Honda's Nsf250r Moto3 Contender
Honda's NSF250R Moto3 Contender
AS THE LAST SURVIVING TWO-stroke world-championship class approaches its conclusion at the end of 2011, we get to take a peek into the future of the new four-stroke Moto3 class that will replace it in Grand Prix competition. Honda has already geared up for the class with its new NSF250R.
Honda used its 1996 RS125R (the last "fac tory" Honda 125 to compete in GPs) as the basis for the project. The biggest challenge was maintaining the
same level of compactness while shoehorning the much larger, 250cc four-stroke inside the twin-spar frame. The dohc engine’s cylinder is inclined 15 degrees backward and the head was rotated 180 degrees, placing the intake at the front and the exhaust at the rear. Rules dictate a maximum bore of 81mm, and no desmodromic or pneumatic valvetrains are allowed. Rev limit is restricted to a maximum of 14,000 rpm.
Honda claims 48 peak horsepower at 13,000 rpm, not hilly exploiting the limits allowed by the rulebook, and 20.6 foot-pounds of peak torque at 10,500 rpm. Impressive figures considering the bike’s claimed 180-pound dry weight and 48.0inch wheelbase. U.S. price will be $28,599. —Bruno dePrato
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