As we do

[firko]

Great shot of Springer doing what he does best Doc. It's hard to tell but the bits you can see look to be a Champion frame. The bike that raced at Nepean with the factory kit that I mentioned earlier is a intersting piece of kit. The frame started life as a brand new stock F9 Bighorn trailbike but it was converted to flat track geometry by Rick(?) Parry using a kit that Kawasaki apparently supplied to a limited number of American competitors. The geometry is almost inch for inch, degree for degree a copy of a Bultaco Astro which in turn was supposedly based on Trackmaster geometry. Whatever the history, it's a really well engineered bike that went pretty well considering it had been pulled out of the shed after sitting idle for 30 years. The owner reckoned he had a couple of race kits and some race pipes but, they weren't for sale.
 

[DR]

CD8 ..what have I missed!! Where was it!! oops, my bad, read it the wrong way

[VMX247]

Doc is this it ??
sounds like it has heeps of potential. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srq4r3SpuGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InVh4pcxEes&feature=related

In preparation for the 1973 season, the factory initiated production of a semi-production machine (just 200 units) that was dubbed the F11-M. Most of these remained in Japan as the smaller Japanese riders didn't have the size and strength to handle the open class machines that were so popular in America.

Bryon Farnsworth - Kawasaki R&D Manager in America recalls testing the early F11M prototypes coming from Japan. “We used Peter Lamppu and Jim Cook as test riders and Kawasaki Japan contracted Thorlief Hansen! Our riders were impressed with the power, the finish was good, but suspension and handling still left something to be desired!” Bryon goes on to say, “The Japanese focused on the 250's as their test riders were smaller and we (Kawasaki R&D in America) focused on developing the 450 identified as the F-12MX! Heck, the Japanese test riders couldn't even start the 450's……..we had to do it for them!”

By 1974, Kawasaki introduced the KX line of motocross bikes and later hired Jeff Ward, Gary Semics, and Jimmy Weinert to pilot the factory machines. Weinert rewarded them with a 500cc National title in 1975 and a 250cc Supercross title in 1976.
http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com/1973KAWASAKIF11M250.html

[DR]

  yes you can just hear the potential oozing out in that exhaust note Alison. Fine examples!! Looks like I'll have to dig mine back out to take up the cause last ride was CD6 and it wasn't going too bad but had clutch issues..least of which being a welded on kickstart from a previous owner which meant I couldn't do much..lazy me bought another shaft and lever just after..but ummm..it's still on the shelf with the inner rotor ignition I purchased much the same time like this thread, you can't rush these things

[JADERD]

funny you say welded on kick start, mine possesses the same currently, the orig one snapped so we welded a random one onto the side, so as am still able to just take the orig one off the spline and will remove the dodgy one...currently looking for one at moment will prob just jump on ebay and buy one from US...little expensive but ok.

just adding more pics to my intro thread below

http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=17462.0

or direct link to pics here

http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/sberton/Kawasaki%20F11B%201975/

[Slakewell]

Heres one on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kawasaki-F11-250-F-11-Vintage-1970s-Trail-Bike-VMX-/330511374769?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cf40359b1

[VMX247]

With all the special legends,families,mechanics and vmx associates around at this weekends Classic Dirt 9 Wallarwang NSW ,it was perhaps no surprise to recieve more info about these bikes in Australia.Talked to Trevor Williams Kawasaki mechanic in the Commercial Hotel and confirmed that there is under five of these F11M brought/left in Australia.
cheers A