If grey-market Japanese two-strokes are your thing, head on over to check out this eBay listing for a clean 1994 Honda NSR250 SP in the classic Rothmans livery. It looks like the seller is unloading his entire collection that includes two more MC28s with different liveries and a pair of Suzuki RGV250s, both with Lucky Strike graphics. All the auctions are set to end on Monday afternoon, so move fast if any pique your interest.
Of course, the Rothmans NSR250 SP is arguably the most desirable of the collection. As always, feel free to set about arguing about that in the comments section. It was never officially imported to the US as its dirty, dirty two-stroke engine couldn’t meet emissions standards here. It’s also possible that a premium sportbike displacing only 250cc would have been a hard sell here in the US, where taxes didn’t penalize big-bore bikes as they did in Europe and Japan, and displacement was king.
Born out of the fiercely competitive 250cc two-stroke class, the original NSR250R MC16 was introduced in 1987 and set the template later models would follow, with a 249cc 90° v-twin that featured an RC powervalve, PGM electronic ignition, and a six-speed gearbox, suspended in an aluminum beam frame. The final MC28 version of the bike seen here was first sold in 1993 and added a distinctive ELF-designed Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm and advanced PGM-IV electronic ignition system to the mix. It was a heady mix of sophisticated components and one of the most cutting-edge sportbikes available at the time.
From the original eBay listing: 1994 Honda NSR250 SP Rothmans for Sale
I bought three bikes. All three livery designs. I had the set. All original. Three (3) Honda NSR250SP Rothmans MC28, Repsol MC28, HRC MC28. I purchased the three together from a Mid-Western collector.
Not much to say. Have only started these – bikes haven’t ridden; not even for a blast down the street.
Standard stuff. bottom of front forks notorious for having paint scaling.
The bike needs a detailing/cleaning and some love.
The raw beauty of this bike is unparalleled.
Note: the Rothmans has a scratch along the right side tail section.
Selling the lot due to unexpected health issues. sorry this lacks a professional presentation. I unfortunately don’t have the energy or time. I have a lot of other stuff that needs selling also.
Please look at all my feedback. it says a lot about who I am and the quality of my stuff.
Please be patient, Gonna try and keep up with you guys and the questions. gonna do my best.
Need prompt pickup after sale. I am aware of the difficulties involved with shipping bikes.
Bank money transfer desired.
There are just about 24 hours left on the auction at this time, and no takers at the $16,500 starting bid and a Buy It Now price of $24,500. This example looks very clean, with just a few minor cosmetic defects, including a bad scuff along the right side of the tail section and the finish issues on the fork lowers.
-tad
It’s only overpriced by about 10k sure glad I got mine when I did didn’t pay near that.
100% accurate SJ!
You can pay $31K for such an example in Japan. A clean MC28 SP has really gone up in price. Let me know where you can buy one for $12K and I’ll give you a commission after I buy it.
I had to check and make sure it wasn’t my ex; but mine had JHA pipes. I still have one of the cards for it. This is a gorgeous machine, but if I was going to ride a 250 make mine the TZR or RGV. The NSR is a lot more fragile.
Honestly, these are way over priced. The market pulled back significantly. Due to current economic situation.
Out of all my 250’s I own my nsr250 is my least favorite. It’s also required the most attention. Honda fan boys are why the prices are driven up. My rgv has been way more reliable same with my tzr. The nsr center crank seal is a real weak point and a crap design.
Plus the shit oil pump seal that cab fall out of place and dump the oil into the bottom end. I had to rebuild it again last year after the oem crankshaft center seal failed and ruined the top end. Only had 3000 miles on. From a full rebuild last time.
It’s not if it fails its when it fails. I had to have the crankshaft rebuilt by some special shop in Japan that offers an upgraded center seal. The stupid oem integrated seal they use on the bearing race blows.
Some guy in Japan sells a oil pump fix. So I get back together it’s running great. Then 45 mins run time later it loses spark. So I chase my tail trying to figure it out. Turns out it was the common cdi box burn out. Had to send it out to be refurbished.
I replaced the coils spark plug caps and bought a new wiring harness from the guy in Japan making them. Had to replace the regulator rectifier on it twice over the years. Which is a common 90’s Honda thing. I got to much money wrapped up in it now I’ll never get back outta it. So I just gonna keep it.
Then there’s the power band which is the most boring one of my 250’s. Bike is totally unrestricted. It has a broad power band buy it lacks any real hit. Like you’d want from a 2 stroke stroke.
I like my tzr 3xv’s more my spr is lighter and has the better power band. My spr is the true race bike with lights. It actually has the same center cases as the tz 250 and uses the tz250’s robust crankshaft. You can even put the tz250 top end parts on it if desired.
Even my rgv has the better more fun power band. My friend had one of those nsr150sp’s for awhile and it also had the same style power band as my nsr. Broad power but it lacked any real hit just kinda blended into each other.
I’m not saying it’s slower than the others it’s just not as exciting. It also has the worst kick starter setup. It’s up high with a short throw kick threw which sometimes makes kicking it over kinda awkward difficult. It feels almost like an after thought.
Gladly trade it for another tzr or rgv or kr1s.
Always love the insight from folks that have actually owned these. My favorite two-stroke sportbike is the TZR150 3MA, but that’s based on its general weirdness and looks. Somehow I get the feeling parts would be an issue…
And no mention if this bike is unrestricted. On the MC28, that is a BIG deal. Unless SJ is your buddy and willing to sell you his spare card (as if they grow on trees). I specifically bought my prior gen model just because it was the only practical one you can derestrict.
SJ,
I appreciate your comments. My 21 also has no spark. I gave up on the basic culprits after replacements (coils and plugs). Mine would cut out on a specific corner on track. Last time through, a couple years ago, it never recovered. It was a right corner over a notable elevation change. I was thinking its a bad tipover sensor. May be the ecu after you got me thinking… Not an easy diagnosis when spares are non existant…
Steve at speedwerks went through my engine so I hope my seals aren’t bad. (3 years on them but only ridden it 3x. (Because it doesn’t run…)
If anyone wants to look at the used nsr market. Hop over to yahoo japan. Google chrome with language translation turned on is your friend…
Michael
You have a couple options now for cdi’s check out zeeltronic. That’s one of the more popular options now if your cdi dies on these 2 strokes. I didn’t go Zeel on mine because he told me the one thing it doesn’t do is activate the oil pump electronic solenoid. Yes the mc21 has it. It opens the oil pump up for more flow at higher rpms. Only a issue if you want the oil pump for street use.
Other option is the guy in greece who I used aka 2 stroke racing lab Google it. No charge until he can inspect it first. Was like $180. Will also unrestrict the cdi. If you haven’t done the wire splice yet for derestricted power.
3rd some Chinese reproduction cdi on yahoo now but it’s like 700. You can get a zeel for like 400 and it’s programmable. Negative you have to do your own connections to the wiring harness.
But the guy under dmr-japan.co.jp has the connectors. Check out his site lots of cool nsr250 stuff. Ships outside of Japan direct.
Tad these bikes all have there issues with finding parts. The 3ma isn’t that bad if you know where to look. But the easiest ones are rz350 / 250 first gen tzr 250 2ma/1kt and rgv/rs250. These bikes were sold outside of Japan and in Europe UK aus. Lots more new and even reproduction parts for them now. Athena just came out with repro cylinders for the rgv/rs250.
How does one see his other auctions? On eBay the seller does not appear to be selling anything else. Am I missing something?
“It looks like the seller is unloading his entire collection that includes two more MC28s with different liveries and a pair of Suzuki RGV250s, both with Lucky Strike graphics. All the auctions are set to end on Monday afternoon, so move fast if any pique your interest.”
Can you slap Honda RS250 parts on these anyway? I had my 3XV TZR rebuilt with TZ bits, as I also had a 93 TZ at the time…
Nope you can’t just put honda rs250 stuff on them as easily as the last gen tzr with the tz stuff. To many things different between the Honda bikes. Unless you can find some of the really rare F3 nsr track spec parts bout closest thing to nsr / rs parts.
Yes, comparing the rs250 to an nsr250, just look at what side of the engine the drive sprocket is on… a fundamental difference.
Thanks for the wealth of info SJ!My 21 is derestricted with the wire splice and I have it as track-only running premix. No oilpump. Zeeltronic sounds like a good fit.
[…] just a sucker for shiny paint… Interestingly, this Γappears to be from the same collection as the Honda NSR250R Rothmans Replica we posted a couple weeks back. Bidding is up to around $10,000 with very little time left on the […]