It's a wheel thing

what we miss … factory strokers … part I

HRC-Honda NSR500 1984-1992

1984 Freddie Spencer, Ron Haslam, Randy Mamola
1985 Freddie Spencer, Ron Haslam, Randy Mamola, Wayne Gardner - world champion
1986 Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner
1987 Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Shunji Yatsushiro - world champion
1988 Wayne Gardner, Shunji Yatsushiro
1989 Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Eddie Lawson - world champion
1990 Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan
1991 Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan
1992 Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan

what Superbikeplanet.com had to say about the NSR’s, made from ‘84 until ‘92

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.
1987: the first decent NSR. Total engine and chassis redesign produces fast and good-enough handling bike for Wayne Gardner to take the title
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.
1992: Big Bang motor changes NSR from wild beast to user-friendly dominator. But Doohan breaks leg and loses title.

one corner … four techniques

Eddie Lawson (Marlboro Agostini-Yamaha YZR500), Kevin Schwantz (Pepsi Suzuki RGV500), Wayne Gardner (Rothmans HRC-Honda NSR500) & Rob McElnea (Pepsi Suzuki RGV500), 1988 British 500cc Grand Prix, Donington Park

one corner … three techniques

Wayne Gardner (Rothmans HRC-Honda NSR500), Eddie Lawson (Marlboro Roberts-Yamaha YZR500) & Wayne Rainey (Marlboro Roberts-Yamaha YZR500), 1990 US 500cc Grand Prix, Laguna Seca