Kawasaki F11 Motorcycles for sale in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Kawasaki : KX 1973 kawasaki f 11 mx pre production kx 250 prototype 1 of 200 must see 1974

Kawasaki : KX 1973 kawasaki f 11 mx pre production kx 250 prototype 1 of 200 must see 1974

$8,950

Raleigh, North Carolina

Year 1973

Make Kawasaki

Model KX

Category -

Engine 250

Posted Over 1 Month

1973 Kawasaki F11 MX Prototype - 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 one of the few left complete in existence. Until now...... Pic of it in the Kawi museum........ http://racerxonline.com/2012/01/19/the-list-cool-kawasaki-things - US and Worldwide shipping available!- Paypal accepted! Over 75 vintage / post vintage / evo MX bikes available!!Check out our other auctions!! [email protected](919) 790-2235

Trim 250