It was powered by a 16-valve double overhead geardriven cam 400 cc 90° V4 four-stroke engine, and was known for its handling capabilities.

The obvious differences between the VFR400R and the RVF400R are that the front forks are of the upside-down type and the rear wheel takes a 17" tyre (the Honda VFR400R took an 18"), there are two air tubes that feed fresh air to the area just in front of the air box (this is not a ram air system, the airbox is unpressurised) and the headlights have changed from twin round headlights to twin 'fox-eye' lights (this is one feature not mirrored from the RVF750R (RC45) as the RC45 features twin large round headlights).

The RVF400R has slightly less peak power than the VFR400R (due to Japanese regulations at the time) but has a stronger midrange.

Like other Hondas with gear-driven camshafts, the RVF's engine makes a loud whine when operating.

The 400 cc VFR and RVF models share a unique exhaust note with their larger siblings—the VFR750R RC30 and the RVF750R RC45—because of their 360° or big-bang firing order.

The frame was totally redesigned, with engine mounting and steering geometry changes.

The NC30 had the swingarm machined to allow a torque arm shaft and featured the cast boss on the frame but the linkage was not fitted and the caliper was instead held in place with a simple torque reaction arm bolted into the swingarm.