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Posts tagged as “MC21”

Honda Week Continues: 1988 Honda NSR250R for Sale

Tad Diemer 2

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

Tad Diemer 0

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

Jersey Strong: 1991 Honda NSR250R SP for Sale

Tad Diemer 2

The New Jersey Turnpike, in spite of being the punchline for a million jokes, is actually a marvel of modern efficiency, an engineering feat that allowed commercial traffic to flow more easily through state to points north and south. But there are just too damn many cars in Jersey for the traffic to flow these days, and the engineered straight-line qualities that make The Turnpike a great commercial road make it a horrible road for motorcyclists, unless pinning the throttle to the stop is your thing. And today’s Honda NSR250SP is pretty much the worst bike for that kind of riding.

With just 249cc worth of two-stroke power on tap, sustained high-speed runs, or high-speed runs in general are pretty much out of the question. Sure, it’ll do 130mph flat out, but it’s tiny and, at just 288lbs dry, it’s pretty obvious the NSR250R wasn’t designed for that kind of riding. Fortunately, you don’t have to go very far in New Jersey to find the kinds of roads the little two-stroke is perfect for: it’s not called “The Garden State” for nothing, and it can be a beautiful place, once you get clear of the seemingly ever-present congestion. And deer: they’re everywhere. Luckily, this lightweight machine has triple disc brakes to pull the little NSR up quickly, should one of those things leap or just wander out into your path.

Power came from a slightly undersquare liquid-cooled two-stroke 90° v-twin with bore and stroke of 54 x 54.5mm. Two strokes are mechanically simple, obviously pretty dirty, and the bike still uses carburetors, but the NSR is in every other way a very sophisticated machine. Honda’s PGM-III system controlled ignition advance and the RC valves based on information supplied by throttle and gear-position sensors. The six-speed gearbox was a cassette-type to ease gearset changes trackside, although that’s more of a theoretical benefit than a practical one for most owners. The SP or “Sport Production” version seen here added a dry clutch and lightweight Magtek wheels, along with adjustable suspension at both ends. In between the standard R and the SP was the mid-level SE model that lacked the SP’s magnesium wheels for a reduced cost.

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

1991 Honda NSR 250 SP

9913 Miles clean New Jersey title 

Fresh fluids (coolant, gearbox, 2T and brake fluids)

Rust free tank

All original plastics

Bike does have some light scratches on the side fairings, broken tab on the belly pan and broken piece on the front upper fairing. Please take a close look on the pics for better description of the condition. Everything else is in really nice shape including the frame, subframe, fork, tank, wheels and tail piece. Please feel free to message me for any inquiries. Thanks for looking

The Buy It Now for this NSR250SP is $9,800 which seems reasonable, considering some of the more outrageous asking prices we’ve seen for NSR250Rs, especially the higher-spec Sport Production model. The bike isn’t described as being perfect, but seems like a clean runner, and that Jersey title is a nice extra: when it comes to grey market bikes, The Garden State isn’t the easiest DMV to navigate.

-tad


2 Responses.

Very Clean, Very Sharp: 1991 Honda NSR250R MC21 for Sale

Tad Diemer 0

The flood of grey-market imports shows no sign of abating and prices, although they haven’t been increasing at the same rate as they were, also show no signs of actually decreasing anytime soon. What’s the appeal of little two-stroke sportbikes like this Honda NSR250R? Well, power may not be all that impressive on paper: just 45 claimed horses for the restricted versions available in the Japanese market, although they can be derestricted and easily tuned for more power, depending on your budget and willingness to get the thing rebuilt when it blows up…

But 50 or 60hp in a sub-300lb package means agility undreamed of by modern machines, and they’re packed with all sorts of technology that was cutting edge at the time. And the peaky little powerplants require skill and involvement to use properly, and they make you work a bit for your speed. Sure, it’s cool to run your favorite canyon road in one gear on a large-displacement four-stroke, but your left foot will never get bored riding one of these little things…

Even though these are now much more readily available here in the US, it can be tricky to find really nice examples. They aren’t seen as particularly rare or exotic in their home market and were bought and used for their intended purpose: canyon and trackday hooning by aspiring racers emulating their GP heroes. They had cutting-edge technology, but were always relatively affordable, and 80s and 90s Japanese build quality meant that, even when well-maintained, they can get a little scruffy around the edges.

Many of these we’ve featured show signs of surface corrosion that often leads commenters to claim that the low miles must be a lie, but a bike stored outside, even under cover, in a salt-air environment leads to just that kind of deterioration, and many “original” bikes will need some cosmetic attention if you want their looks to match their mileage, now that these have graduated from “cheap thrasher” to “exotic, two-stroke collectible.” Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

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

1991 Honda NSR250R MC21 that is a blast to ride with all the intoxicating noises and smells you only get with a 2-stroke. 22,467 kms (13,960 miles). All original except for the front fender, re-painted OEM fuel tank and rear-view mirrors. A great running bike (see YouTube vid) and very well sorted cosmetically considering its age. The bike does has some scratches and touch-up spots here and there as one can expect for being 27 years old and having traveled half-way around the world. The frame is in excellent condition with little to no pitting or corrosion marks. Fuel tank is also in excellent condition with fresh paint and is rust free inside.

All fluids are fresh and fork seals were replace in Jan 2017. Tires are Conti Sport Attack 2s were also replaced in Jan 2017 and have only 1,500 miles on them. Battery is new as of Jan. 2017 and was on a Battery Tender when bike was not in use.

This NSR250R was imported legally and comes with a VIN matching Maryland State title and 3 keys.

Sold as-is and buyer is responsible for shipping or pickup. I will assist as much as I can if shipping is needed and can recommend a couple shippers I have worked with.

Please email with any questions before bidding. While I am certain the buyer will be happy I want to make sure all questions and concerns are dealt with before hand.

This NSR250R has managed to avoid that particular problem and, aside from some pretty minor wear, looks to be in excellent condition. A couple bits are, as the seller mentioned, repainted, but there’s no shame in that on a bike nearly 30 years old. The seller includes a nice video of the bike being started and running, which is always nice. With a clean title, the $7,250 asking price seems pretty fair, but there are no takers as yet and there is very little time left on the auction.

-tad

Rothmans Replica: 1993 Honda NSR250R SE for Sale in Cali!

Tad Diemer 11

The gearhead culture in Southern California never ceases to amaze me. Sure, all kinds of weird and wonderful cars and bikes and the folks that love them can be found all over the country, and all over the world. But the intensity of it here is something else: you almost get blasé about it, since any weekend drive in the Los Angeles area will expose you to a veritable parade of exotic cars, vintage bikes, rat-rods, and all manner of weird, is-that-even-legal-here machinery. Oh look, was that Jay Leno driving a pre-war, aero-engined race car? Yes, yes it was… The irony is that the CA DMV is among the most draconian in the country, largely a result of a famously bad smog problem caused by vehicle emissions during the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. Which is why something like this Honda NSR250R SP Rothmans Replica with a clean California title is something of a unicorn!

The NSR250R was the definitive quarter-liter sportbike of the period, and featured Honda’s 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin with a six-speed cassette gearbox that allowed gearsets to be quickly and easily swapped to suit different race tracks. Fuel was delivered via carburetors, but the ignition system was Honda’s sophisticated PGM-III that controlled the bike’s ignition based on throttle-position, revs, and gear selection. Note that the seller refers to this as an “SE” but the fairing proclaims it an “SP.” I’m assuming it’s the former, and the SP is there to match the Rothmans livery. The SE generally didn’t come with the Magtek wheels, but this one has them, bringing it up to SP spec, since both the SE and SP had the dry clutch, versus the regular NSR250R’s wet clutch.

I have seen a few late 80s and early 90s grey market two-strokes running around the Malibu canyons on the weekend, but still an MC21 done up in Rothmans livery is something to celebrate, especially in such sharp condition. From the description, it looks like the bike has undergone a cosmetic restoration, and looking at some of the photos, that restoration appears to have been more than just skin-deep. Appropriate maintenance has been taken care of for the new owner as well, and the bike appears to be ready to roll.

From the original eBay listing: 1993 Honda NSR250R SE Rothmans Replica for Sale

This is a beautifully restored 1993 Honda NSR250 SE Rothmans Replica MC21. This bike has the factory dry-clutch and adjustable suspension along with the Magtek wheels. This low 4490 mile (7226 Klm’s) NSR has just undergone a cosmetic restoration, as in: new bodywork, new wave-rotors, brake pads. 

Add-on’s include, a Tyga, GP style rear brake caliper hanger and a Brembo billet rear brake caliper, along with clear turn-indicators and tail light (adds a nice modern touch along w/the wave-rotors).

Also, freshly powder-coated Magtek wheels, with new Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa tires. All hardware  has been re-zinc or re-chromed. Other items refinished include, the mufflers, fork bottoms, top triple clamp, etc..

Forks rebuilt with new oil and seals. All other fluids changed or flushed. Recent tune-up with new plugs, air-cleaner. De-restricted ECU. (Full power). Small scratch and chip on gas tank, (no dents). Comes with clean transferable (in your name) California title and street registered. (lic. plate off now for photos) Can help with shipping, but up to buyer to make all arrangements. 
There’s plenty of time left on the listing, but all my two-stroke LA peeps should pounce on this before it gets away! $11,500 seems a very fair price, considering the California title and the exceptional cosmetic and mechanical condition: many of the two strokes that populate the US eBay listings these days are recent arrivals from Japan where they’ve been affordable, thrashable, and often left out in the salty sea air for years, so surface corrosion and wear-and-tear are common, even on low-mileage examples. Obviously, the turn signals and tail light lenses seen here aren’t actually the original bits, but those shouldn’t be too hard to source if you’re after something completely stock. Whatever shenanigans are normally required to register an NSR in California should be largely mitigated here, and this bike should quickly be ready to draw stares and thrash canyons for the new owner!
-tad

11 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1990 Honda NSR250 MC21

Mike 0

The Honda NSR250R is THE iconic grey-market two stroke. Featuring legendary Honda build quality and infused with the kind of technology only Honda could deliver, the MC21 variant features a 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin connected to a six-speed cassette-style gearbox (indicating the track intentions of the bike). Fueling – as with all successful two strokes (here’s looking at you, Bimota) – was via carburetor, however Honda over-delivered on the technological advancement of the ignition system. Dubbed the PGM-III, the MC21 is able to modify the ignition curve and exhaust valving for each cylinder based on a number of parameters including throttle position, number of revs and which gear has been selected.

1990 Honda NSR250 MC21 for sale on eBay

On the chassis side an aluminum perimeter beam frame cradles the power train and tranny, while out back a trick, asymmetrical swing arm features a “gull arm” section on the right side to provide clearance for the expansion chamber. This was all copied from Luca Cadalora’s race-winning NSR250 GP bike. The rear wheel was changed from a 18″ to 17″ (4.5″ wide) for better rubber selection. Bodywork was mainly an evolution of the MC18, although small changes were made to accommodate the new machine. Colors were either red/white, blue/white or the striking red/black that we see here.

From the seller:
Up for auction to the highest bidder with NO RESERVE is a very nice 1990 Honda NSR250R MC21 with only 5,545 kilometers (3445 miles). This NSR is in beautiful condition with only one crack in the left side fairing. There are scratches and handling marks throughout the bike from its ride thru life but No dents in the tank. The bodywork is in original condition and would make a great candidate for restoration since it has such low miles. Honda bodywork is 100% genuine with aftermarket windscreen. Engine is stock. Bike runs like the day it was new. Just serviced and comes with new battery and engine fluids. Selling cheap, everything must go!

This MC21 looks very good for the most part, and sports surprisingly low miles on the all KM clocks (a reminder that this is an import). There does seem to exist some light corrosion & pitting seen on home market imports; life in Japan for a motorcycle is not a pampered affair due to continual exposure to sea air and the elements. However this bike looks to be in better condition than many that come right off the boat. There is some fairing damage which might keep it out of a museum, but nothing that would preclude one from riding the heck out of this smoking rocket. Check out the pictures carefully – the seller has provided a large number of high-res images to ensure prospective buyers know what they are getting. It’s also house-trained!

This bike is located in Utah; the the seller/locale is likely familiar for regular readers of RSBFS. Gary continues to thin out his impressive collection of rare, imported sport bikes, many which have been featured right here on these pages. Check out this 1990 Honda NSR250R MC21 here – this no reserve auction is underway and should not be missed if you are in the market for a rare Honda smoker. Don’t forget to check out some of Gary’s other auctions as well; not all of his rare bikes make it to RSBFS. Good luck, and thank you for smoking!

MI

Ride or Restore: 1993 Honda NSR250R SP MC21 for Sale

Tad Diemer 3

Some motorcycle enthusiasts are looking for a perfect, time-capsule example of their favorite bikes. Me? I’m glad perfect examples are out there for collectors, but I want something I can ride and enjoy without being worried that a tip-over or low-side or just a few extra miles on the odometer will destroy the value of some pristine collectible. Today’s Honda NSR250R SP is a little rough around the edges, with some scratches and scuffs, but it seems like an honest bike, and very solid mechanically.

The NSR250 featured Honda’s familiar 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin with a six-speed “cassette” gearbox that allowed owners [or pit crews] to rapidly swap out gearsets to suit different race tracks. Obviously not all that useful on a road bike, but still pretty slick. The NSR may have sucked fuel through a set of carburetors, but it used a very sophisticated PGM-III system that controlled the bike’s ignition based on throttle-position, revs, and gear selection.

This particular NSR250R is the desirable MC21 version of Honda’s agile two-stroke, as indicated by the asymmetrical “gull-arm” aluminum swing arm that curves on the left-hand side to clear the exhaust’s expansion chambers to maximize cornering clearance. The swingarm looks very trick, but helps make the MC21 a little bit heavier than the MC18 that preceded it. Dry weight is still under 300lbs, so even the bike’s artificially-limited 45hp will move the bike out smartly, although I’d definitely check with the seller to see if the bike has been de-restricted, as anyone outside Japan will want the bike’s full-power available.

From the original eBay listing: 1993 Honda NSR250R SP MC21 for Sale

20,441 Miles (32,898 Kilometers) This is a Very Rare only 900 made Last Model MC21 SP. Mostly original and unrestored.  Perfect opportunity for a budget minded MC21 SP for restoration. All fluids are fresh.  Shifts and revs to redline perfectly.  Starts effortlessly every time. OEM Fairings have hairline scratches and cracks. upper fairing has a broken section near the mirrors and the lower fairing has a section cut out near the expansion chambers along with a couple dents on the fuel tank near the stay, included close up pictures featuring defects. The Red on the tail fairing doesn’t match each other exactly also. No respray or rattle can. Red Magtek wheels are in excellent condition. Otherwise straight from the factory.  Bike has Vin Matching State of Ohio Title as a 1992 model MC21-1070*** “Buyer is responsible for their own State Requirements.”  Imported into the States through all legal channels. EPA and Declaration papers provided.

Bidding is up to $6,500 with about 24 hours left on the auction. If it stays in that neighborhood, it’s on the low side for an MC21, but that’s in keeping with the less-than-perfect condition. This example is obviously not perfect as described by the seller, but is claimed to be mechanically in good working order. If you’re buying one of these and worried about sourcing parts, that may be a weight lifted. Even if you end up on a quest for a perfect set of original bodywork, you can at least ride your machine in the meantime, and this looks like it’d be pretty nice from ten feet, certainly a good place to begin for a restoration. Personally, I’m okay with replacement bodywork, as long as the frame and everything else are clean and straight. Get a decent set of Rothmans replica bodywork from the internet, spend the weekend fitting it, and then ride your little smoker with no fear of destroying a priceless, pristine collectible.

-tad


3 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1990 Honda NSR250R MC21

Mike 0

Update 3.4.2017: SOLD in 2 days! Contact us for a $59 Featured Listing if you’d like similar exposure from Rare SportBikes For Sale! dan@motoringblogs.com

It’s no secret that the staff of RSBFS believe that two strokes were a gift from the gods to enable mere mortals to perform acts of speed not otherwise possible. Pound for pound the two cycle engine puts out more HP than any other form of reciprocating, internal combustion format. With no overhead valves, these engines can be impossibly compact both in height as well as width. The packaging possibilities enable very tidy proportions and, when combined with the power and lack of heft can equate to stunning performance. Take this beautiful 1990 NSR250R as an example: a 250cc v-twin producing approximately 45 HP (restricted due to Japanese legislation), yet pushing only 290 lbs of bike. The most similar 4-stroke example – a Ninja 250R – develops 10-15 less HP, yet pushes a much heavier bike (by 15-20 pounds, dry). The victor in any form of performance measurement is obvious.

This particular NSR250R is a MC21 model. And while approximately 16,000 of these models were produced, NONE of them were officially imported into the United States. So what is an enterprising, knee dragging two-stroke enthusiast to do? Import one, of course. That sure sounds easy, but in reality can be a nightmare in terms of shipping arrangements, importation paperwork, and then dealing with the powers that be in order to properly register the bike for use on the road. The stories of those that have tried are too numerous to count; you see the bikes for sale with “no title” or similar nomenclature. To find a legally licensed NSR250R in the US – one with a title that you can *actually* ride on the street – now that is rare indeed.

From the seller:
1990 Honda NSR250R MC21. 12,407 Miles (19,968 Kilometers)

Bike is being sold from my personal collection. This is a very clean well cared for unmodified bike. Completely original and unrestored. Only change is Powder coated Fork Tubes with new fork seals January 2017. Bike needs nothing. All fluids are fresh. Shifts and revs to redline perfectly. Starts effortlessly every time. Continental Conti Sport Attack 2 Tires are brand new with Zero miles on them. OEM Fairings have some hairline scratches and touchup paint using only a fine brush, No respray or rattle can. Please see images. Otherwise straight from the factory. Bike has Vin Matching State of Ohio Title. MC21-1013*** “Buyer is responsible for their own State Requirements.” Imported into the States through all legal channels. EPA and Declaration papers provided. Sold as is. Buyer responsible for shipping. Thanks for looking. Please email any questions. Price is 7500.00 USD.

This seller has provided a wealth of information about this bike, along with numerous, clear pictures. Look closely: you will see a very clean and well-cared for import. This is not the “just off the boat from Japan and full of corrosion” level of import, but rather a fully sorted and loved example from a rider’s personal collection. If originality scores any points with you, check out the list of modifications: powder coated fork tubes and a bit of touch up paint. No stories of swapped out suspension, engine mods, chambers or otherwise. No flush-mounted signals with a rear fender delete kit added. No wires hanging where something has been removed, no holes where something is missing. This is the type of bike that RSBFS staff love to see – and our readers too.

The best part of this NSR250R? An asking price of only $7,500. Yes, we have seen them cheaper, but more often than not we see them go for more…especially bikes in this type of condition (go ahead and search). This is a very realistic price for what looks to be a great, original example of the NSR breed. With low miles, official paperwork and the ability to register and ride it in your state (not all states need apply – you know who you are.), this MC21 model is looking like a very good buy. Better act quickly – this one is going to be gone in a haze of blue smoke very soon!

MI