Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:27 pm**

This little beauty was added to the collection on Monday night. It is not running, but comes with an excellent pedigree !! One owner since 1971, (ie since brand-new) and *heaps* of spares..........and it only cost $0.00 - yep, a freebie....these photos are the *before its been cleaned* photos.... :oops:

It is a F9 Bighorn 350cc - This was the first 'big' bore trailbike that Kawasaki ever made. It is a rotary-valve 2-stroke single. These made about 35hp standard, but can be easily modified to belt out between 45-50hp.... :shock:

That front-end is what is known as a 'Hatta' fork - the front axle can be placed in 1 of 3 positions - either leading axle (in front of the forks), centre axle (in line with forks), or trailing axle (behind forks) - this was to achieve a range of handling options, depending on the type of riding being done.

I really only wanted the motor, for another weird project, but because this rig has so many good original parts still on it, I guess it will become a restoration back to fully stock. There are enough spare engine parts to build another motor for my other project anyway, so its worked out pretty well.....

Should be good for the Pre-73 MX class in vintage MX eh ?? :lol:

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:37 pm**

Actually that looks better than I was expecting when you told me about it...you should have it up and running by Christmas

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:41 pm**

Its way better than I thought it would be......only missing 1 or 2 important bits - the LH sidecover being one of them.

Up and running by Xmas !!! :shock:

you've been listening to PC too much !! :lol:

Given its pretty good condition, the resto should be very straightforward, but I think the *other* project will take priority........ :wink:

When are you going to grace the Northside with the Silver Bullet ???

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:40 pm**

Gosling1 wrote:...When are you going to grace the Northside with the Silver Bullet ???

When I can get the farking full throttle problem sorted out :evil:

...I've got a few more things to check this weekend, but if I still have no luck I might bring it over anyway and get you to have a ride. I think it's been caused by a combination of problems that I just have to keep chipping away at

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:39 pm**

no worries, I would be happy to sort out any WOT problems !! :lol:

stand by for an update on a possible visit from some interstate mates as well !!

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:18 pm**

u get lots of free bikes..lucky bugger...

looks like the sort of frame a zx12r motor would fit into??? ..mwahahahaha

Posted: **Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:31 pm**

Those clocks look a lot like widowmaker clocks....

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:07 pm**

they are very similiar........even in the paperwork I have scrounged off the Net from the US, it mentions how Kawasaki used the same parts across a multitude of models, for economy of scale.....

apparently if I can source an F81M gearbox from the 250cc MX'er of the same era, it will close up the gearbox ratios a lot, and let me port a F9 motor to road-racing specs !! :shock:

all the gearbox shafts are the same length, bearings sizes are the same etc etc, its just the ratios that are different.....

There are some more parts coming for this bike, apparently there is an original 'Bassani' exhaust pipe, these were the ducks guts back in 1972 !! :lol: