This Gorgeous '80s Honda Has Almost No Miles, But Is Missing a Body Part

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By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Apr 14, 2025 at 7:57am ET

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Do you like teeny-tiny V-twins? If so, then you're going to love this adorable little 1988 Honda VTR250 Interceptor. No, it's not mine, and no, I don't want one. At least, not yet.

When it was new, it made a claimed 26 horsepower at 12,500 rpm, along with around 13 entire pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm. It was carbureted, it had a six-speed gearbox, and of course that inimitable '80s Honda styling.

That obviously made it the perfect bike for schools seeking to train the next generation of mechanics, right? Right. And that's reportedly why this particular one that the guys at Brick House Builds recently found only has 11 miles on the clock.

We've written in the past about how Honda donated some CBX bikes to schools around the same time. The VTR250 was another school bike offered up by the company as an investment in the hope and collective education of future moto mechanics. Arguably a less intimidating one than the CBX, too.

As you can no doubt see in the thumbnail, even without watching this video, this VTR250 had Honda's inboard brake disc system from the factory. I haven't ridden a bike using this system, but it's an intriguing idea from a time when Honda was trying all kinds of wild ideas to see what stuck. It's a kind of willingness to indulge in experimentation that I really admire, and it's probably no small part of why bikes from this era fascinate me. Especially as compared to now, when so many companies play it safe most of the time.

But as usual, I digress.

What do you think?

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The plan that the BHB boys have for this bike is to go through and replace all the seals, O-rings, and other consumables. They want to get it running, but are planning to ride it as minimally as possible, just to try to stay cognizant of the fact that it only has 11 miles on it. In fact, they say it may possibly be the lowest-mile one of these in existence, so there's a certain sense of obligation to not ride the wheels off it, tempting though that might be.

Will it end up in a museum? Unclear, but what is clear is that there's a piece of bodywork missing, and they could also use a stock saddle in a different color if you know a guy. Watch the video, learn all about this fantastic specimen they've just found, and hit up BHB's email if you think you can help.