition” by its owner. And comes with a handful of spare OEM parts. [Editor’s Note: I love the look of the white wheels but I would say this bike is too modified/aftermarket to be considered mint. The frame shouldn’t be black, it’s unclear how much OEM bodywork is included, it’s missing turn signals/mirrors, and the afteramrket gauge cluster faces are a bit of a shame. Here’s a highly OEM example with low miles that we sold in early 2024 at Iconic as reference. But I’m not saying this is a bad bike – the carbon fiber stuff is cool and if it’s a solid runner then this would be an absolute blast, the BIN price isn’t unreasonable.]
With 9,238 miles on the clock and a Buy It Now price of $11,500 this RVF400 NC35 is for sale in Orlando, Florida here on eBay.