Eeeem, a 400 four. Nice. When working at a bike dealership I purloined one from stock for a few weeks. Nice. Did I mention that? But my favourite was the Kawasaki Z1300.
Z1300 was awesome, everything big. Even tank badge was > 1/2″ wide.
The first time I saw a Z1300 was at the TT – one came flying past as I emerged at the roadside from the Sulby Glen Hotel car-park. God knows what the wind drag from that barn-door radiator must have been!
The Kettle’s a good one. Twin discs, so one of the later ones, confirmed by what appear to be CV carbs. That’s not such a bad thing because the early ones had a fairly short wheelbase and didn’t handle very well. Genuine exhaust system and that crucial guard for the radiator.
It’s got reflectors on the sides of its indicators, so it’s an American import. Got that odd rear light, very distinctive.
North of £12,000.
Next is a Kawasaki W650 that’s been given the cafe racer look, however not quite up to radical clip-ons, more swan neck, so very likely an older rider.
The Rothmans Honda is obscured and the front mudguard doesn’t follow any of the common patterns used by Honda. Front tyre seems a little too wide for a 250, so suspect it’s a 400 triple. If so, hen’s teeth rare.
Good weather and it’s dry until Tuesday next week.
None of these bikes are locked, so behind the camera person there’s bound to be a very watchful set of eyes – and who can blame them!
+1 on GT750
Kawa? No idea – does look like a modernish retro.
Honda – whoosh
Thing about this motor is Kawasaki wanted to keep it short, they wanted it to be as close in profile as the Bonnie and have a lowish seat height. So what they did was drive the ohc by a bevel rather than a chain.
So they were able to do away with the cam sprocket, clearance for the chain, so lower cam cover – and do away with that bolt at the back for the cam chain adjuster.
Then they decided to make a feature of this, resulting in a chromed tube and knuckle on the right side of the motor. To my eyes it’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does work and there’s no characteristic cam chain noise.
Here they sold to more mature riders and while they were never big sellers, it was sufficiently profitable for them to replace it with another variant with greater capacity.
Stacks of low mileage, well cared for units came up for sale – still do, and they lend themselves to personalisation. The one in LR’s photo is quite mild and aside from back chrome highlights on the bars and headlight, the rest is just cosmetic.
You’ll note the fake “timing chest” and bump for the “gearbox”, also the black cam cover.
Totally aside they did a 125 with bevel drive and chopper style, called Eliminator. Great for folk with short legs, but only good for about 62 mph downhill. It had Kawasaki in the tank, but was built in Malaysia. Quite rare now, but not collectable.
Takes me back too
P2:
Honda 400 Four – the end of Brit bikes
Plus, S50, fizzy, KH250 & Z900/Z1 were the hot bikes.
Any Benelli Sei and Laverda 180/120s?
Saw a jota and a mirage. No twins though.
Silly me me, meant Jota 180 degree and newer 120 degree.
Benelli Sixes seem non existent now like 80s Ducatis, Moto-Gs etc. Sad.
Any Kawa 750 Turbo or GPz1100 EFI?
I love the sound of a kettle on expansion boxes! CB400 was one of life’s disappointments: all whizz and no grunt.
Do they still have a vintage meet in Castletown during TT week?
Eeeem, a 400 four. Nice. When working at a bike dealership I purloined one from stock for a few weeks. Nice. Did I mention that? But my favourite was the Kawasaki Z1300.
Z1300 was awesome, everything big. Even tank badge was > 1/2″ wide.
The first time I saw a Z1300 was at the TT – one came flying past as I emerged at the roadside from the Sulby Glen Hotel car-park. God knows what the wind drag from that barn-door radiator must have been!
The Kettle’s a good one. Twin discs, so one of the later ones, confirmed by what appear to be CV carbs. That’s not such a bad thing because the early ones had a fairly short wheelbase and didn’t handle very well. Genuine exhaust system and that crucial guard for the radiator.
It’s got reflectors on the sides of its indicators, so it’s an American import. Got that odd rear light, very distinctive.
North of £12,000.
Next is a Kawasaki W650 that’s been given the cafe racer look, however not quite up to radical clip-ons, more swan neck, so very likely an older rider.
The Rothmans Honda is obscured and the front mudguard doesn’t follow any of the common patterns used by Honda. Front tyre seems a little too wide for a 250, so suspect it’s a 400 triple. If so, hen’s teeth rare.
Good weather and it’s dry until Tuesday next week.
None of these bikes are locked, so behind the camera person there’s bound to be a very watchful set of eyes – and who can blame them!
+1 on GT750
Kawa? No idea – does look like a modernish retro.
Honda – whoosh
Thing about this motor is Kawasaki wanted to keep it short, they wanted it to be as close in profile as the Bonnie and have a lowish seat height. So what they did was drive the ohc by a bevel rather than a chain.
So they were able to do away with the cam sprocket, clearance for the chain, so lower cam cover – and do away with that bolt at the back for the cam chain adjuster.
Then they decided to make a feature of this, resulting in a chromed tube and knuckle on the right side of the motor. To my eyes it’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does work and there’s no characteristic cam chain noise.
Here they sold to more mature riders and while they were never big sellers, it was sufficiently profitable for them to replace it with another variant with greater capacity.
Stacks of low mileage, well cared for units came up for sale – still do, and they lend themselves to personalisation. The one in LR’s photo is quite mild and aside from back chrome highlights on the bars and headlight, the rest is just cosmetic.
Here’s another interpretation.
http://www.bikeexif.com/kawasaki-w650-cafe-racer
You’ll note the fake “timing chest” and bump for the “gearbox”, also the black cam cover.
Totally aside they did a 125 with bevel drive and chopper style, called Eliminator. Great for folk with short legs, but only good for about 62 mph downhill. It had Kawasaki in the tank, but was built in Malaysia. Quite rare now, but not collectable.
Takes me back too
P2:
Honda 400 Four – the end of Brit bikes
Plus, S50, fizzy, KH250 & Z900/Z1 were the hot bikes.
Any Benelli Sei and Laverda 180/120s?
Saw a jota and a mirage. No twins though.
Silly me me, meant Jota 180 degree and newer 120 degree.
Benelli Sixes seem non existent now like 80s Ducatis, Moto-Gs etc. Sad.
Any Kawa 750 Turbo or GPz1100 EFI?
I love the sound of a kettle on expansion boxes! CB400 was one of life’s disappointments: all whizz and no grunt.
Do they still have a vintage meet in Castletown during TT week?
Down by the Southern Hundred course.