Performance Bikes Magazine – February 1989 – Suzuki RGV250, Honda NS125R & Norton RC30

Original Vintage Motorcycle Magazine | Classic Sports Bikes | Japanese Motorcycles | 1980s Motorcycle History

An original February 1989 edition of Performance Bikes Magazine, featuring an impressive Suzuki sports motorcycle cover photograph and articles on some of the most interesting high-performance motorcycles of the late 1980s.

This vintage motorcycle magazine offers a fascinating look at the motorcycle industry during an era of rapid development in sports-bike technology, two-stroke performance, race-inspired designs and Japanese motorcycle engineering.

The front cover advertises features on the Suzuki RGV250, Honda NS125R, Norton RC30-related developments and earlier Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda middleweight motorcycles.

An interesting collectible for enthusiasts of classic Japanese sports motorcycles, vintage British motorcycle journalism and late-1980s motorcycling culture.

Front Cover – Suzuki Sports Motorcycle

The front cover is dominated by a striking close-up photograph of a Suzuki sports motorcycle being ridden.

The image is photographed almost directly from the front, creating a dramatic perspective of the motorcycle's aerodynamic fairing, square headlight, tinted windscreen, mirrors and front wheel.

The rider is positioned low behind the screen, wearing a pale-coloured full-face helmet with Arai branding.

The motorcycle features a predominantly white and blue colour scheme, with the SUZUKI name clearly printed across the upper front fairing.

The image captures the distinctive appearance of late-1980s fully faired sports motorcycles, with race-influenced styling and a compact frontal profile.

Above the photograph is the large Performance BIKES masthead in bright blue lettering with yellow outlines.

The cover also features pink and black headlines advertising the issue's principal articles.

Main Cover Features

Suzuki RGV250 – Wild, Beautiful and Brilliant

One of the leading cover stories concerns the Suzuki RGV250, a notable late-1980s two-stroke sports motorcycle.

The headline reads:

"RGV250 – Wild, Beautiful and Brilliant"

The RGV250 is strongly associated with the era of lightweight, high-performance two-stroke motorcycles, featuring race-inspired styling and a sporty riding character.

This contemporary 1989 magazine is particularly interesting to collectors researching the RGV250 during its early years.

Honda NS125R – Honda's Adorable Puppy

Another featured motorcycle is the Honda NS125R.

The cover describes the machine as:

"NS125R – Honda's Adorable Puppy"

The NS125R represents an important part of the late-1980s learner-legal sports motorcycle scene.

Its inclusion makes the magazine appealing to enthusiasts of classic Honda 125cc motorcycles, vintage lightweight sports bikes and Japanese two-stroke machines.

The Norton That Bites – Riding Nation's RC30 Cruncher

The upper-right cover headline reads:

"The Norton That Bites – Riding Nation's RC30 Cruncher"

This feature references a performance-oriented Norton motorcycle and its comparison with the Honda RC30, one of the most celebrated race-derived motorcycles of the period.

The subject offers an interesting look at British high-performance motorcycling ambitions and the sporting motorcycle competition of the late 1980s.

A particularly appealing cover feature for collectors of Norton motorcycle history and Honda RC30-era superbikes.

Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda Middleweights

Another prominent cover feature reads:

"And Here's Some They Made Earlier"

The accompanying text identifies:

Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda – Middleweights

This suggests a retrospective or comparison involving earlier middleweight Japanese motorcycles.

The feature is relevant to riders and collectors interested in how Japanese manufacturers developed their sporting motorcycles during the 1970s and 1980s.

Drunken Riding

The cover also advertises a feature titled:

"Drunken Riding – Go Fast, Die Happy"

This is a historical cover headline reproduced here to identify the original magazine's editorial content. It is not an endorsement of dangerous or impaired riding.

Publication Details

Magazine: Performance Bikes

Date: February 1989

Cover Price: £1.20 UK / $2.75 USA / HFL 6.25

Language: English

Publication Type: Motorcycle magazine

Format: Printed vintage magazine

Main Featured Motorcycles: Suzuki RGV250, Honda NS125R, Norton and Honda RC30

Other Featured Manufacturers: Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda

Condition: Pre-owned / Vintage

SKU: 1585

Condition – Please Read Carefully

This is an original magazine dating from February 1989 and shows visible signs of age, previous handling and storage.

The following observations are based on the supplied photograph of the actual magazine.

Front Cover

• The cover retains its original colour photograph, masthead and printed headlines.

• General surface wear is visible, particularly over the darker areas of the photograph.

• Several fine scratches and scuff marks can be seen across the cover.

• There is noticeable rubbing and light creasing towards the lower-left section.

• Some faint curved handling marks and surface impressions are visible around the centre.

• The lower edge displays minor wear and rubbing.

• The top and bottom corners show some softening and handling wear.

• The white background has a slightly aged appearance, with minor marks and discolouration visible.

Spine

• Visible wear along the left-hand spine edge.

• Some small handling creases and stress marks around the bound area.

• Minor rubbing and age-related deterioration along the spine.

• The magazine appears to retain its original bound format in the photograph.

Edges and Corners

• Light corner wear and slight bending.

• Minor edge rubbing and small imperfections associated with storage.

• Some slight waviness and unevenness around the outer edges.

Interior Pages

Only the front cover has been photographed for this listing.

The interior pages have not been individually inspected in the supplied images, so their precise condition and completeness cannot be independently confirmed from the photographs.

Overall Condition

A genuine vintage motorcycle magazine showing expected signs of age and use.

The cover remains visually attractive, with its principal photograph and headlines clearly readable.

This is not a mint or pristine copy, and buyers should expect cosmetic imperfections appropriate to an original publication from 1989.

Please carefully examine the supplied photograph, which forms an important part of the condition description.

Important – Original Extras

This listing is for the magazine shown in the photograph only.

Any original promotional gifts, special inserts, supplementary publications, loose items or other materials that may originally have accompanied this issue are no longer included unless clearly shown in the listing photographs.

Only the photographed magazine is included.

Packaging and Delivery

We take care when packaging vintage motorcycle magazines to help protect them during transit.

UK Orders: The magazine will be sent in a protective hardback envelope to help prevent bending and damage.

International Orders: The magazine will be sent in a cardboard mail-size box for additional protection during international delivery.

Collector Interest

This February 1989 publication may particularly appeal to collectors interested in:

• Suzuki RGV250 and classic two-stroke sports motorcycles.

• Honda NS125R and 1980s lightweight sports bikes.

• Norton high-performance motorcycle history.

• Honda RC30-era motorcycle development.

• Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda middleweight motorcycles.

• Late-1980s motorcycle engineering and design.

• Vintage Performance Bikes magazine issues.

• British motorcycle journalism and classic road tests.

A distinctive original period magazine documenting the motorcycles, manufacturers and performance culture of the late 1980s.

The actual magazine shown in the photograph is the item you will receive.

SKU: 1585