I have just bought an MC18, recently imported from Japan. VIN number is MC18-1009095. It has a dodgy Rothmans paintjob but has does have 18" Honda Magteks. Keihin flatslides have TA 20B on them. Likely to be a 4J? I have to register it soon and hope (although am very sceptical) that it may be an SP. Can anyone help with what it is please.

It is also running with no airbox and individual K&N type air filters. It has been raced as it has drilled oil filler cap. Is it a good idea to keep the air filters or should I try to get back to an airbox?

I have bought it to prat around over the winter and do a few sunny days/trackdays next year (my gixxer is a bit too quick for me). If anyone has parts to fix/upgrade I would like to hear from you. First step is an MOT so upper fairing, fork seals and make sure it is running properly.

No doubt I will be studying the Discussion topics from now on in!

Thanks for any help,

welcome brother and if it runs ok with the filters i would say leave it alone mate
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

Hello MancMC18, and welcome.

There's a very easy way to tell a Mk1 from a Mk2... if the swingarm looks like it's made from similar extrusions as the frame (i.e. ribbed) then it's a Mk2. If the swingarm is conventional plain flat box section (like an MC16) then it's a Mk1.

Telling an R2J from an R4J however, is not so easy. Truth is, if it has all the right parts on it, then to all intents and purposes it can be considered an SP. There are so few totally original bikes left now anyway, and the NSR is notorious for the frame numbers crossing model types!

A Mk1 SP should have the Magtek wheels and should be in Rothmans colours, but apart from that there is no other difference. Both R and SP models use the TA20 carbs.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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Where abouts did you order the Nsr from mate?. im going to sell my Ducati i have and am going to try get hold of a Mc21 Rothmans if i can and get it imported.

I am like Manc. Just picked up a MC18 no bodywork , tank ok , Slight bent fork, no rear subframe and left under a tarpalling for 2 years but it only cost £200 so i shouldn't be too fussy. Having read this thread i can work out it is a Mk1 due to the smooth swing arm but how can i tell what model it is and does it really matter anyway? The frame number is 1015504 if that helps anyone.

Thanks for the help lads. Couple of months to fix, then off to Outon Park for February trackday - should run well at -2 celcius.

By the way hutch, don't go bidding against me on ebay will you. Waste of money that!

Festa wrote:Where abouts did you order the Nsr from mate?. im going to sell my Ducati i have and am going to try get hold of a Mc21 Rothmans if i can and get it imported.

Got mine from DK in Stoke, but they don't have any more and are not going back to Japan at present as the exchange rate is so poor. Know they are off to the USA soon so could get em to look out for one there?

Hey, hey we only have a few clean ones here as it is let's not take them overseas.

Surely the weak Pound hardly helps buying in the States either?

Anything on the road and titled out there is going to be expensive to get back here.

I've seen those DK "straight out of the crate" bikes before, they always looked like a bit of a gamble, but the way NSR prices have been rising lately anything cheap is going to get some attention.
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Please do not PM me technical questions, if you can't find it on the Forum start a thread

MC16
1000047 - 1021049

MC18 2J
1031032 - 1058121

MC18 4J
1039597 - 1051877

If yours is 1015504 then it's an MC16
The biggest difference between MC16 & MC18 is the speedo drive comes off the engine on the MC18 and off the front wheel on the MC16

Thanks for that, i will have to check the frame again as it is stamped MC18- then the frame number.. Then again the garage is a bit dark at the mo and i may have miss read it That would mean mancs is a MC16 also?

Yep just been out to the garage torch in hand and the Frame is stamped MC18-1015504. Speedo drive is off the front sprocket cover as well. Has the frame been changed at some point?


Edit
Just looked on the parts manual on the site and it appears the numbers didnt ru in order. It Shows MC16 - 1008077 ~ 1020966 but then on the MC18 opening page is shows MC18 - 1000020 ~ .Then MC21-1000001~1024051.
It would appear that they reset the numbers almost every time a new model came out.

Sorry I've mixed the engine and frame numbers up
Those were engine nos

The frame numbers are
MC16
MC16-1000033 - 1020966

MC18 2J
MC18-1000020 - 1026996

MC18 4J
MC18-1008557 - 1020796

MC18-1009095 is a 4J (SP)
MC18-1015504 is a 2J

Blimey lads, I was suicidal halfway through this link - the revelation I had an MC16 was a downer, especially as I would have to change my new username.

Then the good news that it is a MC18SP - happy days....and I have got it running OK. Just need a fairing now and loads of 2stroke oil.

Cheers to RobH for the clarification

I may not have the SP (Jealous of you Manc ) but at least i know what i have. With regards to the fairing issue is it cheaper to buy direct from TYGA in the US or to buy from the UK importer?