At a crossroads. After almost 2 years and a ton of money my NSR MC18 project is nearing completion with fully rebuilt engine and everything. Now I have a friend offering a good deal on a RS250 NF5. Either bike is intended for track use only, including some vintage racing. I know the RS has a little more power and will require more maintenance. Any thoughts, experience, insights appreciated.
Thanks guys. It is a 1989. Not the real GP model raced by the factory, the production racer. I am told suspension is fresh and engine will be rebuilt including new cases and replated barrels as it was seizing before present owner bought it. I know the bike, it was owned by one of the members of our vintage club and he won the overall championship on it one year. He is a much better rider than i, I'll never come close. I am told that parts availability can be very challenging because there were so many significant changes to that basic model over the years.
On the NSR, I have already been through all that and it is almost ready to go with a frame up rebuild, everything new or reconditioned. It may never appreciate as much but I just want to ride and don't have a lot of time for constant maintenance. I don't think i'll miss the extra 10 HP.
It's correct that there are many changes year-on-year for the NF5, some more significant than others, a number of which are effectively constrained to the particular model year (i.e. not interchangeable). Therefore it can indeed be harder to maintain and run an NF5 than an NSR. Be aware that it is also highly advisable to run an NF5 on AVGAS too, which can add to both the expense and [setup] complexity.
The NF5 power delivery, by the nature of its intended use, is peaky. Some years are worse than others, but all are peaky and make their power high iup the rev range compared to even a TT-F3 NSR. To exploit an NF5 it needs to be ridden very hard.
In my personal opinion, unless you are fast enough, or unless you really want an NF5 (or NX5/NXA), you are better off with a well tuned NSR. There's no reason why an well prepared MC18 R5/6K can't make over 65rwhp, and have substantially more mid-range drive than an RS, making it easier to live with/ride. _________________ Andy.
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Thanks very much Andy. We can run unleaded race fuel here, which I did for my NF4, it is costly, and a bit of a nuisance to get, especially if using twice as much.
But based on the other factors, including a realistic assessment of my riding ability, definitely leaning to the NSR.
An NF5 is lovely to own, but for the most part, I'd say it's pretty impractical. You also really want a 1992, with the USD forks. I wouldn't even say an 89 or 90 is much better than an MC18 for the majority of people... myself included!
Ride a well sorted (or TT-F3 spec) MC18 or MC21, and the RS becomes even less appealing! Sure, the RS chassis is great, but the NSR is so much easier for us normal people to hustle, and way more rideable. _________________ Andy.
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I loved my 92 NF5. It was everything I wanted to do to my NSR250, already done! I understand what Andy says about the MC18 vs the NF5. It is a little harder to live with, no kick start, no side stand, all Avgas and pre mix, but it’s perhaps all these little annoyances that make you appreciate it more. It is more aggressive and peaky but I liked that.
I bought it with a new crank in, plus a spare low mileage one, plus 2 sets of piston so knew I had a few years motoring in it. Spares do come up fairly regularly.
Follow your heart , don’t be sensible, buy the NF5.
I was wondering if you have dyno'd or ridden your MC18 yet. I'm not a track rider, but my MC18 made 56bhp on the dyno. It's best to start from a measured baseline, which you can compare. I expect, on the track, good handling and brakes are as important as power to carry momentum _________________ Why do things simply when you can complicate them
Having owned and ridden a well sorted nsr mc21 with approx. 62 bhp, and also a 92 nf5 with 82 bhp { Honda stated }, and also being of a certain age and riding ability, I can categoricly say that the nsr, for me is much easier to ride, I can ride the nsr flat out , to my ability, but if I were to try and ride the nf5 the same I would end up in trouble. The nf5 may have better handling, but as a pure out and out racer I find the ride way too hard for my liking, and overall much too focused with its narrower power band, one is like riding in an armchair and the other is like riding on a plank of wood. So I stick to the nsr and let my son ride the rs, he is an ex racer with two stroke experience, and like he says to me, DAD, its a proper gp bike not a modified road bike. So I would say if you can get your nsr up around the 60 bhp mark, and you are a medium trackday rider stick with the nsr, but if you are a realy accomplished rider and feel you can handle the extra power go for the rs. A word of warning, if you plan on racing the rs or doing a lot of trackdays, beware, consumables like all your top end stuff is near extinct, as are barrels and cranks. Hope this helps Les. _________________ Proud Father of , 05 ktm 400exc supermoto 2018 honda crf rx supermoto
thought I had posted a response yesterday but don't see it here so I will again say thanks very much everyone for your helpful responses. The majority of your comments are consistent with views of my local peeps as well. I am going with the majority. Going to finish off that NSR and give it a try. Doubt I will outgrow it, at my age i am probably not going to get much faster, but it won't stop me trying.
Again, thanks everyone. Maybe I'll post some pics once it is all done.
Set up well, I don't think you'll regret going with the NSR.
As I already mentioned, there's no reason for it not to make over 65rwhp, and with fresh suspension and a set of HRC spec rear shock link plates, the handling should be more than sharp enough for most. The link plates are a must though, to raise the rear ride height and stiffen things up, as the geometry is quite lazy in stock trim. _________________ Andy.
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Thanks again Andy. I purchased the plates listed here: http://www.nsr250.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14528 but they did not seem to fit properly. Do you have a source, link, or part number for those HRC link plates?
Yeah, that link pissed me off a bit, seeing as we make/sell them through a Performance Engineering! I have a feeling it was done just to get me to bite though, so I let it go!
The smaller diameter MC21 wheel will definitely need compensating for, so link plates [that fit!] are essential. _________________ Andy.
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