1986 Honda NS400R

Description

Please Note: In response to customer requests, we are implementing an automatic bid bump: if your proxy bid meets or exceeds the reserve price, bidding will jump up to meet that price and you will see “Reserve price has been met” under the price. Please contact abhi@iconicmotorbikes.com if you have any questions!

Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 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.”

Manufactured in October 1985, this example is VIN: JH2NC1902GM000226. The seller acquired it in January 2019 at Mecum out of the Bob Weaver collection.

The odometer shows 20,400 kilometers (12,675 miles).

In March of 2021, the seller had us recommission this bike after it had been on display for years. We cleaned the carbs, installed a new battery, installed new tires, installed a new front master cylinder, rebuilt the rear caliper, flushed and bled the brake system, replaced the steering head bearings, cleaned/lubed the throttle cable, and repaired the 2 stroke oil level sensor as it had been gummed up from sitting. Since then the seller has gone on one ride of ~50 miles. He is letting this bike go as he has another NS400R in the Rothmans livery.

Modifications:
Steel braided brake lines.

Cosmetic Blemishes:

Inside of the tank:

The sale includes one key.

It is riding on Bridgestone Battlax BT46 tires with date codes of 1020 and 1620.

Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Florida title. Have any NS400R stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!

Please Note: In response to customer requests, we are implementing an automatic bid bump: if your proxy bid meets or exceeds the reserve price, bidding will jump up to meet that price and you will see “Reserve price has been met” under the price. Please contact abhi@iconicmotorbikes.com if you have any questions!