NSR 250 SP MC28

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Urban_Ninja

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

190 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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I've been leafing through this months bike mag, and theres an artical about an NSR250SP MC28.

they look very tasty imo, 250 stroker V twin.

have a smart card thingy instead of having a key and ignition barrel, makes it a lot harder to steal or joyride and burn out.

but, as there are jap imports, and are limited to 112 mph, (with a HRC card it takes this 40bph and 112 mph restriction off but you have no light, new wiring loom sorts that) what sort of power would they be pushing out de-restricted (plus top end)


are they worth the money as from reading the review they seem to be pretty good bikes.


bike mag said:
At a warm, foreign racetrack in the company of a kawasaki KR-1S, Aprilia RS250 and a UK-spec RGV250, the honda stood out as A) clearly less powerful to the tune of around 10bhp than the others B) no slower because it had C) a chassis designed by god. There are a few occasions when engines and frames and brakes and all those bits of metal add up to something greater than the sum, but in the NSR250 SP MC28 they added up to the power of 10. It didnt ride around the track, it floated. It didnt brake, it went less swiftley, briefly. And it didnt steer so much as drift from corner to corner by osmosis.
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And all that was while you rode the thing. Get off it and admire it int he fading light of a provencal sun and it would eat the eyes out of your head. build during honda's golden age of build quality, The NSR was, as is, a thing of beauty. It has quality writ large all over it, from the quick release fairing fasteners to the depth of the paint, from the magtek magnesium wheels to the stunning aluminium alloy bean frame, from the single sided swingarm to the clip holding the water bottle cap and its perspex flaps on the radiator top. It's all so gushingly gorgeous. I'd better sit down
looks and sounds pretty damn good. but for the asking price is it worth it. Now I'm not looking for a stupidly fast bike, just something that looks good, goes round corners really well, and that could be good on the odd track day.

ok now as its only a 250 it wont be great on a trackday compared to the litre bikes but as its a stroker it will go better than a 250 4 stroke, something close to a 400 4 stroke if im right.


Is it worth hunting one down or should I just get something like a VFR or RVF 400?

trumpet600

3,527 posts

232 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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First of all you have to see one for sale, and then, if I'm not mistaken, a good one will cost 5 or 6 grand.

castrolcraig

18,073 posts

207 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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trumpet600 said:
First of all you have to see one for sale, and then, if I'm not mistaken, a good one will cost 5 or 6 grand.
agreed matey, but another god option is the mc18, or the tzr 250 reverse cylinder, both of which are for sale on ebay atm.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

podman

8,880 posts

241 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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Fantastic looking bikes but real buggers to de-restrict apparently. If people are prepared to spend 5-6 k on them , then I guess thats what people will sell them at, for me, I dont think there worth anything like it.

The reverse cyclinder TZR's must rate as Yamaha's least reliable bike, they over heat and blow gaskets left right and centre.

If your going to spend 5-6k on a 2 stroke ,despite the handling limitations,its got to be on a good RG or RD500

Urban_Ninja

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

190 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
podman said:
If your going to spend 5-6k on a 2 stroke ,despite the handling limitations,its got to be on a good RG or RD500
umm, why are 2 strokes limited with regards to handling?

robsa

2,266 posts

185 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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I have had all manner of strokers. I can tell you they are a labour of love, but an untouchable riding experience. So intense and exciting. On a sunny day on the twisties very little can touch them. When I had my RGV250, my mate always used to give me the finger as he came past me on the A27, but when we turned off onto the B-roads.... I would be halfway through my hotdog before he finally turned up!

After I sold my 'blade I went out and bought another TDR 250 (my third but first in about 8 years) and I wondered why I had bothered with the blade! The noise it made when it hit the powerband could be heard across Brighton and the acceleration was so intense. In real terms it was obviously slower than the blade but felt faster.

The NSR (I didn't have an MC28, but I have ridden one) is similar, sweet sweet handling and goes like the clappers. It is like anything precious, it needs tender lurve and care. Forget the girlfriend, as the MC will get jealous! What they are like now, after so many years, I don't know. Meaning wiring, suspension and engine state. If I bought one I would probably strip it and rebuild it.

Are they worth 6 grand? Well, personally, no way. You could get an R1, R6, Blade, ZX10, pretty much anything for that. But if I was rich I would buy one and put it on a nice wood stand in my living room with tasteful uplighting, next to the TZR, KR1S and RGV. The TDR would still be in the garage being used!

If you have never had the pleasure (and pain) of owning a 2-stroke 250 I would say definitely get one, you wont regret it, even with the engine bills. If you are half mechanically minded you can do most work yourself and Mr Stephens is still about. Is Bob Farnaham too?

-R.

obstreperous

149 posts

191 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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If looking for a 2 banger find an Aprillia RS250 , sex on wheels . nuff said .

trumpet600

3,527 posts

232 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
robsa said:
If you have never had the pleasure (and pain) of owning a 2-stroke 250 I would say definitely get one, you wont regret it, even with the engine bills. If you are half mechanically minded you can do most work yourself and Mr Stephens is still about. Is Bob Farnaham too?

-R.
Bob's still around. I have just got my engine back from him.

As for the pleasure and the pain - spot on description.

Don't get one if your relationship with the OH is rocky though, as you'll be spending more time with the stroker than the non-stroker, if you get my drift.

Urban_Ninja

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

190 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
lol I'm single atm so all my time could and would happery go into working on the stroker smile

got an NSR125 so I know all about the tetchyness and temprementalness of 2 strokes smile

robsa

2,266 posts

185 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
There is a simple test for whether 2-stroke 250 ownership is suitable for you or not.

Simply answer these questions...

1) Would you happily consider 'going camping' without a tent, on your bike, in trainers, jeans and leather jacket with no gloves and a couple of crumpled twenty pound notes (for fags, beer, petrol and 2-stroke)?

2) Are you a wee skinnymalink who can eat what he likes and put on no weight?

3) When preparing to go out for a ride, do you find yourself removing your brain before putting on your crash helmet?

4) Would you enjoy murmuring in a young lady's ear... "smell that... 2-stroke..."

5) Do you enjoy laughing like a loon?

6) Does the thought of red-hot bits of piston ring coughing out your exhausts bother you? Or standing on the hard shoulder in the driving rain staring at your flooded mobile phone? Or hobbling 80 miles home at 20 mph on one cylinder?* (*RGV users only)

Finally...

7) Do you fancy making your mates on their big, expensive bikes look silly down country lanes?

If you answer 'yes' to these questions...

GET A 2-STROKE MY SON!

But please not yet... as I am looking for one too and don't want you pinching them yet!

trumpet600

3,527 posts

232 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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I have noticed that since all the bike mags have been running articles on strokers recently, the prices seem to have crept up.

Beemer-5

7,897 posts

215 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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Yep, some of the 1970s Kawasaki triples are up to £6000 or even £8000 now.

Beemer-5

7,897 posts

215 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
NSR 250 ace but a newer Aprilia RS250 is better.

robsa

2,266 posts

185 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Beemer-5 said:
NSR 250 ace but a newer Aprilia RS250 is better.
From a performance perspective, you are possibly correct, although I can't remember there being much in it.

From an aesthetic point of view, there is no comparison... the Honda is a work of art.

Moulder

1,467 posts

213 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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I had an MC16 and an MC18. Both of these snapped their cranks which I was told was a bit of a weak point on these.

That said at 17 chopping in my AR50 for one I wouldn't have swapped it for anything else.

robsa

2,266 posts

185 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
back in the day I had a mate who had a derestricted AR125. IIRC He put gaffa tape over the speedo up to 70 and rev counter up to 7,000 RPM...



...so he "didn't bottle out round corners"...


:c0ckheadsmiley:



treehack

997 posts

240 months

Monday 19th January 2009
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spumf

Beemer-5

7,897 posts

215 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
The Honda's a nice bike, but the Aprilia, whilst still gorgeous, has a better engine.

R5GTTGAZ

7,897 posts

221 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
The Aprilia is great, I had some happy times on mine - you do need to be in 110% nutter mode though or the bike will just take the piss out of you.

I love the Hondas this is a 21


podman

8,880 posts

241 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Urban_Ninja said:
podman said:
If your going to spend 5-6k on a 2 stroke ,despite the handling limitations,its got to be on a good RG or RD500
umm, why are 2 strokes limited with regards to handling?
Ill re-phrase that, for that money I would have a RG/RD500, despite the handling..