The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A 1997 Honda NSR500V Grand Prix racer sold at auction in December 2024 for a reported $267,607 including buyer fees. The hammer price was $250,000. The striking total bought a rare, reportedly unstarted display motorcycle—not a road bike or a machine confirmed ready to race.
How much did the Honda NSR500V sell for?
Iconic Motorbike Auctions sold the motorcycle in December 2024. Forbes reported a $250,000 hammer price and a total exceeding $267,000 after buyer fees; New Atlas reported the total as $267,607. Those figures describe different parts of the same sale, not conflicting hammer prices.
The distinction matters when comparing auction results: the hammer price is the winning bid before buyer fees, while the total paid can be higher. The precise fee terms for this lot are not confirmed in the available reporting.
What was the 1997 Honda NSR500V?
It was a factory-built Grand Prix racing motorcycle, not a street-legal Honda production bike. Forbes describes it as a 499cc V-twin two-stroke, with a reported 135 horsepower and claimed weight of 226 pounds. These are figures reported by Forbes, rather than independently verified specifications for this particular example.
#1 Best Overall
The NSR500V used a V-twin layout in a class where Honda also fielded V4 machines. New Atlas reports that the V-twin was about 30 kg lighter than those V4s. That design context helps explain the model’s appeal as a purpose-built racer, but does not make this auctioned example suitable for road use.
Why was this example so unusual?
Forbes identifies the motorcycle as chassis No. 1 with engine No. 3 and reports that it was never started. It had reportedly served as a static promotional display before being crated and held by a private owner for more than two decades. Its untouched history, rarity and preserved condition distinguish this particular example from a racer with a documented competition career.
Rank #2
New Atlas reports that an unused spares kit accompanied the bike. That adds to the lot’s completeness as a collectible, but it does not establish that the motorcycle is operational, safe to start, or prepared for competition. A long-stored race bike would require qualified inspection and preparation before any attempt to run it.
How rare was the NSR500V?
Published production counts are approximate and not described identically. Forbes characterizes production as about 20 motorcycles. New Atlas reports 20 NSR500Vs plus two machines in a different final-season configuration. The sources therefore support describing the model as very rare, but readers seeking a precise total should keep the separate configuration and the differing reports in view.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- Fun to make, decorate and run! The rider figure hangs through the corners, and the electric R/C bike looks like a real car
Rarity alone does not prove that this was the most expensive Japanese motorcycle ever sold. That kind of ranking depends on a comprehensive, current comparison and on using the same auction-price basis—hammer or buyer-fee-inclusive total—for every sale. The available coverage establishes the result of this 2024 auction, not a lasting market record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the sale does—and does not—tell buyers
The reported price reflects a rare Grand Prix model and an unusually preserved example. It should not be read as a guide to the value of ordinary Hondas, road-going motorcycles, or even NSR500Vs with different histories. Race provenance, originality, completeness, condition and auction fees can all affect how two results compare.
Rank #4
- New Model Kit from World Renowned Manufacturer Hasegawa
- Requires Paints, Glue and Modelling Tools to Complete
- Motorbike Kit
- Full and Detailed Instructions Provided
- All Required Decals/Transfers are Included
The motorcycle was described as non-street-legal and intended for racing. The reported spares kit and untouched condition do not change that, nor do they confirm title-transfer terms, shipping arrangements, current ownership or present mechanical condition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Tamiya branded ready-to-assemble plastic precision static model kit. It is supplied unpainted and is ideal for model makers and painters!
- Required to complete: cement, paint and finishing supplies.
- This plastic model assembly kit depicts the Honda CB750F, a bike which showed immense popularity as soon as it was released. The model features a detailed depiction of the engine and its cooling fins, with vinyl tubing employed to recreate various lines and cables. Modellers will also be delighted to hear that the steering column features a metal screw for durability, while synthetic rubber tyres have realistic tread patterns. Decals are included for use with 3 different bodywork colours. Realistic rubber-like tyres with accurate tread pattern. Highly detailed DOHC 4-cylinder engine. Many plated parts included for added realism.
- Supplied in card box retail style packaging, it is an ideal model kit for the keen hobbyist to assemble and paint.
Sources
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
