Hey There , I am looking at buying an NSR 250. I wanted to check the Vin # before purchase and The owner sent me pictures and it all reads....
8/94 Vin #6F9HONDA093HD9902 AND ENGINE MC18-1012815.
I am new to the NSR world but did some research and am wondering if it is a 1994 frame with an earlier MC18 engine?
Any advice on this would be helpful please.

Thats not a Honda VIN I've ever seen and NSR250 engines don't start with MC18!

All NSR250 engines (apart from the factory HRC ones) start MC16E. All chassis start with their model code. Eg MC21-100***, again apart from the factory HRC ones.
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If I have to take the carbs off once more...

Thanks for the reply. The engine # definitely reads MC18-1012815. I believe i am reading the Photo of the Compliance plate correctly also. I don't doubt the info you have given me but i am more confused what the bike actually is now. Maybe not an Aussie delivered bike?? The pictures are very clear if i can fwd the text msg if you would like to see . Cheers Geoff

I would say both have been altered then.

Every Honda engine number wether it be NSR250, NSR500 or even RC45 will read, eg's of the above, MC16E, NSR500E and RC45E.

You will note your engine number is missing the "E". Going by the fact they marked all NSR250 engines MC16E and yours not having the 16 or the E would maybe me look very hard at the bike.
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If I have to take the carbs off once more...

In fact, what you are quoting as the engine number was once a chassis number of a MC18!
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If I have to take the carbs off once more...

The Compliance plate is from grand prix imports and the letters are very clear.I will be looking very closely then. Thanks Again

Just for clarity:
1) The Australian VIN plate riveted to the frame (and its number) are made up by the aussie govt and don't necessarily mean anything in terms of the bike model.
2) The frame number is stamped on the headstock and looks like it is the MC18-1012815?? maybe?
3) The engine number is stamped on the right rear of the engine, on a crankcase, and will read MC16E-xxxx

Are you sure the MC18-1012815 number is stamped on the engine crankcase?
If it is, it seems dodgy.
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[color=#808080][size=9]Yes,.. I too know how to waste Time and Money,...

That makes sense. .

As mentioned above, the 17 digit VIN is for Aust compliance, and will be on a seperate plate riveted to the frame. Usually this will incorporate the numerical part of the Honda chassis number stamped into the headstock. Engine number will be the Honda number on the cases. Some of the grey bike importers where a little "less professional" when it came to how the new numbers where applied. It may also be a case ofthe current owner not reading the engine number correctly? What numbers are on the current rego papers?
You will be able to check the numbers online by running a a PPSR check, but this will not tell you the specific Honda model. What is the number stamped into the headstock, and what is the colour code on the white sticker on the subframe (nb not definitive evidence, but helpful)?. At least it was importedwhilethey where still in production, so you can rule out some models.
Can you post a pic, or provide alink to an online ad so that the knowledgable people here can help identify themodel from some of the more easily identifiable features?
I've seen some real mongrel "bitsas" recently, mainly MC18's though.

OK, so if I just assume that the MC18-1012815 is stamped on the headstock/steering head part of the frame, then the model of NSR250 you are looking at is obviously an MC18.
There are 4 models of MC18:
1988 r2j
1988 R4j (SP version of the R2j) Has gold magtek rims, Rothmans livery
1989 R5k
1989 R6k (SP version of the R5k) Has gold magtek rims, adjustable brass screw in top of front forks, remote reservoir on rear shock, dry clutch, and "TERRA Racing" White/silver livery.

The R2/4j has tacho redline at 11,500rpm and runs a PGM-I (or just "PGM")
The R5/6k has tacho redline at 12,000rpm, runs a PGM-II, had high mounted mufflers.

Hope that helps.
Perhaps study it up here

Also, for what its worth, the MC16/18's have hexagonal shaped barrels/heads, the MC21/28 has round barrels/heads.
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[color=#808080][size=9]Yes,.. I too know how to waste Time and Money,...

TuckerBag wrote:
Also, for what its worth, the MC16/18's have hexagonal shaped barrels/heads, the MC21/28 has round barrels/heads.

Pretty good summary, except the barrels (c/w heads) are interchangeable across all models, so it's not that uncommon these days to see MC21s with hexagonal barrels, or earlier bikes with the later round barrels... especially in locations where NSR parts aren't very common or easy to source.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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Also, I forgot to mention, one other easy way to determine if an MC18 is R2/4J or R5/6k is to look at the swingarm.
On the 1989 R5/6k the main extrusion on the swingarm matches that of the frame.
On the 1988 R2/4j they do not match. The swing arm is made from just a plain looking aluminuim RHS.

And yes, as alluded to by Middo and Andy, it is not uncommon to see all sorts of "mash-ups" or "bits'as" after 25-ish years of them being around.
This can make it hard for someone new to the NSR250 to really get a handle on what exactly they are looking at.
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[color=#808080][size=9]Yes,.. I too know how to waste Time and Money,...

Thanks to all for the NSR Facts. I NOW have all the info i need. Cheers