NS125R For a company that doesn’t like two-strokes Honda ... · wraparound front mudguard – a number of both options have turned up for sale in the UK of late. NS125R (1989-1990)

words JIM MOORE

NS125F(1986-1988)

124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC, 22bhp@10,000rpm, 107kg, 95mphColours: red/white/blue, grey/red

Italian-made 125 race replica built to satisfy the huge demand for 125s in Italy and across Europe. UK bikes were restricted to a feeble 12bhp and came without the ATAC powervalve. Continental bikes were more than a match for Yamaha’s LC and Suzuki’s RG. Very stylish but the build quality

is shabby in places. Looks superb in mock Rothmans red/white/blue.

NS125R Italia(1987-1990)

124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC, 22bhp@10,000rpm, 115kg, 98mphColours: white/green/red, Rothmans

Full-power version sold in Italy and Japan. Twin front discs and a distinctive red/green/white livery set it apart. Also sold in Rothmans colours with a larger

wraparound front mudguard – a number of both options have turned up for sale in the UK of late.

NS125R(1989-1990)

124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC, 22bhp@10,000rpm, 112kg, 98mph

Colours: red, whiteFully faired version of the F got neater clocks and better aerodynamics for ’89. Has big-bike feel, but hampered in the UK by its over zealous restriction. Doesn’t say 125 on it anywhere – very important for the

image, that. Learner neglect has left most looking very sorry.

NSR125R-SP(1991-1992)

124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC Valve, 30bhp@10,300rpm, 127kg, 100mph

Colours: RothmansSpecial race-homologation NSR built exclusively for the Italian home market to compete in the country’s hugely competitive Sport Production championship.

Differences to the stock NSR include no electric starter, no centrestand, a fully floating front disc, straight-cut

primary gear, higher compression (14.5:1), a more compact crank, revised porting, higher-spec Dell’Orto

carb and Marzocchi suspension and a different generator. Rare, but very trick.

NSR125R(1994-2001)


Colours: red/white/blue, orange/bronze/brown (Urban Tiger), red/white/black, orange/black/graphite,

black/graphiteFinal-generation NSR125R built in large parts in Japan

then assembled in Italy. Nicknamed the ‘foxeye’ on account of its distinctive twin headlamps, the NSR

struggled to make a dent in the UK market against the, by then, more desirable and faster Aprilia RS125 and track focussed Cagiva Mito. Even the odd CBR400RR Gullarm-style split beam frame couldn’t help it. An unfaired version called the Raiden was sold in Italy.

NSR125F(1991-1992)


Colours: red/white/green, blue/orange/black, white/purple/pinkMinor styling updates include six-spoke Grimeca wheels and OTT Hoover-style air scoops either side of the headlamp. The trump card of the naked NSR is the fact that its serpent-like

exhaust which winds its way out from the barrel and under the engine is on full display. Go for a full-power Italian bike rather

than a restricted UK offering.

NSR125R(1991-1993)


Colours: red/white/blue, white/red/blue/turquoise, black/turquoise/purple

Like the F, the R got an update too for 1991 with the same six-spoke wheels. As Honda looked to distance

itself from two-strokes, the NSR’s colourschemes started to show influence more from the CBR600 than those of the Japan-only NSR250. Although built in Italy, the NSR proved on the whole to be more robust than its

home-grown Italian competitors.

NSR125R(1989-1990)


Colours: red/white/blue, white/turquoise/pink, red/white/yellow

Fully faired NSR has a hint of CBR600 to the styling. Twin headlamps give it a big bike look and the electric

start makes firing it up a little easier – if not on the battery. It made it to UK shores but was throttled by the 12bhp restriction, and the price was too high for most.

NSR125F(1989-1990)

124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC Valve, 28bhp@10,300rpm, 123kg, 95mphColours: red/white/green, blue/orange/black

Unfaired version of the NSR125R, and a completely new design compared to the previous NS. Alcast aluminium beam frame, swirl design three-spoke wheels with 130-section rear – although 18in. The motor uses Honda’s excellent RC Valve powervalve system, and claimed

power is up to nearly 30bhp. This first NSR-F was Europe and Japan only, although Italian built.

7978

For a company that doesn’t like two-strokes Honda built a lot of them during the 1980s and 1990s. Most of them, like the NS and NSR singles, were very good too

NSR50(1987-1988)

49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 76kg, 65mphColours: white/red, blue/red, Terra silver/white, Rothmans, graphite/black, whiteExcellent pocket-sized race rep that instantly made Yamaha’s air-cooled YSR50

look dated and dull. Shares its motor with the NS50F, but makes even better use of the 7.2bhp on tap with better aerodynamics and less weight. Rothmans and Terra

Racing colours look superb. Disc brakes front and rear. Very desirable.

NS-1(1996-2000)

49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 92kg, 60mph

Colours: silver, red/white/blue, black/silver/purple, red/white/blue/black, white/red, HRC

Big-wheeled (but also skinny) alternative to the NSR50 gag bike. Shares the same engine but the styling draws cues from the NC35 and bigger four-stroke Hondas. A

neat package that looks especially well-executed in HRC graphics. Grey import only. Also sold in 80cc size in

Europe and 75cc spec in Spain.

NSR80(1989-1999)

79cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 12bhp@10,000rpm, 78kg, 70mphColours: red/white, blue/white, graphite/black, HRC red/white/blue, Repsol

Like the 50, the NSR80 was updated for 1989 with the same chassis and styling improvements. Six-spoke alloys were also offered from 1993. The last update, as with the 50, came in 1995 with a sleeker seat unit, fresher clocks and improvements to the

bars and triple clamp.

NS50F US(1988-1990)

49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 82.2kg, 63mphColours: white/pink/turquoise

A low-spec version of the NS50F Aero built specifically for the American market. It shares the same liquid-cooled motor but makes do with ugly spoked wheels, drum

brakes and no tacho, temp gauge or pillion seat. MBX-style bikini fairing and bellypan optional. One dreadful colourscheme, though.

NSR50(1989-1999)

49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 77kg, 65mphColours: red/white, blue/white, graphite/black, Rothmans, HRC red/white/blue, RepsolUpdated NSR gag comes with improved forks and front brake, a sleeker front fairing

and a high-level silencer – aping the changes made to the NSR250R of the same year. The colour options and graphics were updated inline with the MC18 250 as well. Six-

spoke wheels for 1993. HRC built a limited batch of race-only bikes after 2000.

NSR80(1987-1988)

79cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 12bhp@10,000rpm, 77kg, 70mphColours: white/red, blue/red, Terra silver/white, graphite/black

Identical to the ’87-’88 NSR50R gag bike but for its MBX80-derived engine which kicks out a whole 12bhp. With 12in wheels and 70mph-plus top end, this little 80 is arguably the ultimate pocket bike. Many a Japanese GP career started in the home

market’s huge pocket bike racing class. Only Yamaha’s TZM50R comes close.

NS50F Aero(1987-1991)

49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 79kg, 63mphColours: white/red, white/blue, black/grey

Built for Europe and Japan, the funky NS50F is actually an updated MBX50W underneath, sharing the same six-speed motor and almost identical frame.

Streamlined bodywork freshened the looks, as did three-spoke cast wheels. Rare here, but a great sports ’ped with the build quality of a much bigger bike.

Documents

NS125R For a company that doesn’t like two-strokes Honda ... · wraparound front mudguard – a number of both options have turned up for sale in the UK of late. NS125R (1989-1990)