1973 Kawasaki F11 MX - $8,950 - Running and shifting bike!! Number 82 of 200!
By early 1972, Kawasaki decided to build a competitive MX bike to fill the growing market in the United States. They went out and hired riders Brad Lackey, John Desoto among others to race and help developed the bikes. The bikes showed early promise and Lackey rewarded them with their 1st National title in the Open class later that year. In 1973 Kawasaki was prepared to release a limited production open class bike that they dubbed the F12MX. They also released the 250 F11MX version. Bryon Farnsworth, Kawasaki’s American R&D Manager at the time, said, “We used Peter Lamppu and Jim Cook as test riders, and Kawasaki Japan contracted Thorlief Hansen! Our riders were impressed with the power, and the finish was good, but the suspension and handling still left something to be desired. The Japanese focused on the 250s, as their test riders were smaller. Both of these bikes were produced with many light components that brought them both in near 200 lbs. The projected number of these bikes to be made available was rumored to be about 200 of each. This is number 82.
It is believed by many sources that significantly less than 200 bikes were ever released from Kawasaki They were made available only to sponsored riders that had interviewed for them. They were extremely light and powerful. The bikes featured magnesium hubs, chromoly frames, custom Kayaba shocks, plastic fuel tank and levers. Kawasaki fed these sponsored riders parts over the course of the year to try out.
Nobody seems to know for sure what the F11M 250 sold for because of the limited production run. A year later, the 1974 KX250 retailed for $1150. The Early Years of Motocross Museum found this example in West Virginia after a five-year search. The museum reportedly paid $12,000 for this bike and then did a restoration.
http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com/1973KAWASAKIF11M250.html
The only other F11MX known to exist is the bike linked to below which was later confirmed as the test bike used in Dirt Rider Magazine in August 1973. It is also believed to have been the same bike used by Motocross Action Magazine, Modern Cycle and Cycle World. It's history has been documented since it left the Kawasaki Factory in Irvine.
The bike still resides in the Kawasaki factory museum and is believed to be the only additional one left complete in existence. Until now......
Pic of it in the Kawi museum........
http://racerxonline.com/2012/01/19/the-list-cool-kawasaki-things
In 1974 Kawasaki was ready to release their 1st MX bike to the public. It was dubbed the KX 450. And it was built for only one year. Production numbers rumored to be less than 500 of this model. In 1975 they released a KX 400 version of the bike. So this bike represents a one year model and the very first KX open class monster!
I was lucky enough to find and purchase these 2 bikes from a 70 year old gentleman in Cockeysville MD who owned a Kawasaki dealership in the early 70's and was lucky enough to be able to get an F11MX and a one of the first 74 KX450's from the factory. He kept these two stored in a barn 30 years after the dealership closed.
It is believed by many sources that significantly less than 200 bikes were ever released from Kawasaki They were made available only to sponsored riders that had interviewed for them. They were extremely light and powerful. The bikes featured magnesium hubs, chromoly frames, custom Kayaba shocks, plastic fuel tank and levers. Kawasaki fed these sponsored riders parts over the course of the year to try out.
Nobody seems to know for sure what the F11M 250 sold for because of the limited production run. A year later, the 1974 KX250 retailed for $1150. The Early Years of Motocross Museum found this example in West Virginia after a five-year search. The museum reportedly paid $12,000 for this bike and then did a restoration.
http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com/1973KAWASAKIF11M250.html
The only other F11MX known to exist is the bike linked to below which was later confirmed as the test bike used in Dirt Rider Magazine in August 1973. It is also believed to have been the same bike used by Motocross Action Magazine, Modern Cycle and Cycle World. It's history has been documented since it left the Kawasaki Factory in Irvine.
The bike still resides in the Kawasaki factory museum and is believed to be the only additional one left complete in existence. Until now......
Pic of it in the Kawi museum........
http://racerxonline.com/2012/01/19/the-list-cool-kawasaki-things
In 1974 Kawasaki was ready to release their 1st MX bike to the public. It was dubbed the KX 450. And it was built for only one year. Production numbers rumored to be less than 500 of this model. In 1975 they released a KX 400 version of the bike. So this bike represents a one year model and the very first KX open class monster!
I was lucky enough to find and purchase these 2 bikes from a 70 year old gentleman in Cockeysville MD who owned a Kawasaki dealership in the early 70's and was lucky enough to be able to get an F11MX and a one of the first 74 KX450's from the factory. He kept these two stored in a barn 30 years after the dealership closed.
