Posts tagged as “MC21”

It’s a good time to be a two-stroke enthusiast here in the USA. Bikes like today’s Honda NSR250R that were long considered nearly unobtainable are being shipped over by enterprising individuals and companies, now that some of them are old enough to make that a viable option.

The NSR250R featured a 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin with a trick, six-speed cassette gearbox that made for rapid ratio changes trackside.This MC21 was a pretty serious ground-up redesign for the bike, compared to the previous MC18 version. That curved “gull-arm” swingarm is a distinctive feature, and was intended to allow the right-side expansion chamber to tuck in close and maximize cornering clearance. It was heavier than the older unit, but the advantages outweighed the increased heft. Dry weight was still a shade under 300lbs, so it’s still a very light machine and 17″ wheels at both ends make tire choice for modern riders a bit easier than the earlier 18″ rear.

Fuel was delivered by carburetors, but the NSR250 used Honda’s sophisticated PGM-III that used throttle-position, revs, and gear-selection to control ignition. Power was limited to 45 by Japanese legislation, but the bike can be de-restricted to free up some additional horses, as has been done  with today’s bike.

From the original eBay listing: 1990 Honda NSR250R for Sale

The Honda NSR250 stands at the pinnacle of two-stroke sport bike technology. Derived directly from Honda’s legendary NSR500 racebike, the NSR250 is the purest example of a MotoGP bike for the street. And now is your chance to own this stunning example. Immaculate inside and out!

Fully restored by Moto2 Imports, this NSR250 “R” model has been stripped down to the frame and completely re-built by professional mechanics. The engine has been de-restricted for a 10+hp increase over stock (see dyno picture). All gaskets have been inspected and engine compression & leak down tests were performed with no issues. Carburetors cleaned, rebuilt and re-jetted. Fuel, oil and coolant systems drained, flushed, & refilled. New Yuasa battery, EBC brake pads, NGK spark plugs & RK chain. New high performance Dunlop Alpha 13 tires. All other mechanical & electrical systems checked and operating properly. High quality, ABS injection molded fairing. Tinted windscreen; clear windscreen also available.

This bike was purchased in Japan earlier this year and imported in full compliance with all US Customs, DOT & EPA laws. The bike was properly titled by the Washington, DC DMV with the correct frame VIN on the title. The buyer will receive copies of all international shipping, Customs, DOT/EPA, and DMV paperwork, as well as a copy of the original Japanese title. Buy it Now $8,499. We accept cash, credit card & PayPal.

Additional modifications, upgrades, & spare parts available upon customer request.

The seller also helpfully includes a brief video of bike on their dyno. The listing does specifically mention that the bike cannot be titled in California so, unless you “know a guy,” plan to track the bike, or just want to display it, you’d should probably steer clear if you live there. The Buy It Now price is $8,499 which seems pretty on-the-money for a nice NSR250 these days, and this one has been gone through mechanically, de-restricted, and has had import paperwork taken care of. If you live in a state where this can be legally registered, this one is worth a look.

-tad

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.

Although the Honda NSR two-stroke sportbikes were by no means “starter bikes” and were very high-performing motorcycles, they were still relatively affordable and often bought by riders not flush enough to afford the taxes on bigger bikes. Basically: young hooligans bought them. Because of this, nice examples are pretty thin on the ground in their home markets.

The recent flood of affordable “grey market” Japanese two-strokes here in the US offers up our first real opportunity to sample bikes that still get the British motorcycle press all dewy-eyed and nostalgic. Unfortunately, caveat emptor is the order of the day, since many of these little nippers were thoroughly thrashed when new.

The NSR250R featured a 90° liquid-cooled 249cc v-twin backed up by a six-speed cassette gearbox and, from the factory, these were limited to 45hp by Japanese regulations. But there is plenty of additional power waiting to be unleashed by a US owner and, with a sub-300 lb dry weight, this could certainly embarrass many bigger sportbikes in anything but a straight-line race.

This MC21 wasn’t just a continuation of the earlier MC18, it was a ground-up redesign and featured a banana or “gull-arm” swingarm, PGMIII electronically-controlled carburetors, and 17″ wheels at both ends, making tire choice a bit easier today. Although the bike used carburetors, the PGM system created a three-dimensional ignition map for each cylinder, based on throttle-position, revs, and gear.

From the original eBay listing: 1990 Honda NSR250R MC21 for Sale

I am selling my 1990 Honda NSR 250R MC-21 two stroke motorcycle. For those unfamiliar with this bike, it is the street version of Honda’s legendary 250cc Moto GP race bike, the NSR250. Despite it’s small displacement, this is not a beginner’s motorcycle! The two stroke engine is very powerful for its size and the bike weighs in at less than 300lbs. On a twisty road, it will leave larger displacement bikes in the rear view mirror. Plus the sound, feel, and power delivery of the two  stroke engine is unlike any four stroke motorcycle. The MC-21 model was brand new in 1990, and was a huge step up from the earlier MC-16 and MC-18 models. In addition to new body work and the super sexy gull-arm swingarm design, the MC-21 utilized the PGMIII ECU from the RC30 superbike, giving it true 3D ignition. Suspension was upgraded and the rear wheel diameter was decreased from 18″ to 17″ to fit the most advanced tires. The bike is in overall great condition, with 11,117km (<7,000 miles) on the clock. There are a few minor scratches on the bodywork (see pictures) but no other significant damage. The bike kick starts from cold on the first try and runs/revs very smoothly.

Honda never sold this bike in the U.S. as the EPA banned most two stroke powered road vehicles in the ’70’s. As such, they are extremely rare. There are a handful of these bikes in the U.S., some here legally, and others illegally. In general, two strokes less than 25 years old are still banned by the EPA, so use caution if you are looking at a similar bike that is newer than 1990. This bike was imported legally by myself directly from Japan, and I have all the US Customs paperwork to verify its legality. I also have a clean and clear Virginia title in my name, which has an 11 digit VIN that matches the bike’s frame number.

Photos: The first seven photos show the bike from various angles, front & rear tires, the speedo/odometer in km. The remaining photos show the following marks & scratches: left front fairing, right lower fairing, right upper fairing, left lower fairing, right seat fairing, left seat fairing, and right handle bar.

This bike isn’t in showroom condition, but looks very clean and appears to start easily and run well from the included video. There’s a bit of surface rust on some of the fasteners and some scuffs at the edges of the bodywork, but nothing jumps out that should scare off potential buyers.

There are just four days left on this auction, with no takers yet at the starting bid of $5,000. Considering these were virtually unobtainable just a few years ago, has the market been flooded?

-tad