Description
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, the small-displacement race replica market in Japan was booming. Legions of bright-eyed young riders were lining up to fork over their hard-earned yen for competition-derived road-legal runners like Yamaha’s TZR250, Kawasaki’s KR-1, and Suzuki’s RGV250. Manufacturers on the island were battling it out on the race track and in showrooms in an ongoing arms race to produce the most trick race bike for the streets. In 1985, Honda launched the NS250R MC11, laying the foundation for its line of quarter-liter oil-burners that followed.
The NS featured a box-section aluminum frame and swingarm, disc brakes, full GP-style bodywork inspired by Honda’s RS250R factory race bike, Honda’s Astralight rims, and a liquid-cooled, 249cc, 90-degree V-Twin engine, two-stroke engine that made 45 hp (at 9,500 rpm) and utilized the ATAC (automatically-controlled torque amplification chamber) power-valve system. Constant competition led to quick improvements in the model line, leading to the MC21 generation that was unveiled in 1990. Timing of the RC Valves were now controlled by a PGM-III ECU, it featured the iconic Gull-Arm swingarm, close-ratio gearbox, and smaller wheel diameters (18″ to 17″).
This example is VIN: MC211001864. Per the seller, “Title is clear but back when I titled this bike in ’08. The DOL agent insisted it be 17 digits. So they added NSR250 to the front of the VIN so on the title, it reads as NSR250MC211001864. This hasn’t ever been a problem for me.” The seller purchased the bike approximately eight years ago and states, “I bought this bike from a guy in Vegas, a Navy guy stationed in Japan who brought it back. Bike was in sad shape. I completely torn it apart and went through everything on the bike chassis and engine wise. That was done in back in 2008/2009.”
During his ownership the seller has covered approximately 4,000 miles. The odometer shows 21,107 kilometers (13,115 miles). Regarding the extra speedometer in the spare parts, the seller says, “The speedo is just a spare one I have leftover from a different MC21 I had restored. It’s just there as part of the used spare parts. Odometer that’s on the bike is the original one that came with this particular bike I’m selling. The other speedo is from a ex track bike I got a couple years later after the bike I’m selling. It’s housing is cracked on the back side. So it’s just for parts.”
Maintenance:
The seller has provided a detailed mechanical history of the bike. We’ll let him fill you in, “End of 2019 bike got parked because it started running wrong. Where I found out the the brand new OEM crankshaft I had installed originally, the crankshaft center seal failed. And the rubber bits scratched up the cylinders minorly. This is where I found this shop in Japan called Inoue Boring Japan. This long time shop that specialized in crankshaft rebuilds that offers this special updated upgraded crankshaft center seal and replaces it with a labyrinth type seal. That is much more durable than the OEM Honda one. This seal should never fail and will out last the OEM one by 2 to 1 easily. It also cuts down on drag and allows the center bearing to spin more freely. They also replaced the crankshaft bearings and the rod big end bearings. The rods are stock replica forged rods that are stronger than stock. I still have the pictures of the invoice costed $1,600 USD.
I had this done back in spring 2021 where I had the cylinders replated by Power Seal USA and matched. To OEM A size pistons. At this time is when I bought the DMR-Japan oil pump rebuild kit with the special washer spacer. That stops the known issue of the main oil pump seal from falling into the clutch cover. I got everything back together where the bike ran awesome for about 30 mins then died. Which left me really dumbfounded. Bike suddenly lost spark. This was totally new different problem. I chased my tail on this one and some ended up replacing the coils coil wires and spark plug caps. Regulator rectifier still not fixed. Replaced the main wiring harness with a brand new upgraded version from DMR-Japan guy. Still not fixed.
Turned out, the PGM-III CDI burned out the resistors as they are prone to doing. So I sent it off to this guy in Greece who specializes in rebuilding refurbishing CDIs, Two Stroke Racelab. So that was done and it fixed the bike. I have only put about 250 miles on it since that. But the bike runs perfectly now, it actually runs a lot smoother, less vibration than ever before with this new crankshaft. New owner should not have any issues going forward.”
Modifications:
Per the seller, “Bike is fully derestricted in every way for street use. Bike has Tyga pipes and silencers. Tyga billet aluminum triple clamps top and bottom. Clamps are specific for the RVF400 front fork swap. Which the bike currently has mounted rvf400 forks. Still uses NSR250 front wheel. Main wiring harness upgraded with brand new stronger reproduction one by DMR-Japan that upgrades the fuses to the newer smaller type. Voltage rectifier replaced. Radiator fan installed, found this specific aftermarket kit in Japan for NSR250s. Very rare, haven’t seen another bike with one. Aftermarket fairing kit made by Saitania out of Japan that did a NSR MC21 and MC28 fairing kit to make it look like a 2005 CBR600RR. Kit does use the CBR600RR head lights. Kit does not require any frame modifications, it bolts on. Currently has a near mint blue and white MC28 gas tank installed. KPH to MPH speedometer converter installed. Almost forgot water pump gear replaced, upgraded with 2T Racing Japan steel gear shaft. OEM nylon ones crack around shaft. LED bulbs throughout.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Michelin Pilot Power tires which have aged out.
The sale includes one key. “Authentic English translated copy of service manual included. Two sets of carbs, one set of cylinder, 1 transmission, 2 wiring harness, extra subframe inner fender, clutch cover, Original forks, triple clamps, old fairing, MC21 gas tank, set of crankshaft bearings, original front brake parts, and other miscellaneous stuff like some gaskets, cables etc.”
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Renton, Washington, this Honda is offered on a clean Washington title. Have any NSR250 MC21 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
