OzVMX Forum
Marketplace => eBay Finds => Topic started by: evo550 on August 20, 2011, 06:19:06 pm
-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170682777486?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
-
Could be a cool green pre 70 racer
-
That particular bike has been for sale a couple of times in recent years. It was once advertised as a 'factory works' model but I really have trouble believing that. I've mentioned before that from the tank forward looks okay but from the seat back it looks for want of a better word..weird. Snail pipe doesn't help any either I guess ;)
-
Is it a production bike?
-
Yeah, It's been for sale on Arizona Mikes site for a year now.
I think it would be a fun bike to own, but....
-
Funnily enough, on Mikes web site it's listed as a 1972 F5...
"1972 F5 350 KX prototype - The person I bought this bike from seemed to think that this may have been a prototype for Kawasaki's proposed upcoming KX line of bikes. It does have some very trick pieces on it such as C&J boxed swingarm, KX style rims, cool snail pipe, custom fiberglass-tank-airbox-rear fender, air caps, KYB shocks , new tires. No numbers on engine case (blank). Forks are special too as they are non-leading axle type and have been milled at top near caps. These look like early KX straight axle forks. I have no way of proving whether it is or isn't what is claimed, but irregardless of that it is still a very cool, big bore, rotary valved Kawie and you will most likely never see another one like it. If you like unique bikes then you will love this. I believe it is bargain priced at only $2,950.00"
-
For the asking price on evilbay its pretty tempting.Someone's gone to a lot of trouble to make a trailie a good mx ride (and expense as well).I also reckon that KLX he has on his bargain site is a good thing as well.
-
I'm not so sure about the "prototype" tag but it's certainly a very interesting bike. It's a great example of an early seventies attempt at making a humble trail bike into a competitive motocrosser. Most attempts failed but it kept the aftermarket industry afloat. The Kawasaki Bighorn was a truly great engine sitting in a rotton frame so whoever built this seems to have done as much as he could to fix many of the Bighorns problems, replacing the bad bad bad Hatta forks, knocking a lot of the weight out of it by putting plastic and fibreglass where mild steel used to live and fitting that period cool Castor snail pipe and C&J chro-mo swingarm. I'd love to see what's done to the engine as these things were really appreciative of rotary disc and port work. A mate of mine once fitted one of these engines to an early TZ Yamaha roller and it's near as damn it to being quicker than the TZ350 motor it replaced. All in all this is a trick bike that'd clean up and be a fun and interesting hot rod pre '75 bike. In 1972 Dirt Bike built 'Project Bighorn' in an attempt to turn a Kawasaki Bighorn into a racer. They used a Hindall frame in their attempt. I actually own that very frame today.
The price is looking like it won't be too far over the top. 2k is about what it's worth in my opinion. ..............I doubt it'd get into pre '70 Slakey.
I get conflicting reports on Arizona Mike as a seller. I've seen forum threads slamming him but have also seem glowing recommendations so I guess it's a suck it and see situation. One thing for sure is that he's got a knack of finding some very trick and unusual bikes.
-
Well Firko what if you buy the Bighorn and smash all the running gear into that Hindall frame and hey presto "project Bighorn" lives!What a great name for a bike ;D
-
The Project Bighorn frame's otherwise occupied Paul ;D
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/IMG_6033.JPG)
-
Firko, I've a slightly different opinion of the Hattah forks. When I first built my '76 TS400A I took it for a testing up at Nudgee. It performed quite well for what it was and the only thing I didn't like was the doughy front end. It had standard 35mm dia. alloy lower bodied type forks similar to early TM250/400 items but compression was too soft and the rebound too slow. I figured different weight oil wouldn't cure this and without wanting to stuff around internally I swapped these for a pair of 35mm Hattah forks I'd kicking around. Never looked back, the difference was night and day and they remain on the bike to this day. I guess everyone's different. In my opinion my vote of best forks from Japan for pre'75 go to the 35mm Showa units fitted to XL250/350 Motosports. As for the F5 listed there was a fair/decent F5 sold only a few weeks back in Victoria on fleabay. It sold for $770 and was what I considered a good buy..they are still out there but as always, until the early 80's Kawasaki's seem overlooked. :-\
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KAWASAKI-F5-F9-BIGHORN-350-CLASSIC-RACER-/280719283018?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item415c2c534a&clk_rvr_id=258041438006#ht_500wt_949 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KAWASAKI-F5-F9-BIGHORN-350-CLASSIC-RACER-/280719283018?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item415c2c534a&clk_rvr_id=258041438006#ht_500wt_949)
my fav bighorn is this unit from Don Miller at Metro Racing pictured below with Jay Springsteen taking it for a skid 8)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/tn_springer-kaw-1.jpg) (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/springer-kaw-1.JPG)
Quote from Don His lap times on my 350 Big Horn were about 3/4's of a second off of current day 450 local experts and pro's at SDR and that was only being on the bike for the first time. With a little seat time and some tuning, he could have put it to them.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/tn_2632986405_f9fe937acf_b.jpg) (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/2632986405_f9fe937acf_b.jpg)
-
So I see Firko,you've got so many specials floating around I just can't keep track ;)
-
Love those photos, Doc! ;D
-
Interesting bike. My take is that its just someone's attempt to make a 350MX. Some things well done, others poorly tho't out
F9s still used F5 prefix so it could be either. Hi-ish VIN indicates more than likely F9. Forks look like Metal Profile or REH to me.
Seems to me C&J swingarm is off something else... & waay too looong for the bike. Original F5/F9 swingarm is very short (15") w 55-56" standard wheelbase. That swingarm is about 19" (scaled against the rear wheel dia), which would make the wheelbase 59-60".
Great for cornering... like an aircraft carrier! Not to mention weight distribution, as the F5/9 is a very heavy engine & its a loong way forward in that bike w that swingarm.
I highly doubt Kaw R&D would have done that.
-
It is a strange one John. I think the reason the frame and rear look a 'bit' weird is the fact the tank is so much shorter than stock and the seat has also been moved forward. Looks like an F5-F9 frame but I can't say I've ever seen anything like it anywhere ???
-
Yeah...I agree with both Doc that the bike has a sort of drag bike / hillclimber look with that swingarm. I reckon it's from some other bike and the that builder got lucky with it happening to fit. I still reckon the bike could be made into a decent racer but is it worth it after spending 3k? It'd be an interesting, fun bike but I doubt it'd be competitive in pre 75.
-
Here's an even better basis for a f5/f9 Kwaka
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trackmaster-Kawasaki-350-F5-F9-Dirt-Track-Flat-Track-/320745690055?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aadeed3c7 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trackmaster-Kawasaki-350-F5-F9-Dirt-Track-Flat-Track-/320745690055?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aadeed3c7)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/kawa%20trackmaster.jpg)
-
Yeh, much better Mark.
Doc, I think much of why the rear looks so strange is also that the guard is still located to suit the std short swingarm, but the wheel is too far behind it w the looong swingarm.
Definitely looks like stock (heavy) frame to me
-
Hi All
I'll let you guys in on the details when it gets here. I Bought it on a single bid. Bike will be sent to Arkansas where we'll strip it down, put it in boxes and send it home. At the purchase price it was worth it for something this unusual.
I'm taking AzMike at his word that it's in (reasonably) good nick. He was easy to deal with.
And while I was at it, I also bought a G31/G4 Desert racer (not from AzMike) which will be making it home in the same boxes.
Regards
David
I'm not so sure about the "prototype" tag but it's certainly a very interesting bike. It's a great example of an early seventies attempt at making a humble trail bike into a competitive motocrosser. Most attempts failed but it kept the aftermarket industry afloat. The Kawasaki Bighorn was a truly great engine sitting in a rotton frame so whoever built this seems to have done as much as he could to fix many of the Bighorns problems, replacing the bad bad bad Hatta forks, knocking a lot of the weight out of it by putting plastic and fibreglass where mild steel used to live and fitting that period cool Castor snail pipe and C&J chro-mo swingarm. I'd love to see what's done to the engine as these things were really appreciative of rotary disc and port work. A mate of mine once fitted one of these engines to an early TZ Yamaha roller and it's near as damn it to being quicker than the TZ350 motor it replaced. All in all this is a trick bike that'd clean up and be a fun and interesting hot rod pre '75 bike. In 1972 Dirt Bike built 'Project Bighorn' in an attempt to turn a Kawasaki Bighorn into a racer. They used a Hindall frame in their attempt. I actually own that very frame today.
The price is looking like it won't be too far over the top. 2k is about what it's worth in my opinion. ..............I doubt it'd get into pre '70 Slakey.
I get conflicting reports on Arizona Mike as a seller. I've seen forum threads slamming him but have also seem glowing recommendations so I guess it's a suck it and see situation. One thing for sure is that he's got a knack of finding some very trick and unusual bikes.
-
I'll let you guys in on the details when it gets here.
And while I was at it, I also bought a G31/G4 Desert racer
Get stuck in farmer58za-they'll be drooling over it when she arrives ..plenty of Kak Praat and dirt to go around...enjoy !!
cheers
-
Good work farmer David, look forward to seeing both the mini greenstreak and the 'prototype' in detail.
-
Last Monday and Tuesday, we stripped and packed 4 bikes for shipping home, among them the two Kawasakis.
The F5MX appears to have been put together with some thought by someone who wanted to make a decent MXer. The fibreglass tank, airbox and seat look well done although the tank may need a small repair. front forks may be REH. Front wheel is very light. Rear wheel looks stock F5. Rims and tyres are good. Pipe is well made and there's a name stamped on it with a phone number. Most bits fitted well and it may be good to test after a thorough pre-race prep.
The G31M/G4 is a whole different bag of spanners. This is a bike that had been actively raced in the desert throughout the early '70's, in California. The (G4) chassis is rough and shows battle scars, mods and repairs. Swingarm has been lengthened 2 inches. Seat has been re-padded to double thickness. Seat base has been extensively repaired and will need more repair. Motor appears to be G31M with the large carb. Carb slide cutaway looks like nothing I've ever seen before - must be desert type tuning. Safety wire everywhere. A bonus with this bike is the pile of spares that came with it, including some NOS stuff, plus the California offroad sticker on a little stainless steel plate.
I'll report when the bikes get back
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/?action=view¤t=IMG_4601.jpg
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/?action=view¤t=IMG_4599.jpg
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/?action=view¤t=IMG_4598.jpg
Regards
Dave
Good work farmer David, look forward to seeing both the mini greenstreak and the 'prototype' in detail.
-
So it'll be an early Christmas then ;) ;D :P ;D
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/IMG_4599.jpg)
-
I Dunno
If the shipper collects before end November, chances we'll only receive mid-January. That's not a problem though. There's lots in the garage here that needs seeing to :)
Regards
David
So it'll be an early Christmas then ;) ;D :P ;D
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/IMG_4599.jpg)
-
So..as a question....what does a box that big cost to ship????
-
There's actually two big boxes for 4 bikes.
In simple terms, we're aiming for around US$ 1000 per bike, including uplifting, shipping, duties, VAT and delivery.
Regards
David
So..as a question....what does a box that big cost to ship????
-
As a comparison, what are the statutory charges of importing a (used) bike into Oz. Our import codes for these items are free, but we have to pay VAT at 14%.
Regards
David
-
Same about $1000 by the time its in your garage from theres
-
My new bike is on its way too, can`t wait to receive it. :P ;)
-
Mine are here....I'm just waiting for the phone call to come and pick 'em up. ;D
-
What model and make have you bought mark
-
Boxes arrived last week. They're in my mate's garage
Problem for me is I had open heart surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and I'll only be out of hospital by Friday if all goes well. Then there's the obligatory 6 weeks from operation before you can drive/lift things. Aah well it's something to look forward to!
Regards
David
I Dunno
If the shipper collects before end November, chances we'll only receive mid-January. That's not a problem though. There's lots in the garage here that needs seeing to :)
Regards
David
So it'll be an early Christmas then ;) ;D :P ;D
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/farmer58za/IMG_4599.jpg)
-
Boxes arrived last week. They're in my mate's garage
Problem for me is I had open heart surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and I'll only be out of hospital by Friday if all goes well. Then there's the obligatory 6 weeks from operation before you can drive/lift things. Aah well it's something to look forward to!
Regards
David
Geez !! the things that get in the way of a good rebuild .. :o Chin up... it wont be long and you'll be puttin in some good laps... :P :P thanks for the update 8)
cheers A
-
Ha!
Body's on the mend and I got to take the first stuff home yesterday.
We split out the Husky and Hercules bikes from the crates and I just selected some of the Kawa 100 bits to spread out on the dining room table (sorry darling).
There was a whole pile of misc spares, seals and bearings, including NOS stuff. I also got the prized California off-road sticker on a little stainless plate.
I saw those little hot 100's in VMX#49 last week: I hope to get this little desert racer restored like that...
Regards
David
Boxes arrived last week. They're in my mate's garage
Problem for me is I had open heart surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and I'll only be out of hospital by Friday if all goes well. Then there's the obligatory 6 weeks from operation before you can drive/lift things. Aah well it's something to look forward to!
Regards
David
Geez !! the things that get in the way of a good rebuild .. :o Chin up... it wont be long and you'll be puttin in some good laps... :P :P thanks for the update 8)
cheers A