| Bike |
Image |
Description |
| 1984 Honda NS250R |
 |
The NS250R MC11 was introduced in 1985
and was the leading edge design destined
to be the ultimate configuration for a twin
cylinder 2-stroke motorcycle. It sported
both an aluminium frame and swingarm, unheard
of on a road-bike in it's day, along with
Honda's trendy Astralight wheels. The engine
for the NS was closely based on the same
design as the factory works machines, again
Honda used the ATAC system similar to the
MVX, but had now introduced a nickel-silicone
carbide (Nikasil) coating on the cylinders
for reduced friction and greater wear resistance. |
| 1984 Honda NS 250R |
 |
The key to understanding the NS250R's
behavior can be found in Honda's brief history
with the 250cc two-stroke streetbike class
so hotly contested in Japan. Honda first
entered the market two years ago with the
MVX250, a V-Three patterned loosely on Freddie
Spencer's 500cc GP racer. The MVX was pleasantly
torquey for a 250, but not as fast as the
competition. Nor did it sell as well. So
Honda reasoned that if a torquey, civilized,
not-very-fast two-stroke wouldn't sell,
the answer was to build the opposite- the
NS250R. |
| 1985 Honda NS 250R Naked |
 |
- Liquid cooled, 90°V-twin cylinder,
two stroke
- 144kg
- 6 speed
- 45bhp @ 8500rpm
|
| 1985 Honda NS250R MC11 |
 |
The NS250R's design and styling was taken
directly from the works RS250R's of that
era, a bike that was cleaning up in GP's
and eventually allowed Freddie Spencer to
win both the 250 and 500 World GP titles
in the same season! |
| 1985 Honda NS 250R Rothmans Rep |
 |
The NS250R is a flawed gem. On a racetrack
or the right road, it sparkles; but on the
average street, it has all the glitter of
a fouled sparkplug. |
| 1987 Honda NSR 250R |
 |
The NSR 250 debuted on October 1st 1986
as a 1987 model in Japan for 559,000 Japanese
Yen, dubbed the MC16 by the factory. It
replaced the older NS 250 R that was getting
out dated. Honda was winning with it's NSR
racers so Honda released a replica version
for the street. It was almost a complete
replica of the factory racers. It was lightweight
and quick. The engine was basically a NSR500
racer engine cut in half. The first year
NSR250's were the only 250 NSR's to have
three spoke wheels. Available colors were
fighting red and white at first until the
release of the Terra colors in blue and
white that went on sale in March of 1987.
It was an amazing machine in it's day with
nimble handling and awesome acceleration |
| 1988 Honda NSR250 |
 |
Japanese import. |
| 1988 Honda NSR250R |
 |
|
| 1988 Honda NSR250R |
 |
In 1988 the NSR was reworked with new
bodywork and those familiar twin round brake
lights, new electrical system , revised
suspension , larger brakes, six spoke wheels
with larger rubber and an even more peakier
engine. The price had increased by 20,000
Yen to 579,000 Yen and it was renamed the
MC18 by the factory. Computer controlled
carburetors known as PGM II were introduced
for the first time. (Many people say that
1988 was the best year for all the NSR's
engines 50's, 80's and the 250's). The colors
were the same as the MC16 NSR, fighting
red/white and Terra blue/white. |
| 1988 Honda NSR250 |
 |
|
| 1988 Honda NSR 250R-SP Rothmans Rep |
 |
- Liquid cooled, 90° V-twin, 2-stroke
- 126kg
- 6 speed
- 45bhp @ 9500rpm
|
| 1990-92 Honda NSR 250SP |
 |
. In 1991 Honda released a new model of
the NSR. It was called the SE and now there
were three types of models for sale. The
standard model was plainly called the 250R
model. It was available in only black with
grey and silver accents. The R type was
priced at 620,000 Yen and did not include
the extra options as the SE and SP models.
It was a lower cost alternative to the more
expensive models and some people didn't
care for the noisy chatter of the dry clutch.
This was the first year for the SE (Super
Edition) model. It was available in only
one color of fighting red/white with blue
and green distinguishing it from the regular
R type model. The SE was priced higher at
660,000 Yen. The SE was made available because
of the high price and scarceness of the
SP |
| 1989 Honda NSR 250R |
 |
The 1989 NSR model went on sale February
10, 1989 for 608,000 Yen. The NSR was again
updated but still classified a MC18 in Japan.
Version 2 or the R5K for the standard R
type NSR's, This time the all new MC18 got
new bodywork, higher set silencers, new
rear suspension, revised PGM II intake system,
wider radial tires and for the third straight
year saw the same fighting red and white
colors, along with Terra blue colors and
a slight variation with the red accented
seat cowl. New colors in Black and gun metal
grey debuted as well. Due to a large number
of traffic accidents involving motorcycles.
All NSR250's were speed restricted from
1989. The option of the SP with lighter
magnesium wheels, newly introduced dry clutch
and all new colors was available for the
price of 689,000 Yen. |
| 1991 Honda NSR 250R |
 |
|
| 1992-93 Honda NSR 250SE |
 |
|
| 1992 Honda NSR 250SP Rothmans Rep |
 |
The other colors for the SE were in black
and fighting red with silver accents and
of course the green marked seat cowl. SE
NSR's were marked differently than standard
NSR's and were unchanged in price from the
previous year SE models of 660,000 Yen.
Honda brought back the Rothmans colored
NSR SP models for 1992 with all the extras
as the previous year SP. These second generation
Rothmans colored NSR's were limited to a
production run of 1,500 units and were priced
at 770,000 Yen. These SP bikes hold there
value very well due to the limited number
|
| 1992 Honda NSR 250R |
 |
The 1992 NSR there were no major changes
but there were all new colors. The standard
R type was still priced at 620,000 Yen and
the new colors were Ross white and real
blue with orange accents and the green markings
on the seat cowl that was becoming famous
with NSR's. The SE was still part of the
1992 lineup and this time two different
colors were available in fighting red and
Ross white with blue accents and the green
marked seat cowl. |
| 1994 Honda NSR 250R |
 |
The 1994 NSR MC28 model NSR went on sale
in Japan as a 1994 model. It was completely
different than previous models and changed
peoples thinking about two stroke technology.
The new Proarm NSR's as they became known
in Japan were the ultimate 250 bike for
the street. They had PGM IV technology which
allowed more accurate control of the carbs,
smooth operation and perfect driving manners
unlike past two stroke bikes. The all new
Memory card replaced the standard key and
made de-restricting the bikes very difficult. |
| 1994 Honda NSR 250SP Rothmans Rep |
 |
This was to be the last year for Rothmans
colored NSR's ever. Today finding a Rothmans
SP is quite rare and expensive due to there
limited numbers. Honda was changing two
stroke history with these latest fifth generation
model NSR's. They were very expensive but
for the technology they had were reasonably
priced. |
| 1995 Honda NSR 250R-SP |
 |
The 1995 NSR SP changed it's colors to
the HRC tri-colors with carbon fiber like
stickers and it's high grip Michelin tires
to celebrate Mick Doohan's 1994 GP 500 Championship.
There are only a few of these bikes around
as Honda again limited these bikes to a
brief production run of 1,500. Therefore
they hold there value strongly too. In 1996
there were no mechanical changes for the
NSR's only new colors for the new models.
The standard R model was discontinued and
now there were only two types available. |
| 1996 Honda NSR 250R-SP Repsol Rep |
 |
These wonderful Repsol SP bikes were limited
to only 1,000 bikes so getting your hands
on one is probably a good investment if
you can find one for sale. These SP bikes
were priced at 800,000 Yen due to there
pricey and light weight wheels in black.
NSR's were still selling for 1997 and 1998
but they were loosing popularity. The racer
replica boom was coming to an end with younger
people preferring American style cruisers
or cafe racers in Japan. Sales for the NSR's
were down and newly introduced laws in Japan
that restricted current two stroke emissions
led to Honda canceling the NSR for street
sales. Who knows what could have been had
Honda continued with the NSR. One of the
greatest racing bikes in all of history.
|
| 1997 Honda NSR250 SE |
 |
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