AMCN 1993 Vol 43 No 12
100 pages, $4.25
22 Oct – 4 Nov 1993
Editor: Ken Wootton
The year was 1993
This is an AMCN 1993 cover were the most bikes although very important at the time are worth more now than they were new. Obviously Ducati’s new 916 stole the show after we secured spy shots of the SP5 replacement before Ducati had a chance to officially release it. The 250 two-stroke comparo made the cover as well and that comparo would come close to one of the most desirable retro tests to most of the current AMCN crew.
Sydney Stunners
The Sydney Motorcycle Show might have seemed like any other but there were a bunch of bikes on display that would come to be modern classics today. Honda rolled out its exotic oval-piston NR750, plus its new VFR750, its cat-eyed Blade and the CBR250RR, and Kawasaki ripped the covers off its new ZX-9R. Frasers the importers of Ducati and H-D back then had a new Harley Heritage Softail Special on display and the Ducati Monster but was unable to get the new 916 down under in time for the show. Suzuki’s display was somewhat less ‘wow’ with the Hamamatsu factor display its GSX-R1100 in various hues of purple, GSX-R750 and its shiny new RF900 which is unlikely to be added to the modern classic list anytime soon. Yamaha didn’t have too much to boast about, rolling out its TT-R250 and SRV250 quarter litre machines.
Strokes of genius
The age of true race replicas was coming to a rapid end by the mid-nineties. There’s no doubt that todays high-end offerings from Ducati, Honda, BMW, Aprilia and others are amazing bits of kit, you’ll need a fairly large pot of cash to make them competitive in modern day competition. But Honda’s NSR250 and Suzuki’s RGV250 were true race replica’s with lights. If anyone tells you that either of these were good road bikes, you should immediately pin them down with the heel of your boot and wash their laying togue with soap. We tested the two-stroke pocket rockets on road, track and dyno and concluded that the NSR250 had a better spread of power, more neutral handling and comfortable riding position for road duties. The RGV250 was angrier, fast and more uncomfortable and just busting to go proddy racing. Just for interest sake the NSR250 had a $9600 plus ORC price while the Suzuki would have set you back $8875 plus ORC. Now if you can find a decent RGV250 for less than that now I suggest you buy it.
RIDDEN/TESTED
- Scott Doohan’s 888 Ducati Superbike
- Suzuki RGV250
- Honda NSR250 SE
- Two Brothers CBR900RR Fireblade
- KTM Duke
Pics of the issue
Roy leslie’s Ducati Superbike. That’s not Roy in case you were wondering.
The Yamaha TDM850 powered Norton F2 was seen as a potential way for Norton to crawl out of its latest round of financial strife.
