From the sweet spot of a great 13-year model run, the NSR250SE is an epic lightweight – though only available here via the grey market. Here’s a recent import with a great rider vibe.
1992 Honda NSR250SE for sale on eBay
Even though the NSR’s resembled the Moto2 machines, developments from the racing dept. were massaged by manufacturing engineers, and very few parts were shared. Still, the basis was excellent, with the carbureted 249cc V-twin, alloy twin spar chassis, and MC21 developments like PGM-III engine controls and the asymmetrical swingarm. The SE shared most of the rarer SP’s better components but saved yen with 17-inch Enkei wheels from the base model.
A little camera shy, this SE does look very good and sounds like it could be pressed into immediate service. The owner does offer a cold-start video – here -. The stainless exhaust is notable, and the windshield would seem like an easy R & R. No word on any de-restriction, but worthwhile comments from the eBay auction:
Super Edition with 9,800 km on the clock. It has the adjustable suspension and the dry clutch, it might need clutch plates replaced soon if your planning to ride it a lot and or hard. Imported directly from Japan about 5 years ago and has a Florida title. Bike starts almost instantly even after sitting a bit, runs well. Everything works in terms of lights, horn, etc. It has a very nice Ethos exhaust system on it as seen in the pics. It has its wear and tear, scuffs, cracks, scratches, etc. from years in Japan, I repaired some areas on some of the fairing and touched up some areas decently, including the fairing mount and shifter linkage. It could be done better but I wanted to keep it original and I don’t mind minor blemishes. The windscreen seems to be original but has plenty of scratches. I put new tires on it when I got it but they were not top of the line, I knew it would spend most of its time sitting.
NSR250’s have been imported in all sorts of conditions and histories, since they were hot sellers domestically, and a low-mile creampuff is a rarity since production ended at the turn of the century. But if the condition of this one checks out, and a reader on the lighter side wants a rider rather than a show bike, it might be worth the premium buy-it-now.
-donn
