78-79 PS FEB NSR Singles Family Tree.indd

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
words JIM MOORE
NS50F Aero
NS50F US
49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 79kg, 63mph
Colours: 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.
49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 82.2kg, 63mph
Colours: 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.
(1987-1991)
NS125R
(1989-1990)
NS125F
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC,
22bhp@10,000rpm, 112kg, 98mph
Colours: red, white
Fully 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.
(1986-1988)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC,
22bhp@10,000rpm, 107kg, 95mph
Colours: 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.
(1988-1990)
NS125R Italia
(1987-1990)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with ATAC,
22bhp@10,000rpm, 115kg, 98mph
Colours: 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.
NSR50
(1987-1988)
49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 76kg, 65mph
Colours: white/red, blue/red, Terra silver/white, Rothmans, graphite/black, white
Excellent 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.
NSR50
(1989-1999)
NSR125F
(1989-1990)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC Valve, 28bhp@10,300rpm, 123kg, 95mph
Colours: 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.
49cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 7.2bhp@10,000rpm, 77kg, 65mph
Colours: red/white, blue/white, graphite/black, Rothmans, HRC red/white/blue, Repsol
Updated 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. Sixspoke wheels for 1993. HRC built a limited batch of race-only bikes after 2000.
NSR125R-SP
(1991-1992)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC
Valve, 30bhp@10,300rpm, 127kg, 100mph
Colours: Rothmans
Special 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
(1989-1990)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC
Valve, 28bhp@10,300rpm, 127kg, 98mph
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.
NSR80
(1987-1988)
79cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 12bhp@10,000rpm, 77kg, 70mph
Colours: 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.
NSR80
(1989-1999)
79cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single, 12bhp@10,000rpm, 78kg, 70mph
Colours: 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.
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.
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NSR125R
NSR125R
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC
Valve, 28bhp@10,300rpm, 127kg, 98mph
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.
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC
Valve, 28bhp@10,300rpm, 127kg, 98mph
Colours: red/white/blue, orange/bronze/brown (Urban
Tiger), red/white/black, orange/black/graphite,
black/graphite
Final-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.
(1991-1993)
(1994-2001)
NSR125F
(1991-1992)
124cc liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke with RC Valve,
28bhp@10,300rpm, 129kg, 95mph
Colours: red/white/green, blue/orange/black, white/purple/pink
Minor 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.
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