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UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 5:25 pm
by silverstrom
Some of the UK NS400R owners might find this useful.

An interesting article in the current issue of Practical Sportsbikes says only 200 NS400Rs were sold in the UK, and only 180 of those are still in existence with most on SORN.

Competition from the RG500 and RD500 meant NS400R sales were poor worldwide and the bike was discontinued after only a 2 year production run. Still regarded as the best handling and braking of the 3 bikes, but the smaller engine and less HP meant the bike was doomed before it hit showroom floors.

I regard mine as the best looking of all my bikes.

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 6:20 pm
by podman
I dont believe that to be correct, whilst it was quite rare bike, there was 4 in my small town back in 1987.

The recent info they have will be from the "how many left" website which isnt accurate at all either.

Having recently ridden my friends 400, I have no doubt the 400 was the best handling bike, it still feels modern today, my 500 is way behind it in every respect handling wise,in all honestly, if I could locate my old HRC 400, id sell my 500 to get it, its still out there somewhere...

It is a shame that it was no quicker than a decent YPVS 350 or it would have had the beating of the lot.

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 6:34 pm
by silverstrom
A stock 350 couldn't touch it. Even my modified 90 RZ350 was less capable than my stock NS400R, in all aspects. My 350 felt quicker and had a much better power band, but the 400 properly ridden would outpace it. Of course, that meant keeping the 400 above 7500 RPM at all times. The 400 is 160 KPH in 3rd gear and the 350 really had to stretch its legs to keep up. There is no doubt that the 350 was a far scarier ride. Not much of a difference in capacity. 347CC for the RZ and 387CC for the NS. Had Honda increased the capacity the bike would have been untouchable.

I'm not certain what the production numbers were for Canada. Mine is #317 and I haven't seen one higher yet. Straycat has one, but I've not seen another here.

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 4:57 am
by podman
Couldnt touch it for handling agreed but in actual straightline performance between my friends F2 Powervalve and the NS, it was neck and neck..The NS topped out at a slightly higher speed, probably due to better aeros and gearing than more power.

Roadtests from back in the day gave the NS around 50BHP at the tyre and often less, the one I pictured a few weeks with my 500 is in great condition and made 48RWHP on Krazy Katts dyno last year..a decent YPVS makes the same level of power...and the YPVS is lighter.

Honda certainly dropped the ball not making it a 500 thats for sure.

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 10:38 am
by Martman
silverstrom wrote:A stock 350 couldn't touch it. Even my modified 90 RZ350 was less capable than my stock NS400R, in all aspects. My 350 felt quicker and had a much better power band, but the 400 properly ridden would outpace it. Of course, that meant keeping the 400 above 7500 RPM at all times. The 400 is 160 KPH in 3rd gear and the 350 really had to stretch its legs to keep up. There is no doubt that the 350 was a far scarier ride. Not much of a difference in capacity. 347CC for the RZ and 387CC for the NS. Had Honda increased the capacity the bike would have been untouchable.

I'm not certain what the production numbers were for Canada. Mine is #317 and I haven't seen one higher yet. Straycat has one, but I've not seen another here.
I've got # 309 that was originally sold out here on the Rock.

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 1:23 pm
by ns86
Highest I have seen is #445. The guy I bought my RZ500 from sold his to the US, it was #445. Mine is #139 from Quebec and it has some French on the side covers. Poignee de Maintiein for Side Grip, the yellow decal inside the Helmet Holder door is French only and the Shock adjuster decal is French only. A French Canadien Version? How many of those I wonder?

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 2:29 pm
by silverstrom
It would have been the same version as other Canadian bikes with dealer applied information in French.

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 3:43 pm
by jackson.40
Freddie has been in the UK a few weeks back riding a NS400R................................

Image

Image


Steve

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 4:50 pm
by podman
That last weeks MCN Steve? I understood Freddie lived in the UK now.

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:01 pm
by jackson.40
I think it was a few weeks ago.

I thought Freddie was just here in the UK promoting his new book, i didn't know he lived here.


Steve

Re: OK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 5:33 pm
by Straycat
silverstrom wrote:A stock 350 couldn't touch it. Even my modified 90 RZ350 was less capable than my stock NS400R, in all aspects. My 350 felt quicker and had a much better power band, but the 400 properly ridden would outpace it. Of course, that meant keeping the 400 above 7500 RPM at all times. The 400 is 160 KPH in 3rd gear and the 350 really had to stretch its legs to keep up. There is no doubt that the 350 was a far scarier ride. Not much of a difference in capacity. 347CC for the RZ and 387CC for the NS. Had Honda increased the capacity the bike would have been untouchable.

I'm not certain what the production numbers were for Canada. Mine is #317 and I haven't seen one higher yet. Straycat has one, but I've not seen another here.

I've got VIN #86, which is kinda' cool

I've heard different numbers for Canada 300-350 seems to be the most common range I hear about, I've heard 500 as well.

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 8:28 pm
by silverstrom
Sweet :smt023 #86 for the one year only Canadian 1986.

Seems there is no way to know how many were actually sold here. I've asked people I know at dealers and no one has been able to find any information. They were only sold for 1 year here and were competing with the RZ500 and RG500, so sales were dismal. I'd say the number is closer to 300, or less. Did Honda start at #101 like Yamaha did? Was the Canadian run sequential? How many never sold?

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 4:31 am
by Speed Freak
Finally managed to get my NS400R out of the garage :smt003 :smt003
I would agree that the handling of this bike is really good also compared to modern bikes.
It feels a bit like a light supermoto.

Engine is different to my 350, slightly more power at higher rpm but below 7000rpm it is very weak.
Maybe my 350 isn`t that good to compare because I think it has not really much power also compared to good standard bikes - only 180-185km/h on the straight with fully equipped ~100kg driver on it.
The speed was still going up on the NS400R at 180km/h with normal sitting position, i guess it will go up to 200-210.

By the way, mine is #397

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 10:18 am
by rubberfingers
The NS was primarily a jap market bike so should really be compared to the RG400, would be Intresting to see a test between them

Andy

Re: UK NS400R Numbers

Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 2:47 pm
by silverstrom
Speed Freak wrote:Engine is different to my 350, slightly more power at higher rpm but below 7000rpm it is very weak.
The ATAC closes at 7500 RPM and you really need to be up there to get the most from the bike. 3rd gear seems to keep the bike in the sweet spot nicely.