HONDA NS400R (1985-1986) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Honda NS400R was a street-legal two-stroke sports machine manufactured by Honda from 1985 to 1987. The bike was inspired by the 500cc Honda NS500 MotoGP bike ridden by Freddie Spencer, also known as the RS500R.

The limited-production Honda NS400R was sold between 1985 and 1988 with lineage traces back to 1979 and was the largest-displacement two-stroke street-legal machine ever produced by Honda.

Honda led 500cc class motocross racing with its two-stroke powered motorcycles, but the four-stroke World Grand Prix road machines were lagging behind the competition. After internal deliberation over the four-stroke heritage, Honda moved forward with the two-stroke development.

The NS400R machine was built on a double cradle steel frame with an air-assisted telescopic fork and an anti-dive system handling the front suspension. The rear suspension was operated by an adjustable Pro-Link shock absorber with 100 mm of travel.

Two-piston calipers with two 256 mm discs were handling the front wheel stopping power, while the rear braking performance was controlled by a dual-piston caliper and a single 220 mm disc.

At the heart of the 1986 Honda NS400R, a 387cc two-stroke liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine set the machine in motion with a force of 72 hp with peak power at 9,500 rpm and 50 Nm (37 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

Due to a six-speed manual transmission with a chain drive and a dry weight of 163 kg (259 lbs), the bike registered a top speed of 202 kph (126 mph).