In the hardcore world of RSBFS, two strokes rule and four strokes drool (oil). The simple reason is power to weight: Take this 1990 NSR250R as an example: a 250cc v-twin producing approximately 45 HP in Japanese restricted configuration, has only only 290 lbs of bike to move. Similar four strokes have 10-15 less HP…
In the mid-1990s when Ducati was dominating World Superbike racing and the all-important bedroom-wall-fantasy-poster competition, it seemed like everybody wanted to get into the v-twin market and “beat Ducati at its own game.” It shouldn’t have been that hard, right? I mean, Ducati made fast bikes, but part of why they were so successful in…
The Honda NSR150 SP is an interesting bike. A solid step above the sub-250cc scooters one might see in major Asian metro areas, the SP provides the bits and pieces to make this a steed worthy of the Repsol livery: single sided swingarm, perimeter aluminum frame, cast wheels, liquid cooling, power valve, and dual-piston front…
There was a time when the alphanumeric naming of a motor vehicle actually meant something, a time when a BMW 535 was obviously a 5-Series car sporting a 3.5 liter inline six, or when you could tell just from the name that a Ferrari 360 Modena was powered by a 3.6 liter version of their…
The 400cc class of bikes is a special one. In the 1980s and 1990s these sub-middleweights provided a rare mix of compact geometry, light weight and just enough horsepower (if there is such a thing). The resulting motorcycles were outstanding rider machines, race-worthy platforms and lusted after by world markets. The US was privy to…
There is no doubt that RSBFS show the love for the big RZ. One of the most popular bikes searched for on the site, the Yamaha RZ500 combines race-boy naughty looks with a twin-crank V4 two-stroke, enough pipes sticking out the back to warn off possible tailgaters, and a GP-inspired 16″ front wheel to reduce…
In many ways, sitting in the plush, corporate headquarters of RSBFS is a dream job; hours spent searching for the best rare sport bike classifieds every day. On the other hand, it is a bit like hell; staring all day at bikes I would like to own if only the garage were larger and the…
Imagine the scene in Honda dealerships back in 1982: Buck Rogers – your bike is ready. One can only imagine what the buying public thought of a futuristic, turbocharged rocket ship that offered liter-bike power in a 500cc format. Unfortunately, the reaction from the general public was not to immediately rip open their wallets and…
