1996 Honda RS125R NX4

Description

9-20 Update: the seller notes that this has a 2002 model engine.

Additional photos of this 1996 Honda RS125R are available here for your perusal.

There are very few bikes that get riders riled up like Honda’s RS125R. If you’re just looking at displacement, you might struggle to understand why that is. But the many fans of the little racebike tell a story of momentum, agility, and absurd levels of excitement. Want to really learn how to ride on a track? Start with the little GP bike that could.

The RS125R was the last factory Honda to compete in the 125 GP class, and from the beginning, it was an excellent privateer race bike straight off the dealership floor. They were offered for over a decade and were the launching point for most of your favorite modern racing heroes.

MSRP was $13,000, though racers at the highest levels would spend another 13 grand in mods by the time they were hitting the track. Wet weight is around 160 pounds and some riders were getting 45 horsepower out of the little two-stroke motor. Here’s a tale from Emma Franklin, Production Editor at MCN, who shares why she loves her ’98 RS125 so much:
“All these factors combine to make a riding experience that’s just simply out of this world. Full throttle, sixth gear, tucked in, shut off slightly then barrel in; the RS’s lack of mass makes for corner entry and mid-corner velocities that are simply unthinkable on bigger bikes…It doesn’t matter where I’m riding it or for what reason, whether it’s testing, racing or just a trackday, it leaves me trembling for hours afterwards. I’ve been lucky enough to ride a lot of bikes, but nothing, nothing, compares to this.”

This example is VIN: JR01E0210144. The seller acquired it six years ago from Jeff Russell of Intuitive Race Products. “Unfortunately, the bike was missing the VIN tag on the frame when I purchased it. The seller was a friend of Leonard [Mellgren, the owner of Technical Sports One] so I was confident in the bike’s prior history.”

There is no odometer, so true mileage is unknown.

Maintenance:
The seller states that he has put approximately 30 track day laps on the engine since it was rebuilt. He recently had the forks rebuilt and anodized from Lee’s Cycles in San Diego. Additionally, he has had the bike dyno-tuned and jetted. The rims were straightened at Doctor John’s.

Modifications:
9-20 Update: the seller notes that this has a 2002 model engine.

Marchesini magnesium rims and anodized chrome forks.

Penske rear shock.

Carbon fiber exhaust.

Pedrosa-style aerodynamic kit with ram air and airbox.

Brembo front rotor and Vesrah front pads.

Battle Factory rearsets.

Titanium quick start nut.

HRC temperature gauge.

Extended seat.

TSO frame sliders.

Extras:
Baxley front stand.

Pit Bull rear stand.

BPS Ignition w/ quick shifter (missing maps and cable).

Replated cylinder.

VHM A crank rebuild kit.

Talon sprockets.

Shortened MotoGP-style spark plugs.

Chicken Hawk tire warmers.

VHM head and inserts.

VHM measuring tool.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Bridgestone Battlax Racing V02 tires with date codes of 0816 and 0916.

Currently located in Santa Monica, California, this Honda is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any RS125 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!