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Author Topic: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.  (Read 10159 times)

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Offline evo550

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Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« on: August 20, 2011, 06:19:06 pm »
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Offline Slakewell

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2011, 09:50:01 am »
Could be a cool green pre 70 racer
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Current bikes. KTM MC 250 77 Husky CR 360 77, Husky 82 420 Auto Bitsa XR 200 project. Dont need a pickle just need to ride my motorcickle

Offline Doc

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2011, 05:37:05 pm »
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 ;)
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Offline evo550

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2011, 09:56:05 pm »
Is it a production bike?
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IT400C

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2011, 12:14:20 am »
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....
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IT400C

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2011, 12:16:23 am »
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"
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 12:20:34 am by IT400C »
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Offline shortshifter

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2011, 11:23:50 am »
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.
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Offline firko

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2011, 12:07:10 pm »
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. 

« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 12:24:11 pm by firko »
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'68 Yamaha DT1 enduro, '69 Yamaha 'DT1 from Hell' '69 DT1'Dunger from Hell, '69 Cheney Yamaha 360, 70 Maico 350 (2 off), '68 Hindall Ducati 250, Hindall RT2MX, Hindall YZ250a , Cycle Factory RT2MX flat tracker, Yamaha 1T250J, Maico 250 trials, '71, Boyd and Stellings TM400, Shell OW72,750 Yamaha

Offline shortshifter

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2011, 01:33:40 pm »
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
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Offline firko

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2011, 02:26:52 pm »
The Project Bighorn frame's otherwise occupied Paul ;D
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 02:31:03 pm by firko »
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'68 Yamaha DT1 enduro, '69 Yamaha 'DT1 from Hell' '69 DT1'Dunger from Hell, '69 Cheney Yamaha 360, 70 Maico 350 (2 off), '68 Hindall Ducati 250, Hindall RT2MX, Hindall YZ250a , Cycle Factory RT2MX flat tracker, Yamaha 1T250J, Maico 250 trials, '71, Boyd and Stellings TM400, Shell OW72,750 Yamaha

Offline Doc

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2011, 04:59:48 pm »
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

my fav bighorn is this unit from Don Miller at Metro Racing pictured below with Jay Springsteen taking it for a skid 8)



Quote from Don
Quote
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.





 
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 05:17:09 pm by Doc »
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Offline shortshifter

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2011, 05:34:24 pm »
So I see Firko,you've got so many specials floating around I just can't keep track ;)
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Offline AjayVMX

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2011, 06:01:47 pm »
Love those photos, Doc!  ;D
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Offline JC

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2011, 09:16:11 am »
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.
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Offline Doc

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Re: Interesting pre 75 Kawa.
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2011, 10:21:05 am »
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 ???
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