Like a lot of riders here in the states, my introduction to sportbikes began with bikes above 500cc. But thanks in no small part to RSBFS I am getting more into the 400cc, 250cc and even 125cc range and have even convinced my girl to allow me to add a two stroker to my little collection when I find one I really like.
This particular auction is for a collection of smaller displacement Hondas from the late 80’s, including several in the desirable Rothmans livery.
3 Bike Collection for sale on eBay: Honda 125R, 250R, 400R
The 1st bike is a truly rare 1987 Honda NS125r. While the color scheme may look custom, I emailed the seller and they stated that the Adriatico bodywork was offered on the 125R in Japan and Italy. The Adriatico NSR125 also comes equipped with twin front discs instead of the standard single disc for the NS125 and the bike looks to be in excellent condition. The seller does indicate it has non-stock painted wheels but is otherwise pristine and even has the factory warning stickers still on the bike.
The 2nd bike is a 1986 NS250r with almost 12,000 kilometers on it (about 7300 miles) and comes with the rare Rothmans bodywork which the seller indicates is recently redone. I have been researching these bikes for possible additional to my personal collection and from what I have learned its basically a track bike that can be ridden on the street but it still behaves like a track bike and doesn’t really start going until you get to around 8000 rpm. But hey, the bike looks great and would make that ideal two stroke sound.
MG
All crappy bikes! Esp the NS400R. Save your collection money for the later model NSR250. The NS400R reminds me of a slow 250, is awful. Get a RG400, KR-1S, RG500, RZ500 etc
Well, I don’t know about the other two, but I have ridden an NS400R that was offered to me and have no desire to add one to my collection. Very disappointing riding experience: no low end, no mid range, just a little top end zing. Kind of quick, but certainly not what you’d call fast. The riding position, brakes, and suspension felt almost exactly the same as a ’84-’86 500 Interceptor, which makes sense. It sure is pretty, though.
so are you saying I should get this instead?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Other-1991-rothmans-edition-nsr-250-r-2-stroke-survivor-/221555604835?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3395be3d63&item=221555604835&pt=US_motorcycles
Seller should be less douchey and sell them seperate they’d move a lot faster, as a set they will sit for a while
Why all the hate for the NS400? Sounds like y’all are either too portly for a light weight 2-stroke or more suited to diesels with valves.
Rider weight has absolutely nothing to do with the poor powerband and lack of power NS400Rs have. As cool as it appears, they’re quite lame to ride, sadly. That’s the honest reality of this model. Sounds like y’all are stuck with one yourself.
No – the honest reality is it sounds like you don’t know diddly squat about the reality surrounding these 2 strokes in market context of the mid 1980’s. Having grown up around these bikes – not as grey imports but actual licensed street models the NS400 gave up power but in all reality the light weight made the NS400 as quick as the RZ500 and the RG500. My early motorcycle life included an RZ350, RG250 Gamma, CBR400RR, VFR400R and a short stint with a KR1S before graduating to bigger 4 stroke iron.
The RZ350YPVS was a pathetic handing piece of crap – felt like the frame had a hinge behind the tank and the handle bar mounted clocks and fairing made the steering feel like a wheel barrow with a wobbly wheel – the RG250 was like a scalpel compared to the RZ. Relative grunt of the NC30 made it effortless to ride fast – but the top end rush of the NC23 made the CBR my canyon weapon of choice. The KR1S was just fast with a capital F.. but again it was 4 years newer than the rest. I had slowed down a lot by then and traded it for a 2 year old FJ1100.
On the street or raced the NS400 was able to hold its own in class. It is kind of obvious that a V4 or square 4 499cc engine will produce more power than a 384cc V3… but ditch the 2 lower ATAC’s and install a set of Jolly Motos and you have a very competent light weight. I do not ever recall the NS400 pilots being left in the dust – in fact they where always up front carving up the corners with ease. The big Gamma and the RZ500 had the straight line punch but never really lead through the bends – if I had the budget I would have loved one of those new fangled FZ750’s – all the fast street nutters where riding those or the new for 1986 GSX-R750 🙂
And yes – I am in fact ‘stuck’ with both NS400 and RZ500 as well as a 3MA – and hope to be stuck with them for many years to come.
That 91 Rothsman is a much better bike, I like that one on ebay, the NS250R which are thrown away in Japan coz you cant sell them!
What are you smoking RC45? No way the NS400R is as fast as the RG500, RG400, RZ500 or the KR-1S, no way! I have owned all these bikes for years! Its a good riding bike but not fast at all!!! I would compare its performance to the NS250R, KR250-A, RG250. I never heard anyone say the NS400R was not a disappointment, unless of course they are a diesel lover!
I am not portly either! My RG500 is scary fast, also the RZ350 is a much better bike in every class compared to the NS400R.
Not stock for stock. To try compare a stock 1984/5/6 RZ350 YPVS to the handling of the NS400 is a joke. The RZ350 had some more grunt but was a dog handling wise. I know – I had one new off the show room floor. There is a lot more to riding than bare knuckle wheelies down the road. Stopping and turning is an essential part. And stock the RZ350 could not stop or turn worth a damn. It is a pig heavy steel framed dinosaur compared to the NS400.
The rosy coloured nostalgia of middle aged men is known to be inaccurate in Biblical proportions.
The rosy colored nostalgia of middle aged men is known to be inaccurate in Biblical proportions? I am happy you admit your short comings! Better man than me! Your a honda guy (RC45!!!) so you are into slow and heavy! Only a Honda guy would say something positive about the NS400R
I have more Yamahas in my stable than Hondas – TZ250 + TZR250 + 2 x RZ500 + 2 x NS400 currently.
And I am telling you this as fact – I grew up with the RZ350/NS400/RZ500/RG250/KR1/RG500’s on the street as licensed bikes.
In the day on the street the NS400 folks did not give up anything to other than top speed to the other 2 strokes – in the mountains and on the track the NS400 did not get ‘left in the dust’ as folks who waxed lyrical about these bikes for 20 years THEN bought them as long modded improved rebuilds would have people believe.
We where the 18 to 20 year old folks riding these bikes new and a year or 2 old as cheap used bikes in the mid to late 1980’s. Swinging a leg over a 30 year old clapped out NS400 is not the be all and end of evaluations – neither is comparing them to the performance of big bore tuned to max RZ500’s and RG500’s.
So again – simple question – why all the hate for the NS400? Is it because it takes finesse and skill to ride it fast??? 🙂
I do not hate the NS400! Just never liked it, heard the same from others who ride these classic 2 strokes. You make many assumptions with out any knowledge of the facts. I could not tell you the “time of day” without an argument! Look at what the others said! My last statement on the matter.
I have based my statements in fact and real life experience – BTW, the ‘time of day’ is the time of day, no debate needed. And of course if enough people spew tripe it must be true. Sure – *rolling eyes*.
Here are is a fact to chew on – in mid and late 1980s not a single NS400 rider we rode with ever ‘regretted that they had a slow bike’ to ride.
So to anyone looking at this or other NS400’s for sale, go in eyes wide open – it is a light weight mid power 30 year old (1985) street tuned 2 stroke – they are fun and rewarding to ride when in pristine riding and mechanical condition. Don’t let the haters scare you off. 🙂
I think its the same guy selling the NC30