The 1997 Honda NSR500V isn’t just a motorcycle—it’s a monument to racing precision and engineering brilliance. At a recent auction, this factory-built, race-only machine shattered records, fetching over $267,000, buyer’s fees included. (The hammer dropped on a $250,000 bid.)
With fewer than two dozen ever produced, this NSR500V was never ridden, remaining boxed since its debut as a marketing display. That untouched legacy helped cement its place as the most expensive Japanese motorcycle ever sold.
The 1997 Honda NSR500V Is a Special Motorcycle
Why the hype? Honda designed the NSR500V to exploit racing regulations, creating a featherweight 226-pound, 499cc V-twin two-stroke rocket. Generating a jaw-dropping 135 horsepower, it outclassed heavier competitors like its four-cylinder sibling, the NSR500.
Even the materials tell a story: aluminum frame, carbon fiber bodywork, and titanium components kept this machine light and lethal. On its debut in 1996, Tadayuki Okada snagged pole position, besting MotoGP legends Mick Doohan and Àlex Crivillé.
This bike marked the twilight of the 500cc two-stroke era, as MotoGP rules shifted toward 1,000cc four-stroke machines. For today’s collector, the NSR500V is a pristine time capsule from a bygone chapter of racing history.
Will its new owner unleash its power on the track? Doubtful—but one can dream of the snarling symphony of a V-twin at full throttle.
Source: Forbes, Iconic Motorbikes Auctions
