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.
Again with the silly “easily derestricted to 65 to 70hp” misquotes.
NONE of the 250 street bikes are EASILY, CHEAPLY or RELIABLY derestricted/modded to 65/70bhp. That is the top level of performance that takes expensive mods and peripherals.
Just wish the rose-coloured glasses where not so darkly tinted these days.
That’s all I have to say about this great little bike 🙂
I have two of them set of pipes good reeds the cheap HRC reed blocks suffers and the typical wire splice mod. Realistically gets you 58 to 60 hp at the rear wheel peak power proven by multiple dyno runs by others and it’s no less reliable. Getting past that is much harder and it really cuts into the reliability at that point.
This is official from Honda back when those were new, that derestricted NSR would make about 60hp, and would remove 180kmh limiter, utilizes the race map between 9k-12k RPM. This also affects the oil pump solenoid, and it gets super oil-rich below powerband, and it gets a bit too oil-lean up where the end of it. RC valve is also affected, and so it needs to be re-adjusted, but I can’t remember how it’s affected.
Exactly, and its that “next 10hp” that costs the most. I suppose its just natural to “round up” like fishing stories, and as the years go buy the rounding factor gets larger 🙂
I have two RGV250 VJ22’s here in California. My first one I bought from this guy with just a bill of sale. Tried to contacted him after purchase about titling and never heard from him again. My black painted RGV was here on this site last month when it
was listed on ebay. There is no way that I know of for titling in Ca. legally as of today. There are ways, but you have to bend the rules a bit. This NSR would make a good track bike for those of is living in the tree hugger state.
If it was properly imported then the state should allow it to be titled. 25 years n older it doesn’t have to conform to emissions or dot standards and can be imported that’s federal law. So unless some dumb law in that state prevents that say the idiots at carb then it shouldn’t be a problem. If you tried the out of state thing then they won’t honor it. Welcome to kaliforistan.