I've also already picked up my next project. I befriended our local elderly Honda bike shop owner years ago - both being Moto GP fans with a penchant for race replicas.
He told me of a client who had an NS400R, which he'd owned for 3 decades, and not ridden at all in the last 10 years - who now wanted to sell it.
Initially, knowing they had crap brakes, suspension, wheel sizes (skinny 16 & 18 inch constar wheels) for which there aren’t sticky tires, stupid anti-dive forks and a compromised exhaust design that doesn’t let the engine Rev as freely as it would like - I thought I could just get it running well, then sell it on. My conscience told me “no”though, as the reason I’d been told of this bike was because my friend the bike shop owner knew I’d probably restore and make it better than it had ever been.
![Tire Wheel Automotive parking light Plant Automotive tire]()
Some history: The NS400R had been offered to Japanese and EU markets to celebrate Eddy Lawson's championship victory in the GP500 championship; Honda's first GP500 title - where he beat King Kenny Roberts by a mere 2 points, at the end of the championship.
The capacity of the road bike was kept to 400, to make it available to mid-sized Japanese motorcycle licence holders. Although Suzuki offered the RG500 and Yamaha the RD500, Honda's 400 was said to be the best of the three competing manufacturer's 2-stroke big bikes, offering a better riding experience.
Unfortunately, these NS400's were so expensive they never really sold well, also being overshadowed by new sportsbikes such as the then new GPZ600R's, etc.
NS400R's were only available between 1985 and early 1988, before being discontinued. The market was by then being replaced by MC18 NSR’s (which were and remain revered and sought after, with newer models later improving and increasing NSR250 popularity & desirability.
![Tire Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle Plant]()
![Tire Wheel Fuel tank Automotive lighting Vehicle brake]()
![Tire Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle Automotive lighting]()
Searching on yahoo.co.jp for modified NS400R’s, I soon came to the realisation that my donor NSR250 MC21’s original and now redundant wheels, a CBR600RR front end & shock combined with RVF750 discs & SP2 calipers would be simple but very effective bolt on improvements with little to no modification at all A 2004 CBR600RR weights near as dammit the same as the NS400R, and I’d get bump & preload adjustment in the deal!
Jim Lomas (JL) makes some beautiful expansion chambers & silencers too.
Combined, these and other known improvements would make it go, brake & handle much better….
Sadly, the reason for the bike sale, was because the owner suffered a stroke in 2021 (ominously, soon after being vaccinated with the Pfizer jab), and lost use of & strength of most of his right hand.
I struck a deal he was happy with, and once the paperwork was in order, collected it last week. It came with new piston rings, gaskets, Honda (Japanese) workshop manual, both original keys, etc.
The owner had even thoughtfully removed the fuel tank and fuel tap several years ago and stored these indoors, along with the belly pan (so grass cutters wouldn't damage it), before leaving the bike under several covers, behind his home. Sensing his sadness at not being able to ride any more, I promised him when it's done, I'd take him riding on the back. I've since also driven him to the Tokyo motorcycle show, and will treat him to a trip to Moto GP this autumn, in one of the camping vehicles we operate as part of our business.
Tyga Performance has kindly agreed to restore the bodywork, and there’s a source of replica Rothmans decals in the US.
I've managed to track down and buy a complete & perfect condition CBR600RR front end, complete with wheel spindle, triples, etc.
Hopefully if I have space in the workshop and time to do it - sometime in the winter I'll restore and modify this NS400R. Should look something like an amalgamation of the two bikes below (which have been Japanese magazine featured) when done.
I'm pretty sure they'll want to feature mine, when it's done too, as it'll probably turn out even better than those below.
![Wheel Tire Fuel tank Automotive lighting Automotive tire]()
![Wheel Tire Fuel tank Automotive lighting Automotive tire]()
He told me of a client who had an NS400R, which he'd owned for 3 decades, and not ridden at all in the last 10 years - who now wanted to sell it.
Initially, knowing they had crap brakes, suspension, wheel sizes (skinny 16 & 18 inch constar wheels) for which there aren’t sticky tires, stupid anti-dive forks and a compromised exhaust design that doesn’t let the engine Rev as freely as it would like - I thought I could just get it running well, then sell it on. My conscience told me “no”though, as the reason I’d been told of this bike was because my friend the bike shop owner knew I’d probably restore and make it better than it had ever been.
Some history: The NS400R had been offered to Japanese and EU markets to celebrate Eddy Lawson's championship victory in the GP500 championship; Honda's first GP500 title - where he beat King Kenny Roberts by a mere 2 points, at the end of the championship.
The capacity of the road bike was kept to 400, to make it available to mid-sized Japanese motorcycle licence holders. Although Suzuki offered the RG500 and Yamaha the RD500, Honda's 400 was said to be the best of the three competing manufacturer's 2-stroke big bikes, offering a better riding experience.
Unfortunately, these NS400's were so expensive they never really sold well, also being overshadowed by new sportsbikes such as the then new GPZ600R's, etc.
NS400R's were only available between 1985 and early 1988, before being discontinued. The market was by then being replaced by MC18 NSR’s (which were and remain revered and sought after, with newer models later improving and increasing NSR250 popularity & desirability.
Searching on yahoo.co.jp for modified NS400R’s, I soon came to the realisation that my donor NSR250 MC21’s original and now redundant wheels, a CBR600RR front end & shock combined with RVF750 discs & SP2 calipers would be simple but very effective bolt on improvements with little to no modification at all A 2004 CBR600RR weights near as dammit the same as the NS400R, and I’d get bump & preload adjustment in the deal!
Jim Lomas (JL) makes some beautiful expansion chambers & silencers too.
Combined, these and other known improvements would make it go, brake & handle much better….
Sadly, the reason for the bike sale, was because the owner suffered a stroke in 2021 (ominously, soon after being vaccinated with the Pfizer jab), and lost use of & strength of most of his right hand.
I struck a deal he was happy with, and once the paperwork was in order, collected it last week. It came with new piston rings, gaskets, Honda (Japanese) workshop manual, both original keys, etc.
The owner had even thoughtfully removed the fuel tank and fuel tap several years ago and stored these indoors, along with the belly pan (so grass cutters wouldn't damage it), before leaving the bike under several covers, behind his home. Sensing his sadness at not being able to ride any more, I promised him when it's done, I'd take him riding on the back. I've since also driven him to the Tokyo motorcycle show, and will treat him to a trip to Moto GP this autumn, in one of the camping vehicles we operate as part of our business.
Tyga Performance has kindly agreed to restore the bodywork, and there’s a source of replica Rothmans decals in the US.
I've managed to track down and buy a complete & perfect condition CBR600RR front end, complete with wheel spindle, triples, etc.
Hopefully if I have space in the workshop and time to do it - sometime in the winter I'll restore and modify this NS400R. Should look something like an amalgamation of the two bikes below (which have been Japanese magazine featured) when done.
I'm pretty sure they'll want to feature mine, when it's done too, as it'll probably turn out even better than those below.
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