Did Kawasaki ever seriously think of building a 500cc Grand Prix bike?

Edited by GD66, 06 February 2013 - 08:38.

The 1982 square-four KR500 on the other hand, in spite of Kork Ballington's bravery, was a typical half-hearted Kawasaki race effort...too late, too heavy, and too slow...

They did didn't they. Firstly the H1R in the late 60's and early 70's, as campaigned by the likes of Ginger Molley then the in 1980 to 1982 the KR500 as campaigned by Kork Ballington and others. But appears nothing in the mid to late 70's.

I know that Kawasaki had some success in the 250cc class in the 1970's, but did they ever seriously consider building a 500cc Grand Prix bike? Did they build any prototypes? What were their reasons for not joining Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha in the major Grand Prix class?

Well , Dave Simmonds didn't do to badly , winning the 1971 Spanish 500GP , Kawasaki's first Senior GP win , finishing 4th in the table , and 7th the following year , his last

Dont know anything about the bike other than ex-Mick Grant with Jamie Whitham riding

Dont know anything about the bike other than ex-Mick Grant with Jamie Whitham riding

Edited by GD66, 07 February 2013 - 21:56.

It's got yellow plates ie a 500, Mick Grant rode a 500, I've even got the sound of it on cassette at Scarboro' in 75 together with Tony Rutters Offenstadt and the Harley 500 twin ridden by Mimo Cazaniga ( probably spelled wrong ) and Read on the MV 500.
Greg

The 1982 square-four KR500 on the other hand, in spite of Kork Ballington's bravery, was a typical half-hearted Kawasaki race effort...too late, too heavy, and too slow...

Hansford broke his leg, and suffered repeated clots for some time afterwards, but he'd been on the KR since its' inception in 1981. From memory, Cathcart found the KR most to his liking because it was the bike he felt most comfortable on of those tested, not because it was the quickest, lightest or fastest.

Edited by SgtPepperoni, 08 February 2013 - 13:18.

Edited by GD66, 08 February 2013 - 13:20.

http://classic-motor...egory/moriwaki-

Slide down the right column and click KR500. And check out the weight and horsepower comparisons at the bottom.

Edited by GD66, 08 February 2013 - 14:45.

Without doubt one of the sexiest bikes ever Graham, but very temperamental until well-sorted, the H1-R triple had plenty of good results in 500 GPs from 1970 onwards as a privateer bike.





The 1982 square-four KR500 on the other hand, in spite of Kork Ballington's bravery, was a typical half-hearted Kawasaki race effort...too late, too heavy, and too slow...

Was Ballington the right figurehead for the team?
Was he even a 500 rider?

The gorgeous ear splitting sound of Eric Offenstat's 500 Kawasaki triple two stroke through the start finish area at dundrod during the 1971 ulster grand prix practice will live in the memory for ever.

Edited by OultonPark65, 09 February 2013 - 13:38.

Edited by tonyed, 09 February 2013 - 17:56.

Mallory Park - Not sure of the year think it is 1973, not a great photo but is this the one.

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Just for the record - I think this is not Eric's monocoque H1R , but the 500cc twin special he built for the 1973 season , by sawing off a cylinder from a 750 kawasaki triple ( oversimplifying things a little, but basically that's what it was ) . A clever idea and a light, torqey machine with which he scored wuite a few world championship points ; He had named it the "SMAC" after the name of his bike concession/frames and wheels business .

Edited by OultonPark65, 09 February 2013 - 20:22.

The first version of the KR500 had a full monocoque; this was strange, since Kawa had succeeded with the 250 by having a good engine in a relatively conventional frame, with only the Full-Floater suspension being fairly novel.

Aren't real racers (ie two strokes) much nicer when there isn't a thumping great dustbin hanging on the end of the expansion chamber?

Noise compared with the polution the Septics and Biggles make over East Anglia playing their purile war games a grid full of unsilenced two strokes could enter any library (if Simple Dave hasn't closed them all down) and not a hair would be turned.

It's about time we fought back.

I march on Vestmunster tomorrow armed only with a LH TD3 exhaust and my trust in DOG.