As raced by Jurgen van den Goorbergh

With Phil Aynsley

The Honda NSR500V was introduced in 1996 to take advantage of the lower weight limit for twin-cylinder machines and to be sold as a viable privateer team bike.

van den Goorbergh’s Honda NSR500V

However for the first year it was run solely as a factory entry. As with the Aprilia V-twin, its advantages of better handling and higher cornering speed weren’t quite enough to overcome the V4 bikes’ superior acceleration.

The better handling and weight couldn’t overcome the V4 advantage on the NSR500V

The twin would see good success in privateer hands

Tadayuki Okada placed his twin on pole for its first race, in Malaysia, and went on to score six top five placings, including a second at Phillip Island. He finished the the 1996 season in seventh place.

Honda NRS500V

Honda NRS500V

Honda NRS500V

Only 20 NSR500Vs were built from 1995 to 2000, with a further two being provided for the Shell Advance team in 2001. Unlike the NSR500 the 500V was sold, not leased to the privateer teams.

The NSR500V was sold to teams, where the NSR500 was only leased

Honda NRS500V

This is Jurgen van den Goorbergh’s 2000 bike with 2001 engine

This is one of Jurgen van den Goorbergh’s 2000 bikes and is fitted with a TSR frame and swingarm, together with works Nissin forks and front brakes. It has chassis number 001 (of the three run by the team). Van den Goorbergh won Best Privateer for 2000, finishing in 13th place for the season.

Nissin provided the brakes and forks

Honda NRS500V

Honda NRS500V

The bike was fitted with the uprated 2001 motor for the following season (which featured new crankcases and transmission) and raced by Haruchika Aoki – who also won that year’s Best Privateer award.

Honda NRS500V

Honda NRS500V

Output was 148 hp compared to the standard producing 135hp at 10,250rpm, while weight was a svelte 103 kg.

Source: MCNews.com.au