The Honda NSR500 defines the savage beauty of the 500cc two-stroke era. Weighing a mere 131 kg but producing nearly 200 horsepower, this V4 beast possessed a terrifying power-to-weight ratio. Mick Doohan tamed this volatile machine to secure five consecutive World Championships from 1994 to 1998, establishing a dynasty of pure speed and aggression.
Doohan’s secret weapon was the thumb-operated rear brake. After a 1992 crash fused his right ankle, Honda relocated the rear brake to a lever on the left handlebar. This innovation allowed Doohan to control wheelies and tighten his lines with surgical precision while hanging off the bike, turning a severe injury into a technical advantage that revolutionized racing.
In 1997, Doohan engaged in psychological warfare by switching back to the violent "Screamer" engine configuration. While his rivals clung to the easier-to-ride "Big Bang" engines for traction, Doohan mastered the Screamer’s explosive top-end power. He won 12 races that season, crushing the grid by riding a bike that others simply feared.
To reduce postage costs, product will be removed from its large advertising backing card.
*image(s) for illustration purposes. Actual product is 1:18 scale diecast model.
