Honda
RS250
Honda's very
public failure to secure results with the radical
four stroke NR500 was to have a profound affect
on both the companies racing and road bike programmes.
The realisation that a two-stroke was needed
to compete at the highest level prompted the
development of the NS500 triple, the success
of which resulted in the development and sale
of two stroke road bikes, something that had
been inconceivable for the four stroke orientated
firm during the seventies. By 1983 Honda were
marketing the three cylinder MVX250 in Japan,
that would later evolve into the NS400, based
heavily on the successful Grand Prix triple.A
twin cylinder 250cc two stroke became available
during 1984, typed the NS250 and was joined
by an over the counter racing version coded
the RS250R. Although there were immense benefits
to racing a machine so clearly linked to the
road going product the restrictions inherent
in converting the road bike into a racer had
been underestimated, and the new 250 proved
a costly failure both for the factory and those
that bought it.
Realising their
mistake the R and D department reacted with
great speed, introducing a completely redesigned
RS250 for the 1985 season, prototypes of which
were run at the British Grand Prix.
Although the
new machine retained the 90 degree vee twin
configuration of the previous model, the engine
was now a pure racing unit. The crankcases had
been slimmed and the vertical cylinder was turned
through 180 degrees, benefiting, along with
its partner, from revised porting and ATAC exhausts.
The unit was housed in a new twin spar aluminium
frame equipped with rising rate rear suspension
and "Comstar" wheels. When Freymond
tested the new bike he found that it revved
to 12,500 rpm compared to the previous models
11,200 rpm and was significantly improved in
all respects when compared to the 1984 machine.
Results during 1985 vindicated the new machine
with consistent points finishes at Grand Prix
level, Massimo Matteoni won the European Championship
and the great Joey Dunlop took wins at both
the TT and Ulster Grand Prix.
This matching
numbers example, which retains the original
"Comstar" wheels, many having had
them replaced by proprietary alloys, has been
the subject of a full restoration. The vendor
is fortunate in owning a genuine ex Dunlop 1985
RS250 and opted to restore this example as an
exact replica of the Dunlop bike from which,
according to the vendor, it is "hardly
distinguishable".
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