Posts tagged as “MC18”

Honda Week Continues: 1988 Honda NSR250R for Sale

Published February 15, 2020 by Tad Diemer

Oh god, I can only imagine the backlash in the comments as our unofficial Honda Week rolls on! Today, we’ve got a clean MC18 version of the NSR250R, Honda’s little two-stroke sportbike that took the fight to the Suzuki Gamma, Yamaha TZR, and Kawasaki KR-1. And like those bikes, it was a technological powerhouse, squeezing maximum power from the tiny engine. Introduced in 1987, these never officially made it to our shores, but are now old enough that they can be legally imported and registered in most states.

The original NSR250R MC16 was followed by the MC18 seen here in 1988. It was powered by a compact, lightweight, crankcase-inducted 249cc 90° v-twin that used Nikasil-plated cylinders for a slightly undersquare 54 x 54.5mm bore and stroke. An early version of Honda’s PGM electronic ignition and their electronic RC or “Revolutionary Controlled” powervalve gave a more flexible spread of power, and a six-speed cassette-style gearbox put power to the 18″ rear wheel that was matched to a 17″ front.

From the original eBay listing: 1988 Honda NSR250R for Sale

For sale is a 1989 Honda NSR 250 two-stroke motorcycle with rare hard to find CA title and registration for street use. The bike was just serviced so it is in running condition with everything working, it has been owned by its last owner for over 18 years. It is in good shape for its age but it is not perfect. If you have any questions feel free to send me a email.

The odometer shows 17,590km, which means the bike has a little less than 11,000 miles on it. No problem if the bike has been properly maintained, and it has that all-important California title that should make a trip to the DMV somewhat less painful if you want to register it here… Probably. The MC18 is less desirable than the later MC21, let alone the MC28, but it’s still an NSR250R and should go for a good bit less: bidding is up to $3,856.00 with several days left on the auction.

-tad

2 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1994 Honda NSR250R MC28 for Sale

Published July 31, 2019 by Tad Diemer

Update 10.26.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

If you’re a fan of four-stroke motorcycles, two-strokes like this Featured Listing Honda NSR250R MC28 can be a little… underwhelming, the first time you see, and especially hear one. I mean, even with aftermarket pipes, they make an oddly weedy sort of zing as they rev, and generally sound like you’ve strapped a couple of leaf-blowers with fueling issues to your bike. But fans know that’s the sound of a pure, simple, and utterly focused bike that emphasizes handling over brute power. And the MC28 was probably the most sophisticated of the breed and, until recently, very hard to get a hold of here in the USA.

The mechanics of a two-stroke are inherently primitive, and not very eco-friendly, since lubricant is mixed with the air and fuel in a constant-loss system that will spew heavy, oil-rich smoke from the tiny exhaust cans. But that simplicity means a two-stroke engine is incredibly light weight, and makes pretty spectacular power for a given displacement. If you come from a four-stroke mentality, a 250cc sportbike sounds very unimpressive, but bikes in the class weighed in at around 300lbs and could make as much as 55hp at the wheel when properly tuned, or even a bit more if you didn’t mind the occasional engine seizure…

The original NSR250R MC16 was introduced in 1987 and laid down the pattern the others would follow, with a 249cc 90° v-twin that featured an RC powervalve, and PGM electronic ignition, and a six-speed gearbox, wrapped by an aluminum beam frame. The final MC28 version of the bike seen here debuted in 1993 and added a slick ELF-designed Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm and trick PGM-IV electronic ignition system to the mix, making it one of the most advanced sportbikes of any displacement available at the time.

Today’s example has incredibly low miles and has had the wheels painted white to match the bodywork for an extra dash of 90s style. It’s currently located in British Columbia, but shouldn’t be too hard to register here in the US, depending on where you live. California residents, as always, should visit their local DMV with a sack of unmarked, non-sequential bills and a bottle of good scotch…

From the Seller: 1994 Honda NSR250R MC28 for Sale

Up for sale is a beautiful 1994 Honda NSR250R MC28 with only 1,000km (622 miles). Bike is almost in mint condition. It had a stress crack on the right upper cowling around the blinker that has been professionally repaired. You can see the repair from the inside of the fairing but the outside looks perfect. All fairings are genuine Honda 100%. Bike is completely stock, like it was on the Japanese dealership floor in 1994. No dents on the tank (the tank itself was professionally cleaned and rust-proofed in 2018), one tiny chip in the paint. Wheels were professionally refurbished in 2018 and converted from red to white, which as a personal preference, was a game changer for how the bike looks. A brand new OEM rubber chain guide is included in the sale. Only a few handling marks not worth mentioning. Bike looks awesome. Just serviced with new fork seals (2017), new battery (2018), new engine fluids (2019), and Dunlop Sportmax Q-14’s installed front and rear in 2017. Runs like the day it was new.

This NSR was purchased from a dealer in USA in 2017 and can easily be returned to the USA market. I’m happy to deliver this bike to Blaine, WA 98230 to provide an easy loading point for any USA-based buyer. Bike is currently titled as a streetbike for road use in BC, and had similar title in USA. Thank You For Looking. Call 250-588-8775 for more photos or questions.

Price: $12,500

Well, the completely stock condition might mean you’re stuck with Japan’s government-mandated 45hp, but the MC28 version is much harder to de-restrict than earlier versions and originally required a hard-to-obtain HRC ignition card to unleash the full power. For collectors, it means that the stock electronics and wiring harness haven’t been monkeyed with, and 45hp is still plenty of fun in a 300lb package, if the new owner plans to ride it. Aside from the minor fairing damage the seller describes and the non-original paint on the wheels, this thing should be immaculate, given the mileage.

-tad

Terra Racing Replica: 1989 Honda NSR250R SP for Sale

Published January 6, 2019 by Tad Diemer
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When you mention “race replicas” the phrase tends to conjure up images of lurid colors and graphics freed from any need for subtlety or adherence to an aesthetically-pleasing color palette. Or is that just me? Maybe just me. Anyway, as much as I personally don’t tend to be a huge fan of them, there are obviously exceptions: I love the Rothmans and Repsol designs, in spite of their unsubtle styles, and MV’s Reparto Corse graphics are pretty cool as well. Of course, the vivid colors and striking graphics obviously serve an important purpose: to help draw attention to what are essentially rolling billboards for the sponsors who pay big money to have their names and logos slapped on these speedy machines. This Honda NSR250R SP Terra Racing Replica is surprisingly subtle, however.

The NSR250R was Honda’s standard bearer in the two-stroke sportbike class that was hotly contested pretty much everywhere but the US, where vast distances, straight roads, emissions legislation, and licensing requirements [or lack thereof] meant that the class is virtually unknown to the mainstream biking community these days. The original MC16 version introduced in 1987 set the tone for the series, with a 90° v-twin, alloy twin-spar frame, RC powervalve, PGM electronic ignition, and giant-killing performance.

Of course, competition from Suzuki, Yamaha, and later Kawasaki were pretty killy as well, and the intense competition saw the bike quickly evolve into the MC18 in 1988 and the MC21 in late 1989, followed by the final MC28 that came along in 1993. This appears to be a late MC18 R6K, the middle-child version of the bike, since it lacks the larger headlight and distinctive “gull-arm” swingarm of the MC21, and the SP denotes the “Sport Production” version that came with a trick dry clutch and Magtek magnesium wheels, along with fully-adjustable suspension.

Power from the 249cc engine would have been rated at 45hp for Japanese-market bikes, but bikes intended for foreign markets and de-restricted versions can make much more. Even in restricted form, the NSR is pretty quick, with less than 320lbs wet to push around, although two-strokes require quite a bit of work to extract the available performance. If you’re interested, top speed is around 130mph, but that’s not the point of the bike. Find a tight racetrack or a set of canyon curves that would tie even a modern literbike in knots, make sure you eat a light breakfast to save a couple pounds, and spend a Sunday morning worshiping at the Temple of Lean.

From the original eBay listing: 1989 Honda NSR250R SP Terra Racing Replica for Sale

Up for your consideration is a 1989 Honda NSR250 SP TERRA RACING. This bike is all original minus the full Jha exhaust system, and stainless steel brake lines. From the factory the bike is equipped with a HRC dry clutch, magnesium wheels, and a fully adjustable suspension. The bike sounds amazing and starts first kick every time. The bike has been fully deregulated and runs absolutely great and is extremely quick despite the cc size. All fluids have recently been serviced as well as two new spark plugs. Please view all images as this is a 30-year-old original bike with minor imperfections.The bike was legally imported into the United States and I do have a clean and clear Arizona title as well as a full set of aftermarket stock plastics still in the bubble wrap. I do encourage all bidders to please come and view the bike in person, or send someone on your behalf to inspect and view the bike. Please don’t hesitate to email for more information as well as pictures videos of the bike running if needed.

Bidding is currently up to $5,900 with the reserve not met and very little time left on the auction. There are some minor chips in the decals and paint, and some aftermarket farkles like the steering damper, brake lines, and the front brake rotor buttons are obviously not original and are of questionable taste, but simple enough to change or remove. Although they are surprising, considering the claimed [and indicated] miles. Regardless, it is a clean-looking bike and worth a look if the reserve is set at a reasonable point.

-tad

One Response.

Very Polished: 1988 Honda NSR250R SP Rothmans Replica for Sale

Published October 8, 2018 by Tad Diemer
15

You are not looking at a Honda NSR250R Rothmans Replica. Sure, it’s shaped like an NSR250R, but if you look a bit closer you’ll notice something a bit… off. Someone’s gone a bit crazy with the metal polishing wheel and, in the process, created something that will surely inflame the comments section. Please try to be polite…

The stock NSR250R frame is welded up from cast and extruded sections, and the main spars are a bit shiny, compared to the cast bits, but they generally don’t have this bike’s mirror-like sheen. And the swingarm and fork lowers don’t generally look like they came from the JC Whitney parts catalog. In the 80s and 90s, polished frames were a bit of a thing, and plenty of Japanese sportbike owners added a personalized touch to their rides by adding a bit of bling. Bikers like shiny things… Unfortunately, collectors are a different breed, and tend to like their bikes very stock.

All NSR250s were powered by Honda’s liquid-cooled two-stroke v-twin, and the lightweight Magtek wheels suggest this is a genuine SP, although I can’t see a dry clutch in the pics. Certainly a real SP or “Sport Production” Rothmans Replica would be at the high-end in terms of desirability for the NSR250, but all that polishing is going to be tough for many two-stroke fans to swallow.

From the original eBay listing: 1988 Honda NSR250R Rothmans Replica for Sale

This Is a 2-stroke race replica v-twin made for the Japanese market and sold in Japan. It runs perfectly, doesn’t leak any fluids, and functions as it should. Starts on 1 or 2 kicks hot or cold. Oil injection works. Leakdown is excellent. All lights and gauges work. Speedo is in km and reads 36072. There is no horn. All fluids have been changed. All wear items,(brake pads, chain, sprockets, tires) are in excellent condition.

It has been heavily optioned/modified with the following:

JHA pipes

Real Balance rearsets

Steel braided brake lines

NHK steering damper

HRC De-restrictor box

Complete wiring, coils, PGM II ECU out of MC21 model

Curved larger radiator from MC21 model

Shorai lightweight battery

Carbon fiber clip-ons

Billet upper triple clamp

Front forks rebuilt with cartridge emulators

Buyer pays shipping, will help with crating and delivery to a local shipper for a reasonable fee.

The seller has a starting bid set to the tune of $9,000 and… I have a bad feeling he’s not going to get many takers: too many unanswered questions. While many purists may balk at all the bolt-on farkles, they don’t bother me. They’re not my taste either, but easy to change: you can either spend a bit of time tracking down factory, or at least period-correct bits. Or just some anodized black bits. But however solid the bike is mechanically, it’s going to take a particular buyer to overlook that frame, since you’re going to have to do some pretty serious work to get it looking stock.

-tad

15 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1989 Honda NSR250R in Canada

Published April 14, 2017 by Mike
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What do you have when you locate a nice NSR250R MC18 in Canada? You have a cool smoker that is *almost* in the States. And while Quebec may seem very far away from your US-based locale, it is quicker and easier to bring a tasty bit of forbidden fruit down from Canada than to import one all the way from Japan or Australia. Think of Canada as the quick check-out lane in the grey market grocery store. (Note: Canada has much to recommend, and offers great value above and beyond grey market bike access). North of the US border you will find many fantastic creations never officially imported into America, all looking for a good home.

1989 Honda NSR250R for sale on eBay

Today’s example is a MC18 variant of the NSR250R. The NSR is the bread and butter of the two stroke grey market world. With a 90 degree vee twin motor, aluminum frame, six speed gearbox, wet clutch (only the SP versions had the dry clutch) and full-race bodywork, the NSR was as close to Grands Prix racer as one could get for the street in the late 1980s. Today it remains one of the most coveted imports in the US, with clean, titled examples fetching bid dollars.

From the seller:
Rare, unique and totally OEM 1989 MC 18 with only 6000 km on the clock. We went to great lengths to save all fairings in order to preserve its originality. Pipes and all mechanical components stock and in really good working order/condition. Plugs changed, air filter cleaned and oiled. Wheels are freshly powder coated. Upper and lower cowlings have been restored and painted. The bike has some age related marks, scratches but no major bruises and no sign of track use of major accident. Brakes and rotors, chain, sprockets and tires are all within specs. The bike is corrosion free. This 250 CC V Twin two stroke is a blast and handles like few other machines. Comes with safety check is delivered in the province of Quebec, shipping available for all of North America.

6,000 KM equates to about 3,728 miles. That seems very low for the given year, but many of these bikes saw only occasional use. The seller notes that the plastics have been reconditioned, and the pictures show a clean and good looking example. No real info on maintenance, engine refresh/rebuild, etc., so again, do your homework. These models had a crank assembly that was not rebuildable – and Honda ran out of spares years ago. More knowledgeable RSBFS readers might be able to share info on replacement alternatives should the service life be a concern. Otherwise, this looks like a solid example of an early NSR250R.

This seller is familiar with shipping bikes over the border, so US buyers might have a bit of assistance there. Legally registering an imported smoker is difficult in many states, so plan first and then act. This bike is being offered for $8,199 or best offer – a tidy sum to be sure. However a quick troll of the RSBFS archives shows this to be a fair offer; most of the recent examples were looking for more, although they were already in the US (although not necessarily titled). Check it out here, and if you decide to hit the grey market import check-out line on this machine, be sure and visit the Comments section and let us know all about it. Good Luck!!

MI

Rothmans Replica: 1988 Honda NSR250R SP for Sale

Published November 11, 2016 by Tad Diemer
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All of the quarter-liter two-stroke sport bikes of the late 80s and early 90s are pretty desirable, but Honda’s v-twin NSR250R is both one of the best-known and most popular. Power was a modest 45hp, but the NSR could be de-restricted for additional power safely, if not always easily, since that factory output was mandated by government decree and not because of any sort of mechanical limitations. This earlier MC18 version of the bike lacks the later MC21’s cool asymmetric “gull arm” swing arm and the MC28’s heavy, but very trick-looking single-sided unit, but I really like the slightly chunkier lines and that solid-looking aluminum box-section swingarm. It could also be that MC18s are a bit more affordable than those later bikes, and much easier to import and register than a late-model MC28…

We’ve featured bikes from this seller in the past, and they appear to be one of the companies that’s recently begun importing these little sportbikes on a regular basis, turning them from “rare sportbikes” into “uncommon sportbikes.” But even though these two-stroke sportbikes aren’t quite the unicorns they once were here in the USA, the NSR250 has a bit of cachet the TZR and RGV seem to lack, and that Rothmans design makes this one of the best-looking race replicas of all time.

From the original eBay listing: 1988 Honda NSR250SP MC18 for Sale

Up for sale is 1988 HONDA NSR250SP MC18 rare 2-stroke sports! The bike is just imported from Japan. Not registered yet in the U.S. Very good running condition sharp response of 2-stroke engine is still well. Can shift all gears very smooth. Brakes are work fine. Electricals are all work but front brake switch is not working. Has an original key. According to frame# this bike is SP version.

Speedometer looks HONDA genuine parts and shows 24600km = about 15400miles, but actual mileage is unknown. Will needs new tires and fork seals. Has HONDA genuine fairings and MAGTECK wheel. But has hairline cracks and chips and scratches and under fairings are looks repaired by FRP and repainted. Have hairline cracks and chips on fairings, so look carefully all pictures and video. Used motorcycle with scratches and wear as 28 ages.

And then, feel free email me for more info on this bike!

More pictures are available for your viewing pleasure here. The seller also includes a video of the bike being started here. It’s not in flawless condition, with some wear and a couple deep scratches on the fairings, so this one might be more of a rider than a display bike. Bidding is up just north of $3,000 with a few days left on the auction and active bidding so far.

-tad

One Response.

Tiny Terror: 1991 Honda NSR250R MC21 for Sale

Published October 7, 2016 by Tad Diemer
6

With a dry weight of under 300lbs and a responsive engine that rewards the skilled rider, Honda’s NSR250R MC21 is especially desirable here in the USA where two-stroke sportbikes died with the Yamaha RZ350 in the mid-1980s. They’ve cropped up pretty regularly recently, but are still difficult to find in good condition, as they were often ridden “enthusiastically” by their owners when new…

At a glance, the MC21 continues the overall style of the earlier MC18 built from ’88-’89, but a closer look reveals that it was a nearly ground-up redesign of the earlier bike, and intended to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the class. The asymmetrical Gull Arm swingarm looks trick, and was intended to clear the bulging expansion chambers and allow maximum clearance for a bike that excelled at cornering. 17″ wheels at the front and rear means modern day riders have decent choice of rubber.

Under the skin, the NSR250R was powered by a a 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin backed up with a six-speed cassette gearbox, and the pair of carburetors used Honda’s electronic PGM-III to maximize performance although the bike was limited from the factory to 45hp, per Japanese government restrictions. As the seller mentions, the actual intended performance is easily found by de-restricting the bike.

From the original eBay listing: 1991 Honda NSR250R MC21 for Sale

The best racer replica in its class! Even in Japan, It is hard to get this condition these days. Rare Japanese domestic model. NSR250 has not exported to any country officially. In 1988 Japanese government restrict power of 250cc motorcycle to 45HP. So Honda made this motorcycle to produce lower rpm torque than MC18 (previous model that I just sold last week). You can de-restrict MC21 easily, then it can output 65 to 70HP.

No title, bill of sale only. If you need title, additional $500 required. I do like this because in some states, it’s easy to register and in California it is hard.

This is used 25 years old motorcycle, so please check photos carefully. No warranty, as is. No return. Full payment in 7 days. cash or wire preferred.

Selling local also, so I may quit auction anytime. local pick up preferred but I can help to ship if the buyer arranged. Like bring to Forward Air terminal or other tracking company’s location in LA.

Bidding is up to just over $1,500 with a couple days left on the auction, but I expect this will end up somewhere well north of that: recent NSR250Rs have gone for between $6,500 and $8,500. The usual issues with titling and registration obviously apply here, but I’m sure there are plenty of enthusiasts out there that have the will and will find a way.

-tad

6 Responses.

De-Restricted Import: 1989 Honda NSR250R MC18 R5K for Sale

Published September 8, 2016 by Tad Diemer
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Many of the coveted bikes in the quarter-liter two-stroke race-replica class were never officially sold outside Japan. They were certainly seen in countries where “parallel-imports” or “grey-market” bikes were commonly sold, but 250cc sportbikes were intended primarily to meet the needs and requirements of that market. And that means buzzy little animals like this Honda NSR250R MC18 were restricted to a mere 45hp when sold new in Japan, and de-restricting them can require knowledge, specialized parts, or both. In the case of the later MC28 that used Honda’s trick Smartcard technology, de-restricting the bike was a major headache, since the digital card held the bike’s ignition map and can’t easily be updated without an official HRC race card, although apparently work-arounds do exist…

Honda’s MC18 NSR250R was powered by a 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin backed up with a six-speed cassette gearbox and featured a more basic, easily-hackable version of Honda’s PGM-II ignition system which, in this case, has already been modified to release somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-60hp, depending on who you ask. The MC18 unfortunately lacks the later model’s asymmetrical “gull-arm” swingarm that allowed the bulging expansion chambers on the right side to tuck up close for maximum cornering clearance, but it is still an iconic machine.

This example looks to be in excellent condition, with plenty of new parts as described in the listing. If you check out the seller’s website, they do claim to do thorough inspections and even restorations of the bikes they sell, so it’s not like you’re showing up at the docks to pick up a bike that’s possibly been thrashed by a teenager then left outside to corrode for the past twenty years. Their prices are higher than some I’ve seen on eBay recently, but they seem to have quality bikes for sale, and it helps to know there’s someone in the continental US you can yell at if things go wrong…

From the original eBay listing: 1989 Honda NSR250R for Sale

MC18 R5K model from Moto2 Imports. Popular blue and white color scheme with just 8,900 miles. This bike has been fully mechanically restored with brand new tires, chain, spark plugs, re-built jets/needles, refurbished front forks & new fork seals. The fuel system has been flushed and cleaned and the whole bike has been treated for rust and corrosion removal. The engine has been professionally de-restricted and is now producing full power. All lights, indicators, and switches are in proper working order. Cosmetically, the bike is in excellent condition (see pics) and the plastics are all factory OEM. You will not be disappointed. Moto2 Imports is the country’s number one importer of foreign sportbikes, specializing in two-strokes. Check out our website for more information and inventory!

The seller also claims that the bike has a valid Washington State title with a VIN matching the frame number, which should hopefully give some peace of mind to bidders. And the fact that it has been professionally de-restricted is a big plus, since those extra ponies will be helpful at moving the potential extra mass of its new American rider… Among the Big Four, Hondas seem to be the most desirable, with commensurately higher prices to match. Bidding is very active on this one and already up to $5,000 with the Reserve Not Met, with The Buy It Now set at $6,599 which seems to be right on the money currently for a US-titled NSR250 in good condition.

-tad

10 Responses.

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