MC18 R5k (Main)

The MC18 R5k is the 1989 Honda NSR250R and went on sale in Japan on February 10th 1989.

The MC18 R5k was produced in three different colour schemes: red and white, blue and white, and the SEED livery of black, silver and red.

SEED was a motorcycle parts company in Japan that sponsored a successful NSR250R race team.

The R5k and R6k are often referred to as the MC18 Mk II, and correspondingly the 1988 R2j and R4j are referred to as the MC18 Mk I.

The existence of a slighlty different MC18 R5k-II needs verification:

It appears as though the MC18 R5k has two versions:

• MC18 R5k V1.0 with parts marked "KV3"

• MC18 R5k V2.0 with some parts marked "KV3G"

It appears as though the V2.0 version may have a few parts that are physically marked with KV3G that possibly supersede previous parts marked as KV3,.. especially the cylinder heads and swingarm??

Typically the NSR250R (MC16 through MC28) has a model specific part code number (PCN) of KV3.

In any case, clarification of how the V2.0 differs from the V1.0 is needed.

Also, the MC18 R5k (in SEED livery) that was sold new in New Zealand (and South Africa?) in 1989 did not require the PGM-II wire splice. It came de-restricted as standard.