AllMoto's Motorcycle Investor mag

Motorcycle Investor mag

Kawasaki 350 Big Horn

The firm's 350-TR made quite a splash in the 1970s

October 3, 2026, by Guy 'Guido' Allen

We've jumped back to the early 1970s and Kawasaki's wonderfully-named Big Horn, aka the 350-TR dual-purpose heavyweight. Well, it was considered a heavyweight back then.

At top is a domestic-market ad from 1970 though the name suggests the USA was a key target, given its size and wealth at the time. Above is a single-page retail ad out of Kawasaki Motors in California.

Right-click (open in new tab/window) on the photo to check out the detail, as the claims are advanced for the day.

It's heart was an air-cooled 346cc two-stroke with rotary valves. With a five-speed transmission, it claimed a top speed of 135ikm/h (84mph) for a package weighing 120kg (265lb).

We were intrigued to see that the listed horsepower could be raised from 33 to a heady 45 with the maker's competition-focussed PowerPack (aka Speed Kit). That's a 36 per cent jump!

The machine underwent a significant revision for the 1972 model year – boasting a host of upgrades. That's it above and below.

Legendary American motorcycle magazine Cycle World of course reviewed the new generation bike back when it was new and had this to say: "It’s not often Cycle World tests a heavyweight that is both freeway fast and practically enduro ready. If you occasionally need a street legal machine, but would like to try some fire-roading in Baja or perhaps the Greenhorn Enduro, the F9 isn’t all that bad a choice."