Visordown Looking at the best grey imported motorcycles ever, we want to know if this phenomenon will return soon...

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Kawasaki produces the new four-cylinder 250cc, 50bhp Ninja ZX-25R for parts of Southeast Asia, and Honda also has a sad non-UK 40bhp CBR250RR twin. You will be forgiven for the gray imported supersports 400s because you think of the "golden age".

As early as the early 1990s, the super exotic Japanese market 250 two-stroke and 400cc four-stroke sports cars conceived and manufactured to comply with domestic licensing laws suddenly became popular in the UK as unofficial "grey" imported cars.

In Japan, bicycles like Honda’s “mini-RC30” VFR400R and Yamaha’s FZR400RR, not to mention two-stroke GP replicas like Honda’s NSR250RR, are so popular that they even hold a national racing championship supported by domestic factories. , Resulting in a more exotic, certified special "SP" version. For example, Honda’s 1994 NSR250R SP'MC28' is still considered to be the closest mass-produced bicycle ever to a GP machine, not only because of its 90º stroke twin, but also its exquisite chassis, including the Pro-Arm rear, The "smart card" keyless ignition and replica Luca Cadalora styling all the way to its Rothmans paint.

At the same time, the "shelf life" of this type of bicycle is extremely short. Japan’s ultra-strict equivalence to MoT means that bicycles older than three years are almost worthless, and because most of these exotic models have never been officially launched in the UK, this has created a creation for “grey” importers such as BAT and D&K. An opportunity to buy such models economically. Bicycles are shipped in containers to the UK and sold in Japan. It is still a comparative song, serving as a stepping stone for sports in the 600s, 750s, and 1000s. Today, a 44bhp, two-cylinder Ninja 400 is considered to play the same role and is priced at approximately £5,500. As early as 1994, you could get a higher specification (although it has been used for three years), 60bhp, four-cylinder "mini RC30" for about £3,000. No wonder it was sold out in droves. Junior super sports fans have never had such a wonderful experience.

It certainly cannot last. By the late 1990s, Japanese fashion and restrictions had changed, and at the same time, bicycles imported "parallel" from the European continent to the UK made the 600s and 750s cheaper. Then, in 2003, the introduction of "MSVA" (Single Vehicle Approval for Motorcycles) regulations for non-EU bicycles made Japanese imports prohibitively high.

Twenty years later, there are few good examples of these "mini miracles" of the 1990s. They can sell the best products at high prices. Unless something changes, MSVA, import duties, transportation costs, etc., will also make the cost of the Ninja ZX-25R as high as 10,000 pounds. However, before this changes, we will select the best, original, gray imported super sports in chronological order-and their prices today.

There are actually early versions of Honda 400 V4 (such as NC21), but the "mini RC30" is by far the most popular, and has impressive delivery flexibility and excellent handling. It is also very durable and reliable. Although it does not fully meet the RC30 specifications, its details and style are great, and its 59bhp is enough. In 1990, Honda UK officially imported a slightly higher specification version, and won the second place in the Supersport 400 TT with no less than Carl Fogarty, but its price is about 6,000 pounds, which is more expensive than the CBR600F. Today, prices are rising. Once you could buy one for around £1,000, it is now considered a classic and you will be lucky enough to find anything under £4,000.

Honda's "Straight Four" super sport is even more classic than NC30 for some people. Covering multiple models again, the later "NC29" model is actually the primary version of CBR900RR, and the refined 1994-RRP version is generally considered the best. Compared with some models, its high-revving four-cylinder once again has considerable flexibility, and its small proportions and low seats also make it popular with smaller and female riders. Good is worthless and rare.

Once again, just like its big brother 750 and 1100s, Suzuki’s "baby Gixxer" has a variety of models to choose from throughout its life cycle, none of which is officially imported into the UK. Strangely, all of them All of the 400 Japanese products are the least popular in the UK. They have never successfully competed here (we attribute it to the dominance of Suzuki's two-stroke RGV). However, don't ignore it. Although the early models are now obviously "old school" and are unlikely to wear well, they have now gained classic status, and later versions have inverted forks, etc., and their prices are also rising.

It was only in 2003 that the Japanese supercar 400 that was officially imported into the UK (equipped with mph speedo, etc.) was unique. This has pros and cons. Advantages include usability and affordability (with its screaming engine and pleasant steering); "disadvantages" include reduced exclusivity and reduced "exotic" appeal. Higher-spec "SP" versions are also almost unheard of, although some are indeed "gray", as are the H1 and H2 versions before 1991.

Like most bicycles here, Yamaha's screaming lateral four-cylinder has been available in various serial models since 1986-in fact, the original FZR1000 Genesis in 1987 was actually earlier than the FZR400 Genesis that was limited to Japan in 1986. But it's the latter, 1990-the best model. The 400RR is an effective "pocket-sized" FZR1000, small in size, light in weight, focused, and high in speed. It is one of the best-handling bicycles ever. The SP version, with single-seater, narrow-ratio box, etc., was better and was officially imported briefly (at a price of up to £6,749) and won the Supersport 400 TT in 1992. It’s more fragile and less durable than Honda’s NC30. Today’s good cars are extremely rare.

The successor of NC30 is naturally based on RVF750R/RC45, and of course it is very delicate. But it’s too late to catch up with the popularity of the NC30 (bikes have only flown into the UK since 1996/7), and they are expensive. The updated styling, upside-down front fork and more practical wheel size (18 inches at the rear of the NC) made it the most modern of all Gray 400-and still the most expensive today.

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The two-stroke supersports of the early 1990s are not easy to categorize. In general, this class includes 400cc, four-cylinder, four-stroke, as above, or 250cc, two-cylinder, two-stroke. Although the former type is usually only available as grey imports in the UK (yes, we know there are exceptions), Yamaha’s TZR250, Kawasaki’s KR-1 and KR-1S, and perhaps the most famous is the latter Suzuki RGV250. In other words, some Japanese versions were unsuccessful, the most notable was the higher specification version, and then it did enter the UK as a gray imported product. The following are the most precious examples.

Although the original V-twin TZR250 in 1986 was officially imported into the UK, the later, more exotic models did not. Including the parallel twin-cylinder "inverted cylinder" 3MA in 1990, it also has an inverted fork. Since 1991, the more peculiar and beautiful V-twin 3XV has appeared in a series of incredible specifications, including R and SP versions. Dry clutches, different power valves, etc., are now considered to be one of the most desirable "gray" super sports.

Since Honda has never really imported the performance 250 submachine gun to the UK, the "Big H" may be the most exotic, unique, desirable and expensive "gray" super sport among all super sports-the manufacturer of the NSR250R. One thing is usually little known. The first was the 1987 MC16. It was a fairly traditional 90º V twin-cylinder engine. Its style was very similar to Freddie Spencer’s 1985 250 champion, but from there, things developed rapidly: the 1988 M18 Obtained an updated chassis and styling in 1989. The 1990 MC21 was equipped with a "seagull arm" swing arm and a sharper shape, and then the 1994 ultimate incarnation MC28 was equipped with a ProArm rear and so on. Today, it is grey imported royalties.