In
the early 1970's
and late 60's
Kawasaki had
several 90ccm
bikes for sale.
Both street
versions and
off-road
versions. All of
them was built
around a 1
cylinder
rotary-valve
2-stroke engine.
Almost all of
then had an
automatic oil
injection system
which eliminated
the need to mix
oil with petrol.
This was called Superlube. The
bikes with 4
speed gearbox
(GA1) had a
rotary shift
type, with
toe-heel pedal,.
To shift to a higher gear, use
front of pedal,
low gear, rear
of pedal.
Neutral between
low and top
gear.
N,1,2,3,4,N. The
5 speed gear box
on the rest of
the models is a
return change
type with (like
today's bikes
except neutral)
Neutral at
bottom, then
1,2,3,4 and 5.
Engine details
GA1, 90S
>
The original
model of the GA
series. The GA1 was an replacement from the earlier G1 series. It has
double cradle
frame
and
De
Carbon (Sealed-in
nitrogen) type
rear shocks.
Made from
1969-1970
Colour:
Black
10.5 HP @8,000
rpm, and 4 gears.
GA2, 90SS
Modified version
of the GA1, with
five gears,
different
colouring and
chain case. Made
from 1968 (9)-1970.
For 1970 the colour was Candy Blue. Output was 10.5 HP @8,000 rpm.
The
G3SS was solely
meant for
street. The 90cc
rotary valve
engine produced
10 horsepower at
7500 rpm and
featured a
rotary 5-speed
gearbox with
disc valve
induction and
stainless steel
fenders. Colours: Pastel Blue,
Candy Blue.
Eddie Lawson
had one in 1970.
It my look like
a 1969
model....
picture at right
The G3TR is the
trail
version of the
G3 with knobby
tires, and
upswept exhaust
pipe,
different
colouring. Also
called Bush
Master. Colour
Pastel Orange.
Round tank
design from 1969
to 1970. 10.0 HP
@7.500 rpm. And
5 gears.
The 1969 and 1970 bikes look much alike, but one easy way to tell the difference is the fuel tank decals. In the upper picture is a 1969, the lower blue one is a 1970's
Right: some nice 90SS advertisings', well I am not sure its a 1970's model. Source: Kawasaki Garage
<
Specifications
all 90ccm bikes
S= Sport (GA1) ,
SS = Super Sport
(GA2), SSS =
Super Street
Scrambler (GA3)
100 ccm Bikes
G4TR
Trail Boss
The 100 cc
G4TR was a new
model in 1970.
It's a stronger
more capable
bike then
previous 90 cc
bikes you could
by back then.
And with a 5
speed gearbox
with high and
low gearing you
could always get
the right
gearing for
street or the
woods. The slim
and good-looking
Kawasaki got the
name Trail Boss.
You could have it red, more precise: Candy tone Red. Power was 11,5
hp @8000 rpm. 10
gears, 5-speed,
constant mesh,
return shift
with 2-speed sub
transmission,
quick change by
lever on sub
transmission
cover. The G4TR
stayed with
Kawasaki for
many years, and
become the Agi
Bike from 1974.
New bike for
1970.
The G31-M
Centurion was a
real MX bike
made to be the
fastest bike in
its class around
any track. It
was produced
from 1970 to
1971.
The engine was
similar to the
G4TR, had an
ordinary 5 speed
gearbox, no
automatic oil
injection system
but power was a
lot higher. 18.5
hp @ 10250 rpm
made it the
fastest 100ccm
bike of its
time. Front and
rear fenders are
made of polished
aluminium. Hubs
are alloy and
rims are made of
steel. Front
forks are non
adjustable but
the rear dampers
have spring
preload
adjustment.
According to
Cycle World the
G31M was a quick
powerful racer
built to win.
The colour: Lime
Green, and
around 1400
G31's where
made.
MB1A Coyote
The Coyote was a real mini bike. It started life as a 50ccm 2 stroke in 1969. But the small engine wasn't the best so it was for 1970 replaced with a 134ccm four stroke Bridges and Stratton copy.
You can read more about it at Mini Doodle.
Power output was 3.5hp, and it was built from 1969 to 1971 It had a recoil starter, one gear and centrifugal clutch.
Probably not the bike that put Kawasaki on the map.
This Particular G31 belonged to Steve McQueen. This bike was one of 6 bikes he got for the movie Le Mans. After filming Steve painted it orange and named it Ringadingdoo.
The 175 ccm F3 was introduced in 1968. It had an electric start, rotary valve 2 stroke engine, four speed and power was 20hp at 7300 rpm. The bike had dual rear sprockets, one for road and one for trail riding. It replaced the older F2TR It was only in production until 1970. It was named the Bushwhacker. Colour was Alumitone Silver every year.
250
F4
Sidewinder &
F21M
(only F21M)
The F4 Sidewinder a 250 similar to the F3 but more off-road oriented with quick-detachable lights and off-road tires. Engine displacement was 238ccm and power was 23 hp at 7500rpm.
The F4 had a more powerful sister, the F21M. This was the motocross version of the F4. Power was 30hp at 7000 rpm. For 1970 front wheel was down from 21 in to 19 in with an 18 in rear wheel. One colour was Lime Green. Both bikes was only produced from 1968 to 1970.
A new model for 1970. The new 350 F5 Big Horn was based on the 250 Sidewinder (F4) but the F5 was a much more capable machine. The engine had 33 hp at 6500 rpm and a 5 speed gearbox. One big new feature was the new Hatta front forks. The forks offered three adjustable axel positions and it was possible to raised or lower them around 100mm. And there was a three way spring preload adjuster. This bike really had advanced suspension in 1970. You could also adjust both foot pegs and brake levers. The gear selector could be used on both left or right side sins the gear selector shaft protrudes from both sides of the engine case.
Wheels were made of alloy and the tires had trail pattern. It was a good looking bike!
The F5 was produced from 1970 to 71 and was replace by the 350 F9 in 1972. It was the father of a whole family of new Kawasaki off-road bikes following the next year.
More
information
about all the W
bikes here: W1 to W3
The biggest Kawasaki in 1970 and the only four stroke. It had its roots in a 1950's BSA but still going strong.
Based on the W1 from 1966 the W2SS was the export model. It had twin carburettors separated instruments and 53 hp. Gas tank was painted, not chromed on the export model. And it was called Commander.
The W1SS was the successor to the original W1 but had twin carburettors like the W2SS. The engine produced 50 hp, 3 down compared to the W2, but performance was similar.
The W1S was a W2SS with Japanese specifications. Dry weight was up
from 181 to 199kg.
The 500 H1 only new colours for 1970 but still the fastest and most thrilling bike you could buy. Two stroke 60 hp and 174 kilos. Already a legend and a sought after collectors bike today. It was called 500 SS in Japan.
There were where also a H1 racer the H1R. Strong and fast with its 80hp. The H1R on this pictures belonged to and was raced by a young Texan called Rusty Bradly. You can read his story on Superbike Planet here: Rusty Bradly
350 A7
&
A7SS
Avenger
Model name A7A
/A7SSA
Much like its 100ccm smaller sister the A1 and A1SS. The 350 A7A and A7SSA had a more advanced lubrication system, called Injectolube. The clutch was stronger and better alternator.
Like the 250, the 350 had a major update in 1969. For 1970 they went from "teardrop" shaped petrol tank to a more rectangular shape. The colours was new. New seat shape and a shorter rear mudguard. Bothe the A7 and A7SS got an extra "A" keep this form earlier models. The difference between the A7A and A7SSA is the SS upsweep exhaust system, the SS have higher handlebars, lower gearing, skid plate and upgraded suspension. The A7A and A7SSA was called Avenger and it was a very fast bike for its time.
Read more about the A1 to A7
at this excellent site: MotoWasabi
(a lot of interesting bikes here)
250 A1
&
A1SS
Samurai
Model name A1A /
A1SSA
Both the 250ccm A1 and its sister the A1SS had a major update last year and for 1970 there are some significant changes. There is a new more rectangular petrol tank, new paint job. the seat is new and the rear mudguard is shorter. Head gasket is changed to copper only type, previous models had an asbest-copper type. The difference between the A1 and A1SS is the SS upsweep exhaust system, the SS have higher handlebars, lower gearing, skid plate and upgraded suspension. The A1 and A1SS was called Samurai.
The
rest, bikes for
sale in Japan
and probably
some other
places
The bikes above
where all sold
worldwide more
or less. If you
lived in Japan
at that time,
then there was
some interesting
machines to
choose between.
Everything from
all bikes witch
was new in the
early 60-2 to
bikes not yet on
the American
market. Full
line up in the
ads at left, and
a short
introduction of
the bikes below.
The GA3
or
90SSS.
Actually a Bush-
Master with
regular tires,
different paint
and a SSS label
on the side
panel.
>
The 90-TR was the Japanese version of the G4TR (above) Capacity was 89ccm and power was 10.5 hp. Unlike its bigger brother the G4 it had only 5 gears.
>
90 G1L
was actually new
in 1970. It
replace the
older J1. The
engine was the
forerunner to
the GA bikes. It
produced 8.2hp
at 6500 rpm. The
bike was in
production from
1970 to 1972
>
90
and
90 SS
"new style"
Specifications
are the same as
the 90 S and 90
SS above. But
hey have the
looks of the
1971 bikes.
Probably an
early released
at home marked.
>
125 B1.
A replacement
for the 1963 B8
the first
Kawasaki. The
125 ccm bike had
rotary valve
inlet. 12 hp, 4
gears. Produced
in many
different
versions from
1965 to 1976.
But that was
only a name
change it lived
on to 1980 as
the KC125. (last
picture this
row)
>
250 TR The F5 Bighorns smaller brother called Bison and introduced worldwide in 1971 as the F8 Bison. 24.5 hp at 6800 rpm.
120 C2SS
Roadrunner
115
ccm and 11.5hp.
On sale from
1967 until ??
The bikes here
my not be 1970
models.
>
250 SG
Based on a
Meguro S8
motorcycle from
the early 60's
Kawasaki brought
Meguro and sold
this as a
Kawasaki from
1964 to 1970. 1
cylinder 4
stroke 18 hp at
7000 rpm.
4 gears
(N,1,2,3,4,N,
and 1,2 ....)
Read more here:
Classic
Motorcycle
Mechanics
Magazine
>
125 TR
Sold in Japan as
the TR or
Bobcat. In the
rest of the
world as the F6
from 1971. 15 hp
at 7000 rpm, 5
gears and the
looks of the F5
Bighorn. But no
Hatta fork here.
>
