Official Start of the NSR-500 Replica

While we're waiting for the YZR-500 replica to come back from the painters, we've been busy making a start on the second version of our 2Moto GP5 chassis. This one, as requested by our customer, will be a Doohan era NSR-500 Replica. With NSR-500 engines unavailable, it will have a Suzuki RG-500 engine in it making about 120 bhp. The chassis geometry will be nearly identical to the RD-500 engined YZR Replica with minor modification to optimise COG location for the RG engine and necessary engine mounts.

Here is what the eventual result should come very close to:

While the starting point for the YZR-500 Replica was an existing bike, meaning bodywork, etc. already existed, the NSR-500 Replica is essentially a start from scratch. As such, we wanted to do everything we can to make it an even better replica. Of course, an NSR-500 engine would have been great, but they are not available. We didn't even try.

However, we did score a coup in locating the original Honda HRC moulds of the NSR-500 bodywork. Back in the '90, Honda had their GP bodywork made in the UK, and these moulds have survived to this day. So, we have commissioned as complete set of bodywork in pre-preg carbon fibre. We will be making small adjustment to the frame kit to fit this bodywork as best as possible. And, we will probably make a bespoke tank rather than try to adapt one from a road bike.

Here are a couple of pictures of the HRC bodywork. As you'd expect, it is of exceptional quality.