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: MC211013087. The seller purchased the bike from a private party through an Iconic Motorbikes auction in March of 2022.
During his ownership, the seller has covered approximately 300 miles. The odometer shows 8,314 kilometers (5,166 miles).
Maintenance:
Per the seller, “I changed out the brake lines, so all new brake fluid. Flushed the cooling system and put in Honda HP coolant. Tidied up some of the body work attachments.”
Modifications:
Ethos exhaust.
Stainless steel braided brake lines.
Tank pad.
Factory body work repainted.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgestone Battlax tires with date codes of 1721 and 2121.
The sale includes one key as well as a set of Pitbull GP front and rear stands.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Thousand Oaks, California, this Honda is offered on a clean California title with registration current through March 2025.
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