The NSR 250 debuted on October 1st, 1986 as a 1987 model in Japan for 559,000 Japanese1987 NSR 250 R MC16 - 62K Click for biggy Yen, dubbed the MC16 by the factory. It replaced the older NS 250 R that was getting out dated. Honda was winning big time with it's 1987 NSR 250R - 62K Click for moreNSR racers so Honda released a replica version for the street. It was almost a complete replica of the factory racers. It was light weight and quick. The engine was basically a NSR 500 racer engine cut in half. The first year NSR 250's were the only 250 NSR's to have three spoke wheels. Available colors were fighting red and white at first until the release of the Terra colors in blue and white that went on sale in March of 1987. It1988 NSR 250 R - 73K Click for full size image was an amazing machine in it's day with nimble handling and awesome acceleration. On January 19th, 1988 it was reworked with new bodywork and those familiar twin round brake lights, new electrical system , revised suspension , larger brakes, six spoke1988 NSR 250 R - 62K Click for full size image wheels with larger rubber and an even more peakier engine. The price had increased by 20,000 Yen to 579,000 Yen and it was renamed the MC18 by the factory. Computer controlled carburetors known as PGM II were introduced for the first time. (Many people say that 1988 was the best year for all the NSR's1988 NSR 250 SP - 78K Click for more engines 50's, 80's and the 250's). The colors were the same as the MC16 NSR, fighting red/white and Terra blue/white. March 15, 1988 saw the release of the first street version SP ( Sport Production ) NSR. It was released in Rothmans racing colors, these bikes are quite rare now ,they had Mag-Tek lightweight Magnesium wheels front and rear. 1988 NSR 250 SP models had the same suspension as the1989 NSR 250R - 63K Terra blue colors R models and the price was higher than the standard NSR's by 81,000 Yen bringing the final price to 660,000 Yen for the SP model. Production was limited to 3000 SP NSR's for 1988. Honda sold a total of 23,000 NSR's including the SP model in 1988.1989 NSR 250R - 83K The 1989 model went on sale February 10, 1989 for 608,000 Yen. The NSR was again updated but still classified a MC18 in Japan. Version 2 or the R5K for the standard R type NSR's, This time the all new MC18 got new bodywork, higher set silencers, new rear suspension, revised PGM II intake system, wider radial tires and for the third straight year saw the same fighting red and white colors, along with Terra blue colors and a slight variation with the red accented seat cowl. New colors in Black and gun metal grey debuted as well. 1989 NSR 250 Click for higher quality image 44 KDue to a large number of traffic accidents involving motorcycles. All NSR 250's were speed restricted from 1989. The option of the SP with lighter magne1989 NSR 250 SP Terra colors 66K - Clicksium wheels, newly introduced dry clutch and all new colors was available for the price of 689,000 Yen. The SP model was sold in the Terra racing colors ( NSR racing sponsor ) of silver and white with green accents. The 1989 SP model also had fully adjustable front forks ( preload and rebound ) compared to the to regular R type which was adjustable for preload only. Also a whole new fully adjustable rear shock with reservoir. 1989 was also the first year for the dry clutch on street SP models. These NSR's were classified the R6K. 1990 saw a huge model change for the new NSR's that went on sale from February 13, 1990. These1990 NSR 250 R - 61K Click for larger image bikes were code named MC21 from the factory and were completely new and different in every way from the earlier NSR's. New everything, gullarm suspension, more exciting bodywork, PGM III intake system, 17 inch wheels with sportier rubber and different colors. Available colors for the 1990 models were red and white with blue accents, blue and white with yellow accents, also black and red with grey accents. These were the standard R type colors and were 1990 NSR 250 SP - 68K click itpriced at 609,000 Yen. The option of the SP was available too with it's Cabin racing colors in red, silver, gold and black. The SP had gold painted wheels which were made of magnesium, the dry clutch and newly introduced adjustable suspension front1990 NSR 250 R - 65K Click for larger image and rear, and were limited to 2,500 units for the 1990 model, the price for the SP was higher and cost 719,000 Yen. Every year saw model changes until the the MC21 was introduced. Besides variations in colors1990 NSR 250 R - 68K there were no major changes until 1993. In 1991 Honda released a new model of the NSR. It was called the SE and now there were three types of models for sale. The standard model was plainly called the 250R model. It was available in only black with1991 NSR 250 R - 67K for full size image grey and silver accents. The R type was priced at 620,000 Yen and did not include the extra options as the SE and SP models. It was a lower cost alternative to the more expensive models and some people didn't care for the noisy chatter of the dry clutch. This was the first year for the SE ( Super Edition ) model. It was available in only one color of fighting red/white with blue and green distinguishing it from the regular R type model.1991 NSR 250 SE - 71K click for full image The SE was priced higher at 660,000 Yen. The SE was made available because of the high price and scarceness of the SP models. SE version NSR's had the very cool dry clutch and the adjustable suspension for the front and rear plus SE markings. The SE was not sold with the light weight and expensive magnesium wheels due to the high cost. Honda continued making SP models for the street but they were pricey and limited to a few units. The 19911991 NSR 250 SP - 69K click for larger image SP was sold in Pentax racing colors, it had the light weight and highly priced Mag-Tek magnesium wheels which were made by Enkei, fully adjustable suspension for the front and rear plus the dry racing clutch. 1991 SP's were priced at 719,000 Yen.1992 NSR 250 R - 66K Click for more Production was limited to 1500 units so getting your hands on one of these will be tricky and probably pricey. In 1992 there were no major changes but there were all new colors. The standard R type was still priced at 620,000 Yen and the new colors were Ross white and real blue with orange accents and the green markings on the seat cowl that was becoming famous1992 NSR 250 SE - 64K to see more with NSR's. The SE was still part of the 1992 lineup and this time two different colors were available in fighting red and Ross white with blue accents and the green marked seat cowl. The other colors for the SE were in black and fighting red with silver accents and of course the green marked seat cowl. SE NSR's were marked differently than standard NSR's and1992 NSR 250 SE - 45 K were unchanged in price from the previous year SE models of 660,000 Yen. Honda brought back the Rothmans colored NSR SP models for 1992 with all the extras as the previous year SP. These second generation Rothmans colored NSR's were limited to a production run of 1,500 units and were priced at 770,000 Yen. These SP bikes hold there1992 NSR 250 SP - 66K Click for full image value very well due to the limited number of SP bikes built by Honda. In 1993 there were no changes for the MC21 NSR's except for the SP model which was no longer available in Rothmans colors. Instead it was offered in the same colors as the 1992 SE colors. Known as the flash colors in Japanese. The only difference was of course the stickers on the rear seat that marked it an SP version, the HRC mark under the front turn signals and the green trim from the rear seat cowl was carried over to the front of the upper cowl covering the area where the number plate cover was on race bikes to give the bike a more racier image. These were the last SP bikes made for the1993 NSR 250 SP Flash Colors - 79K for full size MC21 type NSR's and were limited to a very small run of only 900 bikes making them the rarest NSR's of all. Honda made a total of 106,000 NSR's from the very first MC16 1987 model NSR's to the final MC21 NSR produced in 1993. MC21 Production stopped at the end of August 1993. On November 11, 1993 the all new MC28 model NSR went on sale in Japan as a 1994 model. It was completely different than previous models and changed peoples thinking about two stroke technology. The new Proarm NSR's as they became known in Japan were the ultimate 250 bike for the street. They had PGM IV technology which allowed more accurate1994 NSR 250 R - 57K for more control of the carbs, smooth operation and perfect driving manners unlike past two stroke bikes. The all new Memory card replaced the standard key and made de-restricting the bikes very difficult. The 1994 lineup saw three types of NSR's for sale once again. There was the standard 250R type model in fighting red and Ross white. They were sold with a regular wet type clutch and non adjustable suspension. They were priced at 680,000 Yen. 1994 NSR 250 SE - 58K for full imageThe SE model was priced at 720,000 Yen and came with the fully adjustable suspension front and rear made by Showa plus the dry clutch and different colored front disc rotors. SE colors were the same as the standard R type in fighting red and Ross white but were marked SE and the NSR logo was in bright yellow. SE models also were sold in blue and white with orange accents and also were marked SE but the NSR logo was white. 1994 also saw the return of the Rothmans colored1994 NSR 250 SE - 54K Click for image NSR's for the SP models only. They had all the extras as previous SP models. The MC28 SP bikes had different front fork adjusters with cool blue anodized blue knobs, the same gold colored front disc brake rotors as the SE model and were fitted with higher grip and more pricier Michelin TX11B and TX23B sport tires than the SE and standard models. The price was a whopping 800,000 Yen for them and only 1,500 SP bikes were built by Honda. This was to be the last year for Rothmans colored NSR's ever. Today finding a Rothmans SP is quite rare and expensive due to there limited numbers. Honda was changing two stroke history with these1994 NSR 250 SP - 78 K click for it latest fifth generation model NSR's. They were very expensive but for the technology they had were reasonably priced. The memory card was very slick but some what controversial because of the difficulties in de-restricting the bikes, but those cards looked cool and it started a trend for others to follow with it's digital speedometer. The bodywork also had been upgraded too for sleeker aero dynamics and better looks to match the all new single sided swingarm or simply PROARM. Power was down to 40 horsepower from 45 on previous NSR's, but acceleration performance was not hurt. 1995 NSR 250 SP - 59K click it !! In 1995 the SP changed it's colors to the HRC tri-colors with carbon fiber like stickers and it's high grip Michelin tires to celebrate Mick Doohan's 1994 GP 500 Championship. There are only a few of these bikes around as Honda again limited these bikes to a brief production run of 1,500 units. Therefore they hold there value strongly too.1996 NSR 250 SE - 64K click for larger image In 1996 there were no mechanical changes for the NSR's only new colors for the new models. The standard R model was discontinued and now there were only two types available. The SE model with the dry clutch and it's fully adjustable cartridge type front suspension and rear adjustable damper. Plus the SP version in full Repsol colors. Honda had produced a large amount of early MC28 NSR's ( 1994-1995 ) They were having difficulties selling them off so in 1996 the amount of NSR's built were1996 NSR 250 SE - 63K Click for more reduced. 1996 colors were available in Ross white and sparkling red with yellow accents, the other choice was in Ross white and violet with yellow accents that were the reversed colors of the other SE colors. SE model NSR's were priced at 720,000 Yen and there were no more color changes for the SE NSR's until their end of production in May 1999. 1996 was also the last year for the SP to be sold in the world. It was released in striking Repsol colors to once again celebrate Mick Doohan's 2nd consecutive world championship in the GP 500 class. These wonderful Repsol SP bikes were1996 NSR 250 SP - 70K click for larger image limited to only 1,000 bikes so getting your hands on one is probably a good investment if you can find one for sale. These SP bikes were priced at 800,000 Yen due to there pricey and light weight wheels in black. NSR's were still selling for 1997 and 1998 but they were loosing popularity. The racer replica boom was coming to an end with younger people preferring American style cruisers or cafe racers in Japan. Sales for the NSR's were down and newly introduced laws in Japan that restricted current two stroke emissions led to Honda canceling the NSR for street sales. Who knows what could have been had Honda continued with the NSR. One of the greatest racing bikes in all of history. Good luck with your NSR or finding one if you haven't found one already.
This information is all true and accurate, translated directly from Honda.
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