NSR500s: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

GOOD NSRs
1987: the first decent NSR. Total engine and chassis redesign produces fast and good-enough handling bike for Wayne Gardner to take the title

1992: Big Bang motor changes NSR from wild beast to user-friendly dominator. But Doohan breaks leg and loses title.

1994: It's a good bike because Doohan tells HRC to make it exactly like his '92 bike. Takes his first title with nine wins.

1995-1996: Still a great bike because Doohan won't let HRC make any radical changes. He comfortably wins two more titles.

1997: Doohan switches to screamer motor and NSR takes full-house of wins in '97, 12 to Doohan, three to team-mates Criville and Okada.

1998-1999: Honda continue their process of gradual evolution and the NSR just keeps on dominating, despite improved efforts from Suzuki and Yamaha.

BAD NSRs
1984: Upside down chassis with underslung fuel tank is first of Honda's V4 generation and a real disaster. No surprises when Yamaha win title.

1985: Return to conventional chassis but the NSR is still a wayward animal that Freddie Spencer finds hard to tame. His amazing talent nonetheless wins the title.

1986: Improved chassis but the NSR continues to misbehave - Wayne Gardner becomes lead NSR rider and tankslaps his way to second overall.

1988: Honda lower bike to improve slow-speed handling and the bike handles worse than ever, repeatedly spitting Gardner into the dirt.

1989: Quite possibly the most evil GP bike ever. The '89 NSR had a flexi-flier chassis, 170bhp and poor brakes. Somehow Eddie Lawson rode it to the title.

1993: Honda go back to horsepower instead of rideablity. Bike only improves once Doohan starts fitting old '92 engine and chassis parts.
 

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