Honda's 2 stroke greatest hits

 "Honda will never build a two-stroke motorcycle" was Soichiro Honda's stance in the late 1960s. It was then somewhat ironic that when Honda finally decided to go down the 2 stroke path that not only did they excel with the technology, they actively continued to develop 2 stroke solutions after most of their rivals had given up.

Here are a selection of ground breaking and class leading 2 strokes that prove that Honda were in fact 2 stroke company and their love and passion for these bikes continues to this day,

1979 MB50

The MB50 or MB-5 was Honda's first two-stroke road sport bike. With typical Honda build quality the engine featured a geared balancer shaft to smooth vibrations, and in full power guise produced 7hp. The engines basic lay out lived on through all the MB/MT/MBX/MTX/ NSR/ CRM models and lasted for over 20 years. 

1983 NS500

In 500cc GP racing Honda had persevered longer than anyone with their NR500 4 stroke racer. in 1982 they switched to the 3V cylinder 2 stoke racer the NS500. The concept was simple, make the bike small and light and handle better even though it was down a little on power and in 1983 they were proved right in the hands of 'Fast' Freddie Spencer who became the 1983 World Champion. In 84 Honda switched to the V4 NSR500 which had an unusual configuration with the fuel in the belly pan, and with the subsequent weight change as fuel loads got lighter made the handling a little unpredictable. Freddie asked for his NS500 back for selective rounds which he subsequently won on. The NS500 lived on as a customer bike for privateers called the RS500. Honda has documented its restoration on their HRC social media pages. Here is the NS500 warming up at the Collection Hall in 2025

1984 - 2001 CR500

The Honda CR500 is a legendary open-class two-stroke motocross bike produced from 1984 to 2001, renowned as the "king" of big-bore dirt bikes. Known for its brutal power—roughly 60+ horsepower from an engine—and intimidating torque, it dominated racing in the 1980s and 90s before being phased out by lighter 250cc two-strokes and 450cc four-strokes. The CR500 won many races, championships and world championships with riders such as Dave Thorpe winning in 1985, 1986 and 1989.

1985 NS400R

The NS400R was a v3 400cc 2 stroke race replica built to celebrate the success of the NS500 which Freddie Spencer took to victory in 1983. The road going version stuck to the 400cc Japanese licencing limit rather than the full 500cc many riders of the time would have loved, however it is seen as one of the big three GP replica's of its time along with the Suzuki RG500 and Yamaha RD500. Today the NS400 is a hugely desirable motorcycle with values every creeping up. It was available in both the Rothmans blue and white and the 1984 HRC GP colour scheme.

1986-1996 NSR250

Rumor has it when Honda designed the original NSR250 NC16 they just dusted off the blue prints to Freddie Spencer's 1985 championship winning RS250RW. Weather that's true or not is debatable, but it helped cement the reputation that the NSR was a race bike for the road. The MC16 was a striking machine and a huge sales success, finally beating Yamaha, arguably the experts in 2 stroke technology. 

The NSR featured a 90 degree V twin, angled at 20 degrees for better COG, with the carburettors sat behind the rear piston feeding directly in to the crank case, exactly like the race bike. It also featured the new power valve system called the RC Valve, a design so neat and compact it was taken up by HRC for use in the race bikes. With an all new box section aluminium frame the bike cam in at just 125kg making it the lightest in class. The NSR was developed rapidly over the next few years resulting in the MC18, MC21 and MC28 models.

The NSR250R SP MC28 is the top-of-the-line model in the NSR250R series, featuring advanced, cutting-edge technology. It incorporates a PGM memory card system in the main switch section, the world's first mass-produced commercial motorcycle with a complex electronic function, resulting in intelligent engine control. It also comes standard with a dry multi-plate clutch, lightweight, high-quality magnesium front and rear wheels, and front and rear suspension with damping force adjustment (the front suspension uses a cartridge type).Like the 400, the NSR250 values have sky rocketed with the MC28 pro arm versions being the most desirable.

1995 EX-2

The Honda EXP-2 was an experimental, 400cc two-stroke off-road prototype motorcycle developed in 1995 to prove that two-stroke engines could be clean and efficient. Honda followed the path off small and light to gain performance like it had done previously with its road racing models. Key features included fuel injection and a unique automatic de-compression system (ARC) to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, competing in desert races like the Dakar. In the Dakar the EX-2 finished 5th overall and 1st in both the under 500cc and experimental classes. 

The EXP-2 demonstrated that "two-stroke" did not have to mean "dirty," offering a unique, experimental alternative to conventional engine designs of the mid-90s. The AR (Active Radicle) design did make production with the CRM250AR road bike. 

1996 CRM250AR

The Honda CRM250AR (1996–1999) is the final, most advanced iteration of Honda’s CRM250 two-stroke dual-sport series, known for "Active Radical" (AR) technology that optimized combustion for improved low-end torque and efficiency. It features a 249cc, liquid-cooled, 2-stroke single-cylinder engine producing ~40 BHP, a 6-speed gearbox, and upside-down forks, weighing around 127–130 kg

1984-2002 NSR500

The Honda NSR500 is considered the most dominant 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle in history, securing 10 riders' championships and over 130 race wins between 1984 and 2001. It is renowned as a "raw, violent" 2-stroke V4 machine which was hard to master.
In 1992 Honda pioneered the 'Big Bang' firing order which smoothed the power pulses making it a much easier bike to ride. By 1997 Doohan insisted on reverting back to the more powerful 'Screamer' engine which was much more challenging to ride, and again he mastered the bike and became champion again.

Champions include, Freddie Spencer (1985), Wayne Gardner (1987), Eddie Lawson (1989), Mick Doohan (1994, 95, 96, 97, 98), Alex Criville (1989) and Valentino Rossi (2001).
In 1996 Honda launched a V Twin NSR500 designed for privateers that took advantage of the rules stating twins could be lighter. Here is Honda firing up the 1985 bike recently.

Worthy mentions

1986 NS125F - the fist Japanese manufacture to move production to Italy, just when 125's exploded in popularity with the influential Italian Sport Production Championship. And with that cut-throat market updates were fast and furious with the R, R2, NSR125 JC20, SP and JC22 models. 

1984 NS250R - Honda's first V Twin 250 was never an official UK import but Honda UK brought some in for the TT races, and in the hands of Mat Oxley it won the 1985 250 Production TT.

1979 MT50 - made in parallel as an off road alternative to the MB50 road bike. The MT stayed in production for a staggering 21 years from 1979 to 2000. 

1987-89 NSR50/80 - These mini sized sports bikes, often referred to as 'Gag' bikes offer GP looks at a 3/4 size. Only available as a 'grey' import to the UK these machines are extremely collectable and massive fun to ride.

As you can see from this selection that in racing both on and off road, Honda dominated. Their road bikes were extremely high quality and bristled with high technology and features. And with the Active Radical bikes they pushed 2 stroke technology cleaner, faster and more efficient that ever before. So when somebody says Honda were never a 2 stroke company, I think yes, they were late to the party, but when they showed up they absolutely smoked all comers. 

All of the machines are on display and are in working condition at the Honda Collection Hall and are frequently run and ridden at multiple events including the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, multiple Moto GP races and the Honda Racing 'Thanks' day.

1984 Honda CR-1 500cc Prototype

The Honda CR-1 is one of those bikes you’ve probably never even heard of—and neither did I until about a week ago when it popped up on a facebook group. It was never mass-produced, and there’s barely any info about it floating around online. That’s because the CR-1 wasn’t a regular production bike at all—it was an experimental prototype that Honda exhibited at the "MOVE" event held at the Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama, Japan in August 1989. And it’s actually a pretty wild concept.

The idea at the time was to try out a road bike powered by the engine from the Honda CR500R, which Honda Racing Corporation had just started working with. Even though the bike was revealed in ’89, its development actually goes all the way back to 1984. So we’re talking about that early CR500 engine—a 491cc, two-stroke, air-cooled single-cylinder putting out around 60hp at the crank. Pretty crazy for a road bike.

The bike used a twin-spar aluminum frame that  looks very similar in design to the beam frame used on the 1986 NSR250 MC16 rather than square tubed design from Honda's first alloy production frame found on the 1985 NS400R. That’s an interesting clue, because it suggests Honda had already been experimenting with this design before putting it into production with the NSR. Which makes sense—nothing ends up on the production line without a lot of testing first.

The wheels look like a two-piece bolt-together design like the early 80's Comstars, but with a more modern 3 spoke look. The bike also featured Radial tyres which in 1984 were not commercially available.

In other observations the seat stretches up onto the tank, which echoes the GPZ250 styling of the time. Up front, it’s got a pretty standard-looking fork and while you can’t really see the rear shock we can assume its Honda's Pro Link set up. Braking-wise, there’s a single front disc with a conventional caliper, and a rear disc that’s mostly hidden behind the exhaust.

And… that’s pretty much where the trail goes cold. There’s no real info beyond that. It’s probably not a coincidence that Honda only showed it at a trade show—and even then, five years after it was developed. That pretty much tells you they never planned for it to become a production model. It was more of a behind-the-scenes experiment that they eventually decided to show off.

At first glance, it doesn’t really look like anything else in Honda’s lineup from that time—or even later. But if you look closely, you might spot a few similarities with the Honda Bros / Hawk, especially around the tank, frame, and seat area.

As for what happened to the CR-1? No one really knows. It might still be sitting in storage somewhere, maybe at the Honda Collection Hall… or, like a lot of prototypes, it may have quietly disappeared for good. Regardless the CR-1 shows that although they were late to the party with the 2 stoke engine, once onboard Honda saw huge value in it and wanted to explore options and even persevered with 2 stroke development when others gave up.

Press Release, April 19th, 1985 - Honda releases the road sports bike "NS400R" equipped with a water-cooled 2-stroke V-type 3-cylinder engine

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will release the Honda NS400R, a bold-looking road sports bike equipped with a newly designed water-cooled, two-stroke, 90-degree V-3 engine (total displacement: 387 cm3 ) and a full fairing as standard, on May 10th.

The NS400R was developed by incorporating the latest technologies from the Honda NS500, a motorcycle racer that won the manufacturer's championship in the Road Race World GP500 for two consecutive years in 1983 and 1984.

The engine is a Honda NS400V-type three-cylinder engine with a lightweight, slim and compact design, with two cylinders horizontally positioned at the front of the crankcase and one cylinder at a 90-degree angle behind it. Furthermore, the aluminium one-piece cylinder has excellent resistance to seizure and wear, and the NS cylinder has an inner wall that is specially coated with nickel and silicon carbide, reducing friction loss and improving durability. In addition, the front two cylinders are equipped with an Automatic Adjustable Torque Amplification Exhaust Mechanism (ATAC), which electrically detects the engine speed, automatically changes the exhaust volume, and achieves an effective pulsation effect, and the connecting rods are equipped with high-speed stainless steel needle bearings that are excellent in high-speed durability. As a result, the engine generates high torque at low and medium speeds, and also operates smoothly up to high revolutions (maximum output 59PS/8500rpm, maximum torque 5.1kg-m/8000rpm), making it easy to handle.

The body design is lightweight and highly rigid, and is made with computer analysis. The surface is anodized and finished with a clear finish. The front wheel suspension is equipped with an air-assisted suspension that allows load adjustment, and the rear wheel is equipped with a Pro-Link suspension that allows multi-stage load adjustment. The front wheel is equipped with a compact brake torque response anti-dive mechanism (TRAC) that reduces the sinking of the body during braking, and the front wheel exhibits excellent road surface tracking. The brakes are double front and single rear disc brakes equipped with semi-metal pads and dual piston callipers. The wheels are Honda's original all-aluminium Comstar wheels, 16 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear, which reduces the un-sprung load and achieves high rigidity. In addition, the bike is equipped with a full fairing with a thorough aerodynamic design as standard, making it a highly functional road sports bike.

Another notable feature is that the car comes in two body colours: the Honda Racing Tricolor (a combination of red, blue, and white) and the colour (a combination of blue and white) of Rothmans International, a British tobacco manufacturer that became the main sponsor of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) this year.

*Rothmans International is a British tobacco manufacturer that actively supports motor sports activities, mainly in Europe. Since 1985, it has had a sponsorship contract with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), and has supported the team's motorcycle World GP 500 and 250 classes as well as endurance racing activities.

The sales plan is

Domestic annual (planned) 6,000 units

The national standard cash price is 629,000 yen

 (Prices for Hokkaido and Okinawa are 9,000 yen higher. Prices for some other remote islands are excluded.)

Additionally, fully coordinated accessories such as helmets and rider suits that match the body colours of the NS400 series are also available.

Main specifications

Model NC19

Total length (m) 2.025

Overall width (m) 0.720

Overall height (m) 1.125

Wheelbase (m) 1.385

Minimum ground clearance (m) 0.135

Seat height(m) 0.780

Vehicle weight (kg) 183

Dry weight (kg) 163

Passenger capacity (persons) 2

Fuel economy (km/L) 29.0 (60km/h constant speed test value)

Minimum turning radius (m) 2.9

Engine type NC19E, water-cooled 2-stroke, piston reed valve, 90-degree V-type 3-cylinder

Total displacement (cm 3 ) 387

Inner diameter x stroke (mm) 57.0×50.6

Compression Ratio 6.7

Maximum power (PS/rpm) 59/8,500

Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) 5.1/8,000

Carburetor Type TA09

Starting method kick

Ignition method CDI type magnet ignition

Lubrication method Separate lubrication type

Lubricating oil capacity (L) 2

Fuel tank capacity (L) 19

Clutch type, Wet type multi-plate coil spring

Transmission type, Constant mesh 6-speed return

Gear ratio 1st gear 2.500, 2nd speed 1.714, 3rd speed 1.333, 4-speed 1.111, 5-speed 0.965, 6-speed 0.866

Reduction ratio 1st/2nd 2.481/2.500

Caster (degrees) 27°05′

Trail (mm) 100

Tire size, front 100/90-16 54H \ rear 110/90-17 60H

Brake Type, front Hydraulic double disc | rear Hydraulic disc

Suspension, front Telescopic (with cylindrical air spring) | rear Swing arm (Prolink)

Frame Format Double Cradle

January 19, 1983, Press Release, Honda releases the high-performance sports bike "Honda MVX250F" equipped with a 2-stroke water-cooled V-type 3-cylinder engine

 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will release the Honda MVX250F, a high-performance sports bike with an innovative design and equipped with a newly developed 249cc, two-stroke, water-cooled, 90-degree V-type, three-cylinder engine, on February 1st.

The Honda MVX250F was developed by incorporating the latest advanced technology of the Honda NS500, a Grand Prix machine equipped with a two-stroke water-cooled 90-degree V-type three-cylinder engine that competed in the Road Race World Grand Prix for the first time last year and quickly won three championships. The MVX250F engine was developed with the aim of being high-powered, lightweight, slim, and compact, and features a unique Honda-only 90-degree V-type three-cylinder layout with two cylinders horizontally at the front of the crankcase and one cylinder at a 90-degree angle behind it. This allows for a high output of 40 horsepower and a slim, compact engine that is as slim as a two-cylinder engine, despite being a three-cylinder engine.

Furthermore, the inertial mass weight of the rear cylinder is balanced with the front two cylinders by reciprocating parts such as the connecting rod, theoretically achieving zero primary vibration. The vibration unique to two-stroke engines is reduced.

In addition, a new carburetor has been designed to match the high-performance engine. This square-type flat valve carburetor, which was used for the first time on a domestically produced commercial vehicle, not only reduced intake resistance and achieved a lightweight, compact design, but also contributed greatly to making the entire engine slimmer and more compact.

The body design was developed in pursuit of excellent maneuverability and ease of handling through lightweight design. The lightweight, high-rigidity double cradle frame, 16-inch front wheels developed from Honda's extensive racing experience both at home and abroad, and Honda's unique Pro-Link rear suspension all contribute to excellent maneuverability and a lightweight design (138 kg: dry weight).

Sales plan is

The plan is to sell 30,000 units per year in Japan.

Standard cash price is

The price is 428,000 yen.
(Prices for Hokkaido and Okinawa are 6,000 yen higher. Some remote islands are excluded.)

As a result, the Honda 250cc sports bike series has expanded to 9 models and 13 types, including 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, as well as road and off-road sports bikes, catering to a wider range of users.

Honda MVX250F Main Specifications
Model MC09
Total length (m) 2.010
Overall width(m) 0.735
Total height (m) 1.155
Wheelbase(m) 1.370
Minimum ground clearance(m) 0.165
Seat height(m) 0.780
Vehicle weight (kg) 155
Dry weight (kg) 138
Passenger capacity (persons) 2
Fuel economy (km/L) 38 (50km/h constant speed test value)
Climbing ability (tanθ) 0.46 (approx. 25 degrees)
Minimum turning radius (m) 2.4
Engine type MC09E, 2-stroke piston reed valve, water-cooled, 90-degree V-type 3-cylinder
Total displacement (cm 3 ) 249
Inner diameter x stroke (mm) 47.0×48.0
Compression Ratio 8.0
Maximum power output (PS/rpm) 40/9,000
Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) 3.2/8,500
Carburetor Type TA01
Starting method Primary Kick
Ignition method Full transistor
Lubrication Method Separate lubrication type
Lubricating oil capacity (L) 1.7
Fuel tank capacity (L) 17
Clutch type Wet type multi-plate coil spring
Transmission type Constant mesh 6-speed return
Gear ratio 1st speed 2.562/2nd speed 1.850/3rd speed 1.478/, 4th speed 1.240/5th speed 1.074/6th speed 0.965
Reduction ratio 2.666
Caster (degrees) 26°30′
Trail (mm) 91
Tire size Front 100/90-16 54S, rear 110/80-18 58S
Brake Type Front hydraulic disc (inboard ventilated) /Rear mechanical leading/trailing
Suspension method Front: Telescopic (with cylindrical air spring)/ Rear: Swing arm (Prolink)
Frame Format Double Cradle

January 21, 1985, Press Release, Honda releases the land sports bike "Honda MTX200R2" equipped with a 2-stroke engine

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has improved the power output of the Honda MTX200R, a land sports bike equipped with a high-performance water-cooled two-stroke engine that provides excellent off-road performance. It has also added a disc brake to the front wheel and other enhancements, and will release the new model as the Honda MTX200RII on February 9th

The MTX200RII has improved maximum output (26PS → 28PS) through improvements to the intake and exhaust system, and in combination with the ATAC mechanism, it exhibits powerful and smooth output characteristics from low to high speeds. The radiator is made of sealed aluminum, which is easy to maintain.

In addition, the Pro-Link rear suspension, which is popular for its excellent road-holding ability, now features a high-rigidity aluminum swing arm and a rear damper with a reservoir.

In terms of equipment, the front wheel is equipped with a hydraulic disc brake with dual piston calipers exclusively for off-road use, and the high-intensity (35W/36.5W) halogen headlight with a reinforced resin lens is newly added, making it a fully equipped model suitable for a high-performance land sports bike.

*ATAC...Auto-controlled Torque Amplification Chamber: A mechanism that automatically changes the exhaust volume according to engine speed to obtain effective exhaust pulsation.

Sales Plan (Domestic Annual Plan) 6,000 units

National Standard Cash Price 299,000 yen

(Prices for Hokkaido and Okinawa are 8,000 yen higher. Prices exclude some other remote islands.)

Main specifications

Model MD13

Total length (m) 2.085

Overall width(m) 0.845

Total height (m) 1.170

Wheelbase(m) 1.350

Minimum ground clearance(m) 0.280

Seat height(m) 0.845

Vehicle weight (kg) 113

Dry weight (kg) 103

Passenger capacity (persons) 2

Fuel economy (km/L) 45 (50km/h steady state test value)

Minimum turning radius (m) 2.0

Engine type MD07E Water-cooled 2-stroke piston reed valve single cylinder

Total displacement (cm 3 ) 193

Inner diameter x stroke (mm) 67.0×55.0

Compression Ratio 7.1

Maximum power output (PS/rpm) 28/8,000

Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) 2.6/7,500

Carburetor Type PE65

Starting method kick

Ignition method Non-contact CDI

Lubrication Method Separate lubrication type

Lubricating oil capacity (L) 1.2

Fuel tank capacity(L) 9

Clutch type Wet type multi-plate coil spring

Transmission type Constant mesh 6-speed return

Gear ratio 1st gear 3.090

2nd speed 1.937

3rd speed 1.368

4-speed 1.090

5-speed 0.916

6-speed 0.769

Reduction ratio 3.230

Caster (degrees) 27°30′

Trail (mm) 112

Tire size before 2.75-21-4PR

rear 4.10-18-4PR

Brake Type before Hydraulic disc

rear Mechanical Leading Trailing

Suspension method before Telescopic (used with cylindrical air spring)

rear Swing arm (Prolink)

Frame Format Semi-double cradle

January 28, 1983, Press Release, Honda releases the on- and off-road bike "HONDA MTX200R" equipped with a water-cooled, two-stroke engine

 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will release the Honda MTX200R, an on- and off-road bike equipped with a water-cooled, two-stroke, single-cylinder engine (total displacement 193 cm3 ), which allows for comfortable riding on rough terrain and in urban areas, on February 5th.

The engine installed in the MTX200R is lightweight and compact, utilizing a number of technologies acquired from motocross races both in Japan and overseas, and delivers a high output of 26 PS/7,500 rpm and 130 horsepower per liter. In particular, the adoption of Honda's unique ATAC (Automatic Adjusting Torque Amplification Exhaust System) provides powerful performance at high rpm and tenacious, flat torque performance at mid- to high-rpm. This allows you to enjoy powerful and smooth riding from low to high speeds. Furthermore, this engine, combined with the thoroughly lightweight (dry weight 102 kg) and compact body, achieves the smallest power-to-weight ratio of 3.92 kg/PS among domestic on- and off-road vehicles.

The suspension uses the well-known Pro-Link rear suspension and the front air-assisted suspension with Honda's unique fork mechanism (which reduces friction between the fork pipe and bottom case), allowing it to demonstrate excellent road-following performance from rough ground to paved roads. The slim body provides good foot reach while ensuring a road clearance of 285mm, making it ideal for riding on rough roads. Combined with the seat that is laid out all the way to the top of the tank, it allows the rider to obtain an appropriate riding position according to the road conditions.

Sales plan is

Planned domestic sales of 6,000 units per year

Standard cash price is is 289,000 yen.

(Prices for Hokkaido and Okinawa are 5,000 yen higher. Excluding some remote islands)

Other key features

●6-speed return gears for full enjoyment on technical runs.

●Large front fender with air intake to improve the radiator's cooling effect.

●Square cross-section hollow rear fork made of lightweight, high-rigidity high-tensile steel tubes.

●110mm front and rear brakes provide powerful braking power.

●The speedometer and tachometer are set at an easy-to-read angle, and various indicators are laid out functionally.

●Changeable brake pedal.

●Square halogen headlights (35W/36.5W) are more effective for night driving

●Dog-leg type lever with excellent operability.

●Both front and rear wheels feature aluminum rims.

Main specifications

Model MD07

Total length (m) 2.085

Overall width(m) 0.830

Total height (m) 1.175

Wheelbase(m) 1.350

Minimum ground clearance(m) 0.285

Seat height(m) 0.845

Vehicle weight (kg) 112

Dry weight (kg) 102

Passenger capacity (persons) 2

Fuel economy (km/L) 50.0 (50km/h steady state test value)

Climbing ability (tanθ) 0.50 (approx. 26 degrees)

Minimum turning radius (m) 2.0

Engine type MD07E, water-cooled 2-stroke,

piston reed valve single cylinder

Displacement ( cm3 ) 193

Inner diameter x stroke (mm) 67.0×55.0

Compression Ratio 7.5

Maximum power output (PS/rpm) 26/7,500

Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) 2.6/7,000

Carburetor Type PE65

Starting method Primary Kick

Ignition method Non-contact CDI

Lubrication Method Separate lubrication type

Lubricating oil capacity (L) 1.2

Fuel tank capacity(L) 9.0

Clutch type Wet type multi-plate coil spring

Transmission type Constant mesh 6-speed return

Gear ratio 1st gear 3.090

2nd speed 1.937

3rd speed 1.368

4-speed 1.090

5-speed 0.916

6-speed 0.769

Caster (degrees) 27°30′

Trail (mm) 112

Tire size before 2.75-21-4PR

rear 4.10-18-4PR

Brake Type before Mechanical Leading Trailing

rear Mechanical Leading Trailing

Suspension method before Telescopic type (used with cylindrical air spring)

rear Swing arm type (Prolink)

Frame Format Semi-double cradle

October 29, 1982, Press Release, Honda releases new off-road model "Honda MTX125R" equipped with a water-cooled 2-stroke engine

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will release the off-road model "Honda MTX125R" on November 15th. The new model is equipped with a newly designed water-cooled, two-stroke, 124cc single-cylinder engine that incorporates know-how gained from motocross races both in Japan and overseas, as well as Honda's unique ATAC (Automatic Adjusting Torque Amplification Exhaust System)

The MTX125R has a high power performance of 18PS/7500rpm, 145hp per liter, and the revolutionary ATAC system automatically changes the exhaust volume according to the engine speed, giving it power at high speeds and a flat torque characteristic at low speeds, which is hard to believe for a two-stroke engine. This allows for smooth riding from low to high speeds. 

The powerful form of the bike, which has the image of a motocrosser, is also lightweight (99kg dry weight) and compact, with a power-to-weight ratio of 5.5kg per horsepower, giving it a powerful ride. It also features a Pro-Link rear suspension, which is popular for its excellent road-following ability, a front air-assisted suspension with Honda's unique fork mechanism, and a 6-speed transmission with a wide gear ratio. While ensuring a road clearance of 285mm, the bike's slim body makes it easy for the rider to reach the ground, and its large seat is designed to provide a free riding position, giving it excellent off-road performance and allowing the rider to enjoy a variety of sporty riding styles, from driving in urban areas to forest road touring.

The sales plan is

The plan is to sell 12,000 units per year in Japan.

Standard cash price is

249,000 yen
(Prices for Hokkaido and Okinawa are 5,000 yen higher, excluding some remote islands)

Other key features

●The engine is a water-cooled, two-stroke, single-cylinder, 124cc engine that is powerful yet easy to handle, with a maximum output of 18PS/7500rpm and a maximum torque of 1.7kg-m/7000rpm.

●The radiator is positioned to prevent dirt from getting in from below. It is a lightweight, highly efficient radiator system made of single-core aluminum.

●Square cross-section hollow rear fork made of lightweight, high-rigidity high-tensile steel tubes.

●Large front fender with air intake to improve the radiator's cooling effect.

●Adoption of a foldable shift and brake pedal.

●A fearless meter visor that protects the meter from dirt, sand, etc.

●The speedometer and tachometer are set at an easy-to-read angle, and various indicators are functionally laid out.

●Halogen headlights (35/36.5W) that are effective for night driving.

●The rear fender is reminiscent of a motocross bike, with the taillight set lower.

●The lever uses a newly designed dog-leg type that improves operability.

●Uses a compact 12V, 3A battery.

Main specifications

Model JD05

Total length (m) 2.085

Overall width(m) 0.830

Total height (m) 1.175

Wheelbase(m) 1.350

Minimum ground clearance(m) 0.285

Seat height(m) 0.845

Vehicle weight (kg) 109

Dry weight (kg) 99

Passenger capacity (persons) 2

Fuel economy (km/L) 55 (50km/h steady state test value)

Climbing ability (tanθ) 0.40 (approx. 22 degrees)

Minimum turning radius (m) 2.0

Engine type JD05E, water-cooled 2-stroke, piston reed valve, single cylinder

Displacement ( cm3 ) 124

Inner diameter x stroke (mm) 56.0×50.6

Compression Ratio 7.5

Maximum power output (PS/rpm) 18/7,500

Maximum torque (kg-m/rpm) 1.7/7,000

Carburetor Type PE60

Starting method Primary Kick

Ignition method Non-contact CDI

Lubrication Method Separate lubrication type

Lubricating oil capacity (L) 1.8

Fuel tank capacity(L) 9.0

Clutch type Wet type multi-plate coil spring

Transmission type Constant mesh 6-speed return

Gear ratio 1st gear 3.090

2nd speed 2.000

3rd speed 1.473

4-speed 1.136

5-speed 0.958

6-speed 0.807

Caster (degrees) 27°30′

Trail (mm) 112

Tire size before 2.75-21-4PR

rear 4.10-18-4PR

Brake Type before Mechanical Leading Trailing

rear Mechanical Leading Trailing

Suspension method before Telescopic

rear Swing arm (Prolink)

Frame Format Semi-double cradle