1987 Honda NSR250R
1987 Honda NSR250R
My third bike was a first-generation NSR250R. At 250 cc it did not need a shaken inspection, so I kept it alongside the Goose 350.
Everyone around me was on two-strokes then: NSR, TZR, Gamma. I wanted to try one at least once. The shop I always used had this, and I bought it on impulse. I think it was 170,000 yen.
The engine was healthy. Everything else felt vague. The chassis could not keep up with the power, and I never believed I could ride it hard. The rear was a mysterious 18-inch tire, a 130, and I was afraid to lean it. I did not trust myself on it.
The dry weight was 125 kg, and the two-stroke powerband was outrageous, so the straights were fun even though the bottom end was empty.
It also drank fuel. I remember something like 10 km per liter. Gas was cheap then, which helped. I stopped riding it much, and we did not keep each other long.
Specifications
| Grade | NSR250R |
|---|---|
| Model change | New model |
| Model code | MC16 |
| Year introduced | 1986 |
| Month introduced | 10 |
| Market | Japan domestic |
| Overall length (mm) | 2035 |
| Overall width (mm) | 705 |
| Overall height (mm) | 1105 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1360 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 135 |
| Seat height (mm) | 750 |
| Dry weight (kg) | 125 |
| Curb weight (kg) | 141 |
| Seating capacity | 2 |
| Fuel consumption（1）(km/L) | 41.0 |
| Test condition (1) | at 50 km/h |
| Engine code | MC16E |
| Engine type | Two-stroke |
| Cylinders | 2 |
| Cylinder layout | V (L) |
| Bank angle（°） | 90 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Displacement (cc) | 249 |
| Bore(mm) | 54 |
| Stroke(mm) | 54.5 |
| Compression ratio（:1） | 6.2 |
| Peak power（PS） | 45 |
| Power rpm（rpm） | 9500 |
| Peak torque（kgf･m） | 3.6 |
| Torque rpm（rpm） | 8500 |
| Fuel system | Carburetor |
| Fuel tank (L) | 16 |
| Range, full tank (approx.) | 656.0 |
| Starting | Kickstart |
| Ignition | CDI |
| Spark plug | B9ECS |
| Battery | FT4L-BS |
| Lubrication | Separate two-stroke oiling |
| Two-stroke oil tank | 2.20 |
| Clutch | Wet multiplate |
| Gearbox | 6-speed return |
| Shift | Foot shift |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front sprocket | 15 |
| Rear sprocket | 42 |
| Chain size | 520 |
| Chain links | 108 |
| Frame | Diamond |
| Front brake | Hydraulic dual disc |
| Rear brake | Hydraulic disc |
| Front suspension | Telescopic fork |
| Fork type | Conventional fork |
| Rear suspension | Swingarm |
| Rear shock absorbers | 1 |
| Front tire | 100/80-17 |
| Front tire construction | Bias |
| Front load index | 52 |
| Front speed rating | H |
| Rear tire | 130/70-18 |
| Rear tire construction | Bias |
| Rear load index | 63 |
| Rear speed rating | H |
| Speedometer | Analog |
| Tachometer | Yes |