Hello, I'm Rick. I have just recently moved to Japan and am in a position to buy the NSR250 that I have wanted for a lot of years. Assuming both are SE models, how big a difference (if any) is there in handling/feedback between the two chassis? Pro's and Con's. Aside from cost of derestricting, is there anything else I should be thinking about? This bike will be a street/track bike while I'm here in Japan, but will ultimately be a dedicated track bike when I go back to the States. Any info would be appreciated. All opinions welcome. Thanks.

One of the forum members won a significant championship on an NSR250 back in the 90's. I'm sure he will give a reliable opinion once he sees this thread.

Value for money wise, you cannot beat an MC21 as the best overall package. Delimiting is free, the chassis is better than the MC18, and the buying price is significantly cheaper than an MC28.
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Thanks for the input. I have been leaning towards an MC21 for exactly the reasons you mentioned, but I look forward to hearing more opinions though. I found a really clean low km MC21 SP for what I thought was a pretty reasonable price ($5500 US).

i love my 21se and the guys i ride with cant believe how fast my bike is and thats with just a few cheap mods like wire splice, pipes, stuffers and a rear head on front. if you have found the right bike as in condition and spec (sp) that that speaks volumes plus as said its going to be much cheaper to get that added power out of a 21 thats essential for the track.

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Rlginsp wrote:Hello, I'm Rick. I have just recently moved to Japan and am in a position to buy the NSR250 that I have wanted for a lot of years. Assuming both are SE models, how big a difference (if any) is there in handling/feedback between the two chassis? Pro's and Con's. Aside from cost of derestricting, is there anything else I should be thinking about? This bike will be a street/track bike while I'm here in Japan, but will ultimately be a dedicated track bike when I go back to the States. Any info would be appreciated. All opinions welcome. Thanks.

Hi Rick - I was sort of same situation as you.

My firm sent me to Japan for 2 years overseas from North America.

At first I was set on an MC28, namely Repsol Spec SP.
But the reality is, even in the used and auction markets the MC28 still held a price premium.





I think it held the price premium because of:
1 - Perception that New is Always better (MC28 > MC21 > MC18)
2 - Coolness of Single Sided swing arm
3 - Coolness of Key Card Ignition
4 - better handling???--- I cant really comment, my judgement is only based on feedback from others.

I didnt feel that the premium for the MC28 justified the above.

And I looked hard across Japan to find the Repsol Machine.

In the end the MC21 made much more sense to me.

-Availability
- easier deresitriction

For me I still wanted the best, so I found a SP Spec.
1990 Cabin Color Scheme
I wouldnt have settled for a bike that wasnt the best condition that I could find.

Especially since most bikes in japan are used as daily commuters.
So they are beat up pretty good, and usually live outside in the elements.

I am more that happy with the MC21 that I found.
So much so that I brought it back with me when the firm moved me back to North America.

One thing to remember is that since you are planning to bring the bike back to North America.

Dont settle for second best, since you will regret it when back home.
Take the extra time to look for the spec that you want...SP/SE what ever, and the year and the paint spec you want.




jason
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Jason

My take on the MC21 v 28 is that the 21 is the way forward.
As has already been mentioned, it's easier to get power out of and also costs far less to do so.
As for handling, my chosen weapon would be the 21. Having ridden both back to back with very similar engines and suspension, I consistently lapped quicker on the 21 and felt it had more stability than the 28.
Possibly two reasons. The first and most fundamental would be the swingarm. The Pro-Arm by Honda's own admission has "passive steering" which in layman's terms means it bends like a banana when stressed. The normal type 21 arm doesn't do this and as such gives more confidence and can be pushed harder in my opinion. The RS250 suffered these same symptoms and Honda knew it but refused to take (what they considered) a step back.
There's also the fact that the 28 has a huge hole in the headstock for the steering lock. The 21 doesn't. My engineering background says that this will be a weak point. Honda recognised this by suppling a bolt in piece for racing, but it doesn't really help that much. And when you consider that the F3 frame has a massive headstock then this is definitely an area that you don't want to have big holes in.
However. I tend to look at these things from a racer's point of view. So what about you're road going guy?
Well, the Pro-Arm will attract attention as it's obviously a little special and the MC28 does have sexier bodywork (just my opinion). Also the key card is just so trick, even though it serves no real purpose other than making it expensive to derestrict. But it does look pretty cool when all others have bunches of keys and you have a card.
So, what would I have? Well that's easy cos I've been there. It'd be a 21 with 28 bodywork. Hunt for an F3 shock to prop up the rear and either RWU NF5 or USD NX5 forks. That would give you an almost unbeatable package through the twisties on a Sunday morning hoon.

Re. the track;

Got to agree with Matt, jumped from 28 - 21 and went faster.

(poxy RVF has a similar (not so) lovely flexy swingarm and is equally bad in really quick corners (Coppice at Cadwell leaps to mind, and Schwantz Curve at Donny) but has grunt and actually works so gets let off)
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Thanks for feedback everybody. I was leaning toward the 21 anyway, so thank you again for the info. I am bidding on a bike at auction today. Hopefully I can check back tonight as an NSR owner.

Rlginsp wrote: Hopefully I can check back tonight as an NSR owner.

Well it would be rude not to

Well the SP didn't work out. Sounds like it was a pretty active auction, so the price shot up above my budget. The bike was a really clean 1993 SP with only 7000 kms, so I thought it might end up out my price range.So, I'll just keep looking. Hope to have a bike by the end of the year.

you did the right thing not getting sucked in. keep looking and let us know when you spy something else.

What sort of money are they fetching at the auctions these days?

I bowed out around $5500 usd. I think it went for about $7000 usd. I'm not sure how that compares to prices elsewhere, but I'd be curious to know. Sounds like they sold a brand new MC28 SP there in the past few months. It went for about $20,000 usd. I guess it just depends on how excitable the crowd is. I switched to a different auction rep. He thinks I should be able to find a clean low km 21 SE in my price range. The search is on.

Ι think MC21 has more stability because of the much more solid Gull Arm swingarm,if i was you i'd buy an MC21 and throw an mc28 tank and subframe because of the much more contemporary rider's position these 2 parts are able to offer.

Best of both worlds.

PS To me mc18 r5k is still the most easy NSR to handle and steer.
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