Kawi's first big bore

Craze
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Craze
Edited Date/Time 8/19/2012 3:36pm
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/1619712028.html
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TJorski
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TJorski 2/27/2010 6:00am
2/27/2010 6:00am
Broke 5 80 models in half. 2 420s and 3 250s.
project racer 2/27/2010 11:57am
2/27/2010 11:57am Edited Date/Time 2/27/2010 12:11pm
Not the first, but it was the worst. The leverage ratio was way off in the suspension design and they literally pounded themselves to pieces.

The Shop

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motogrady
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motogrady 2/27/2010 3:54pm
2/27/2010 3:54pm


Bighorn's older than both.
project racer 2/27/2010 5:00pm
2/27/2010 5:00pm Edited Date/Time 2/27/2010 5:16pm
motogrady wrote:


Bighorn's older than both.
Pighorn was an enduro. If we are going that route, the 350 Avenger street bike was earlier than the Pig.
motogrady
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motogrady 2/28/2010 2:48pm
2/28/2010 2:48pm
motogrady wrote:


Bighorn's older than both.
project racer wrote:
Pighorn was an enduro. If we are going that route, the 350 Avenger street bike was earlier than the Pig.


Wasn't the Avenger a 2 cylinder?
Oldskool
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Oldskool 3/4/2010 7:03am
3/4/2010 7:03am
The 1980 KX420 was certainly not Kawasaki's first big bore MX'er. The KX400 came out in the early '70s and was a beast!

I had the unfortunate experience of owning and racing a brand new 1980 KX420. That thing vibrated so much that my hands would be numb for hours after a 40 minute moto. It damn near refused to turn and the brakes were horrible. I still can't believe that thing didn't kill me.

Given that there were much better open class bikes available that year, I would have been better off turning away from the sponsorship and buying my own bike! But, my dad thought that the deal we got overshadowed the bike and its bad manners. After all, I was still racing very much out of HIS wallet and it was the least I could do to support the effort!

Still won a lot of motos on that thing but it was the least "fun" bike that ever owned.
Oldskool
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Oldskool 3/4/2010 7:11am
3/4/2010 7:11am


Here is picture of the bike on the three rail trailer (where it should have stayed!!!
CamP
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CamP 3/4/2010 8:23am
3/4/2010 8:23am
My brother raced a 1980 KX250 for a short while. It didn't break in half but the swingarm bent into a banana shape for no apparent reason.
TGR
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TGR 3/4/2010 9:13am
3/4/2010 9:13am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 9:09pm
Stock models

1973 F12-M 450
1974 KX450
1975 KX400
1976 KX400
1977 no model that year
1978 only KX125 and KX250
1979 only KX125 and KX250
1980 KX420
1981 KX420
1982 only KX125 and KX250
1983 KX500
andymoto
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andymoto 3/4/2010 3:59pm
3/4/2010 3:59pm
What year did Lackey have that KX450 Factory bike he ran in the GPs? Thought it was one of the first Open KXs.

That 1980 bike looks so Goat Breker.
TGR
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TGR 3/6/2010 6:13am
3/6/2010 6:13am
Brad Lackey went to Europe to race in the GPs in 1973 with only minimal support from Kawasaki.

1971 : CZ
1972 : Kawasaki (Champion AMA 500cc)
1973 : Kawasaki
1974 : Husqvarna
1975 : Husqvarna
1976 : Husqvarna
1977 : Honda
1978 : Honda
1979 : Kawasaki
1980 : Kawasaki
1981 : Suzuki
1982 : Suzuki (World Champion 500cc)
TGR
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TGR 3/6/2010 6:36am
3/6/2010 6:36am
Brad Lackey 1973
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 3/9/2010 8:21am
3/9/2010 8:21am
This is the first one I remember..

observer
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observer 3/12/2010 2:54pm
3/12/2010 2:54pm
I remember seeing Lackey and Weinert at a Rio Bravo Trans AM on those Kawa 450s like up above.
Ohhh, about 1974/5? They WERE fast...
TGR
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TGR 3/13/2010 9:44am
3/13/2010 9:44am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 9:22pm
Brad Lackey - Rio Bravo Trans AM 1973

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slowvet
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slowvet 3/15/2010 5:32pm
3/15/2010 5:32pm
TGR wrote:
Brad Lackey - Rio Bravo Trans AM 1973
Brad Lackey - Rio Bravo Trans AM 1973
TGR, check out my profile page, I got an autograph from Brad Lackey on the race program from Brou, France in '75. I cant figure out how to post it to this page.
TGR
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TGR 3/16/2010 11:31am
3/16/2010 11:31am
Autograph Brad Lackey

slowvet
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slowvet 3/16/2010 5:14pm
3/16/2010 5:14pm
Thanks TGR!
JPT
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JPT 3/18/2010 9:44pm
3/18/2010 9:44pm
Big Lenny wrote:
This is the first one I remember.. [img]http://vintagemx.com.au/wp-content/gallery/kawasaki-open-class/1974kx450.jpg[/img]
This is the first one I remember..

Me too.


The Bighorn was a 350, not really a big bore.
jason mraz 8/17/2012 6:51pm
8/17/2012 6:51pm
TGR wrote:
Stock models 1973 F12-M 450 1974 KX450 1975 KX400 1976 KX400 1977 no model that year 1978 only KX125 and KX250 1979 only KX125 and KX250...
Stock models

1973 F12-M 450
1974 KX450
1975 KX400
1976 KX400
1977 no model that year
1978 only KX125 and KX250
1979 only KX125 and KX250
1980 KX420
1981 KX420
1982 only KX125 and KX250
1983 KX500
im looking for a piston for a kx400 1976 or the whole bike
Zeke27G
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Zeke27G 8/19/2012 3:36pm
8/19/2012 3:36pm
andymoto wrote:
What year did Lackey have that KX450 Factory bike he ran in the GPs? Thought it was one of the first Open KXs. That 1980 bike...
What year did Lackey have that KX450 Factory bike he ran in the GPs? Thought it was one of the first Open KXs.

That 1980 bike looks so Goat Breker.
Speaking of Goat...I scored this posterboard from a local swap meet for $10, I didn't even bother haggling the guy...why would you?!! Cool



Here are some other Goat related goodies. Cool

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