OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Kawasaki => Topic started by: philthy on June 21, 2015, 02:48:13 pm

Title: barn find
Post by: philthy on June 21, 2015, 02:48:13 pm

Hi
Can someone please help identify a bike I bought yesterday.I believe it is a 74 kx450 as it looks identical to all pics i have seen.The frame no. is k5e 900013 and engine number is k5e 900014.The bike is originally from QLD and one owner since new and has had very little use (still has original tyres)It has got an enduro kit fitted with a headlight and has been registered in SA.I am going to restore this bike with the intention of racing it so any help from the guys that have restored Kawasakis would be greatly appreciated as I am more of a Yamaha/Suzuki man
Cheers Phil     

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: Natroy on June 21, 2015, 06:53:24 pm

Try www.nightmare-racing.com. They may be able to help.

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: Hardo on June 21, 2015, 08:44:42 pm

Wow... you have the 13th ever made in the world. Thats cool - pretty low frame number.

K5E-900014 engine number is KX450 (74).
The 1974 KX450 engine number starts at K5E-900001. Kawasaki must have rejected one engine in the first 13 - hence yours has frame #13 and engine #14.

For info: the 1975 KX400 engine number starts at K5E-903001.

Good find.  ;)

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: philthy on June 22, 2015, 08:10:26 am

I thought something was odd when I saw that the numbers didn't match as it definitely was a one owner since new bike.Now the question is do I take the enduro gear off and convert it back to mx state and restore it or simply leave as is.Does anyone know if the enduro kit was for Australian kxs only?   

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: JC on July 10, 2015, 01:10:28 pm

Kawasaki engine nos & frame nos didn't match in those days, tho they were usually close.

Most KX450s sold in Qld were sold as enduros. They didn't sell for MX so Brisk Sales used an F11 ignition, front wheel & speedo etc & converted them. Still used the KX450's downpipe tho. Before the ADR rules came in (75??) you could register them. A friend of mine who worked at the local Kaw shop in CQ had one registered & rode it everywhere. He loved it. Still had it last time I talked to him.

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: philthy on July 10, 2015, 06:09:02 pm

Thanks for the info about the enduro kit,makes perfect sense since the bike was originally purchased in QLD.The restoration has started with  shocks and forks at the rechromers ,motor being rebuilt,and nuts and bolts ready for the anodiser.Here we go again!

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: Tex on July 10, 2015, 06:14:38 pm

Sounds like an interesting bike. Got any pics (enduro version)?

Tex

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: albrid-3 on July 10, 2015, 08:32:15 pm

got any photo of your fine.

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: philthy on July 11, 2015, 09:47:50 am

Love to post a pic but I'm a bit technically challenged in that department.Will try and work on it.Could email a pic and someone post it on my behalf

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: kdx Geoff on July 11, 2015, 11:03:10 am

Send them to me  :)

[email protected]

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: kdx Geoff on July 11, 2015, 12:39:42 pm

On behalf of philthy

(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/044_zps2t2hmuhs.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/044_zps2t2hmuhs.jpg.html)
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/045_zpshpf01jgg.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/045_zpshpf01jgg.jpg.html)
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/046_zpswjivkhaa.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/046_zpswjivkhaa.jpg.html)
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/047_zpsqhtruht7.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/047_zpsqhtruht7.jpg.html)

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: Tex on July 11, 2015, 03:34:03 pm

That is cool!

Tex

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: Iain Cameron on July 11, 2015, 06:40:53 pm

even still got the hammer head shocks .

Title: Re: barn find
Post by: philthy on July 11, 2015, 07:02:26 pm

believe it or not they still worked with no leaks.Not too sure if they are aftermarket redwing hammerheads as they have a two spring setup.On the kawasaki parts diagram there is only one spring.Someone may know.