Maybe you’re thinking, “That doesn’t look like any paint job I saw for a production Honda.” And you’d be right, but unless you had a factory ride, the Honda RS250 didn’t have any paint: they came with simple, bare white fairings, ready for any sponsor logos or graphics the team might want. The RS250 was intended as an over-the-counter, production 250GP weapon for purchase by privateer teams: factory teams got the slightly more high-zoot RS250RW and NSR250.
Powered by a liquid-cooled, two-stroke v-twin, the original bikes had a 90° v-angle, although this was changed in 1993 to a narrower 75° twin, likely for better packaging, as the 75° engine will be shorter front to back and allow it to be pushed further forward in the frame for better weight distribution and a longer swingarm. These were capable of over 90hp when properly tuned, and weigh as much as some of our readers: about 223lbs dry.
There’s very little information or history mentioned in the listing, although as it’s a race bike through-and-through, I’d expect the seller knows any prospective buyers have some idea of the life this bike has likely led, although some race history would be nice.
From the original eBay listing: 1998 Honda RS250 for Sale
1998 Honda RS250 Factory GP Race bike, Bike is in excellent condition, Carbon Fiber bodywork, only 3 heat cycles in engine rebuild. Very rare factory
Keep in mind: while all of the era’s race and race-rep bikes appear to have very similar specification, this is the real-deal, a small-displacement race bike. Parts will likely not be cheap, and these are reputed to be harder to set up and maintain than seemingly comparable bikes from Suzuki, Yamaha, or Aprilia.
This is a tool for going fast, not a collectible to be pampered, but if you know what you’re doing, this looks to be a very tasty indeed. With bidding up to $5,100 and the Reserve Not Met, I’m curious to see what this will go for.
-tad
All two stroke listings should include a video with sound and NO music sound track.
Great bikes and more fun than a barrel of monkeys to ride/race. Although this one looks clean, spares and a detailed history are of utmost importance on these. Good luck!
I love these GP bikes- pure racing spirit. First NX5 was build like exact replica of Cadalora´s 91 NSR250- so this bike is closest to real GP bikes.
In Europe these bikes are regullary atacking $10,000 and more depending on spare parts.
Ted: yes, if you bought new RS125/250 it was in white cowling. But every year model of RS125/250 from 1986 has its own HRC colours, which you can find in HRC brochures – very rare brochures. Just only in first brochures till 90 there were bikes in white cowling on the pictures.
Seller updated info: ex-Erion bike.
I have the brochures for the early and later bikes. They had paint jobs, but always said that they came in white only. I had bought the HRC painted 125 bodywork as it was sold to me from someone that bought it from HRC in Thousand Oaks. They got it from Honda HRC Japan.
Should note that there are no cranks for these bikes. Also, I don’t know of anyone building them as of yet. I happen to own an AC28 TSR250 kitted bike, but am lucky to have a few cranks set aside. That said, they are only good for about 1200 miles each and we can only hope that someone will have parts to rebuild these someday.
Joel
Crankshafts for 250 Grand Prix bikes were built to a VERY high standard with VERY high quility materials.These bikes cannot be compared in any way to your RGV or RG500 road stinker.
To replicate crankshafts is not commercially viable,even into the future.There was one company who used to make them for the late model TZ250’s,but they were $5,000.That company still exists,mainly making two-stroke cylinder heads,but they no longer make the crankshafts.
It take some time and money, but you can still find cranks and other parts for sale. Honda writes you should replace crank every 1200 miles, but I know cases with 2500 and more miles on cranks, depends on use.
Hey, guys, do you have working “north american two stroke forum” ? It looks like some problem with webpage.
Joel: TSR250- tasty rarity……
What oldest HRC brochure do you have?
If someone from here buys this and needs some spares, including a crank, let me know. I have a good size RS 250 spares kit.
I think that my oldest brochure is the one with the RC45 kit, but not sure, I would have to look. It was perhaps 2000. The newer one is with the RC51 kit and is post 2001.
Joel
I spent 10yrs of my life working on these and TZ250’s. Cranks can be rebuilt. Pistons, rings, rods and gearbox spares are what you need. This one looks good with quite a few kit parts installed. I am curious as to what cylinders and heads its wearing. Could be some good stuff!
I see a det counter (useless if ur running leaded setup), some pipes … what kit parts do u see?