< AllMoto's Motorcycle Investor mag

Motorcycle Investor mag

Time Machine

Kawasaki KR1

Kawasaki KR1 1984 model

Pondering the ones that got away

(August 2021)

When this little green monster emerged in 1984, Kawasaki was fresh from winning five 250cc GP world championships on the trot. So when you saw brand K on a dimunitive two-stroke, you took notice.

Weighing a claimed 133kg dry, the liquid-cooled tandem twin boasted 45 horses in a package that had all the mid-80s good gear. That included a front end with anti-dive and 16-inch front wheel.

The example above was advertised by an Australian dealer in year 2000 at Au$1800 (US$1300, GB£950). It cost nearer Au$3000 (US$2200, GB£1600) when new and 16 years down the track was probably just one clumsy owner away from being consigned to the tip. These days an excellent example – and good luck finding such a unicorn – should have no trouble fetching three to four times its new price.

See the specs and backgrounder at Motorcycle Specs.

Kawasaki KR1