Topic: Well I sold out. I am buying a crotchrocket.

[GroovieGhoulie]

I bit the bullet and pulled the trigger on the checkbook for an NS400R.  '86 Freddy Spencer colors.  Owned by a friend of the family, who is an older Honda mechanic that specializes and only works on '60s-'70s-'early '80s Hondas.  I saw it last year, (and fell in love) and it is perfect.  7,000 kms, or 4375 miles, and never dropped or anything.  The plastic is perfect and all stock.  The best part is, it's on a valid Florida title, so no hassles with getting it titled and "street legal".  It came out of Canada and was imported years ago, so all the hoops have been jumped through.

Can't wait to get home now.  Yeah, I got a water-cooled plastic-encased bike, but it's still such an oddball machine, I'm OK with it.  A Honda two-stroke triple, kick-start-only, never officially imported to the US, only 2700 made worldwide over five years, '80s MotoGP technology, (a homologation model perhaps?) etc. 

I'm gonna ride it for a few years, have some fun and get some good memories, then sell it down the road, and hopefully make a few bucks.  With the performance of the stock market lately, I think speculating on collectible bikes is safer! 

Pics as soon as I get 'em.

I am SOOO excited!!!!

[bill440cars]

I bit the bullet and pulled the trigger on the checkbook for an NS400R.  '86 Freddy Spencer colors.  Owned by a friend of the family, who is an older Honda mechanic that specializes and only works on '60s-'70s-'early '80s Hondas.  I saw it last year, (and fell in love) and it is perfect.  7,000 kms, or 4375 miles, and never dropped or anything.  The plastic is perfect and all stock.  The best part is, it's on a valid Florida title, so no hassles with getting it titled and "street legal".  It came out of Canada and was imported years ago, so all the hoops have been jumped through.

Can't wait to get home now.  Yeah, I got a water-cooled plastic-encased bike, but it's still such an oddball machine, I'm OK with it.  A Honda two-stroke triple, kick-start-only, never officially imported to the US, only 2700 made worldwide over five years, '80s MotoGP technology, (a homologation model perhaps?) etc. 

I'm gonna ride it for a few years, have some fun and get some good memories, then sell it down the road, and hopefully make a few bucks.  With the performance of the stock market lately, I think speculating on collectible bikes is safer! 

Pics as soon as I get 'em.

I am SOOO excited!!!!

And understandably so, Groovy!   Congratulations, I hope you and your "Crotchrocket" will be very happy.   Seriously, I DO hope you get some great ridding miles out of THAT one.

[FunJimmy]

Nice score! Even in Canada a bike like that would be hard to find.
Remember to purchase knee sliders EH!


FJ

[ColinMc]

I call dibs when you sell it! I am dead serious too btw...

Unless I find an RZ500 between now and then...or an Aprilia RS250 with a title...lol

[DarkRider]

Welcome to the world of the honda racing machines. Nice score. and where are the goddamn pics? lol

[GroovieGhoulie]

Pics coming soon.  I'm in Iraq, family is in Texas and bike and such is in Florida.  But as soon as is possible, I will get some.  My dad travels back and forth a lot, so I'll see what he can do.

Been reading about the model.  Only 2700 made for 10 countries over four years.  Only 400 were ever imported into Canada and all in 1986.  They were all the HRC red/white/blue tricolor.  Most were sold in the UK and Japan, with the rest spread all over Europe.  A rare beast indeed.

I saw a picture of a Japanese-market model and it had MUCH more attractive low-profile turn indicators.  I might try and dig a set of those up on the internets.  A non-permanent mod and it looks MUCH better.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Tire Question:

Not sure about the condition of the tires, plus I'm gonna need 'em eventually, so I started checking around for available sizes.  The bikes wears skinny tires:

100/90-16 front
110/90-17 rear

Now, I've read some period tests and they commented on the smallness of the tires, even back then.  I've checked some vendors and recommended tires and the closest I've gotten is the following:

Bridgestone offers their Battleax BT-45 in the following sizes:

110/90-16 F
120/90-17 R

That's only 10mm bigger on each tire, so it shouldn't make much difference, since each end is up the same amount, right?

Then Avon shows for their AM26:

100/90-16 F (dead match)
120/90-17 R
120/80-17 R

The Avon front is right on, but the rear is slightly bigger, but with two different aspect ratios offered.  With the rear being slightly wider, would the smaller aspect ratio give the proper overall tire height, or would it make that much difference?  How much difference in the steering and handling would these tires make on the machine, if any?

All of the listed tires are V-rated, so speed rating isn't an issue.

[jtb]

Ghoulie, I was hoping to see you again at Barber's this year.  Stay safe, Man, and let us know when you're back.

John

[Sporkfly]

Well, I'm jealous! A unique and rare beast indeed!

[bill440cars]

        GG, I knew you'd gone there. Didn't realize you were there now. When you coming back? We'll be looking for your safe return bro. 

                                      Take care, Bill

[GroovieGhoulie]

        GG, I knew you'd gone there. Didn't realize you were there now. When you coming back? We'll be looking for your safe return bro. 

                                      Take care, Bill

Should be back in Feb '09.  Left in Nov '07, so it's the full 15-month soulcrusher.    Expect some threads when I return about bringing bikes out of LONG storage.

It'll be a nice toy when I get back.  Thanks for the kind words; I'm really starting to get an awesome Honda collection.  Next year, I'm gonna drag them all to Barber and show 'em off some.  Maybe Mid-Ohio, since I hear the featured marque, (model?), will be the CB750 since '09 will be the 40th Anniversary of the 750.

We shall see.

[bill440cars]

      Man, you deserve much recognition for that run! As has been said, you stay safe and we'll be looking for you to be homeward bound in Feb 09'. I'm marking my calendar fo that. Good to hear from you BTW!


                                  Take Extra Special Care,  Bill

[Ecosse]

Ghoulie,

Watch your self over there man. Come back safe... and 'thanks' doesn't even cover it.


Oh, and kudos on an excellent score... you'll be the only kid on the block with an NS400R!

[GroovieGhoulie]

Oh, and kudos on an excellent score... you'll be the only kid on the block with an NS400R!

Thanks!  I'll admit "Uniqueness" was a part of this.  I mean I knew at some point I would get a "plastic bike", and I could have been like most folks and gotten a CBR/ZX/GSXR, etc.  But I don't like being cookie-cutter.  Instead I got an oddball bike: a GP-inspired two-stroke Honda, three-cylinder, kicker-only, that's demanding to ride, (2500 RPM powerband), has intense maintenance needs and poor parts availability.

But I HAD to have it.  I mean, there are small-scale bike nights all over my area, usually people my age with modern plastic bikes.  I show up on that old thing, and while they're thumbing buttons to get going, I swing out a lever and start kicking!  And then it fires to life with puffs of blue smoke!!  Too cool!!!!  Whatever it lacks in outright speed nowadays is more than made up for with character and uniqueness.

My 750 or 400 Four will be the daily rider, and this will be the hooligan toy.  Might take it to a few track days too.  Stretch its legs in its home environment.

[Ecosse]

That it's a two stroke is enough of a standout. These days (in the US at least) that's exotic!

[GroovieGhoulie]

That it's a two stroke is enough of a standout. These days (in the US at least) that's exotic!

Ain't that the truth.  Wanted a Street Stroker for a while, and now I got one!