1985 Honda NS400R

Description

Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this
1985 Honda NS400R. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

In 1983, Freddie Spencer became the world’s youngest 500cc World Champion, and he did it on a Honda V3. Honda responded by releasing a 250cc production bike to commemorate the win, but it took them until 1985 to build something closer to the actual size of Freddie’s champion. That was the NS400R, and even though it gave up 100cc and plenty of power to the race bike, Honda called it a “race replica”.

The two-stroke V-3 displaced 387cc and it was good for 72 horsepower and 37 pound feet of torque, both at nearly 10,000 rpm. Oh – and the whole thing weighed less than 360 pounds. For more information on the NS400R, check out this article from Classic-Motorbikes.net. Depending on who you talked to, the NS400R wasn’t as fast or aggressive as the 500cc race reps from Yamaha and Suzuki – but the tradeoff was that this was a confident handling bike. A review rehosted on Motorcycle Specs says “the NS is exciting and pretty near faultless.”

This example is VIN: NC192000501. The seller acquired it ten years ago from a private party in Southern California.

Since then, he’s covered 50 miles on it. The odometer shows 23,806 kilometers (14,792 miles).

The seller notes that it features “original bodywork and paint and it starts on the first kick. The bike looks nearly new with the bodywork removed, with none of the corrosion and rust typical of bikes imported from Japan.”

Modifications:
Toomey exhaust.

The oil injection system was removed but it is included in the sale.

Cosmetic Blemishes:
“Very shallow (1/8″ deep by 1″ wide) dent in left side of fuel tank.”

The chain guard is missing.

One chrome fairing mount screw is missing (front on the left side between the upper and lower fairings).

During his ownership, the seller replaced the float valves and changed the oil. He states that there are no known mechanical issues.

Currently located in Red Lodge, Montana, this Honda is offered on a clean Montana title.

The seller is letting it go as he’s downsizing his collection – he recently sold an Aprilia RS125 through Iconic as well. Have any NS400R stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments!