Featured here is a 1983 works Kawasaki SR500 and a 1987 works Kawasaki SR500.  Both bikes were raced by Kurt Nichol in the 500cc GP World Championship’s.

1987 Kawasaki SR500

Ex Brad Lackey Ride

Featured here is Brad Lackey’s 1980 Kawasaki SR500.  This was Brad’s last year with Kawasaki and the bike represents Kawasaki’s best effort at producing a machine capable of winning a championship.  Brad finished a disappointing 2nd in the world championship race behind Andre Malherbe. Brad signed with Suzuki and later made history by winning the 1982 World Championship 500GP Motocross series.

The following bike is a “works” 1988 Kawasaki SR500. It was last used at the French MXDN in 1988 when Kurt Nicoll finished 2nd in the 500cc World Championship to HRCs Eric Geboers.  Kurt won the British 500cc Championship and Kawasaki Japan presented the bike to Kurt as thanks for all his hard work through the year. The bike was prepared through the season by Kurt’s brother Aaron Nicoll .  

Some interesting points: Kurt used a production rear hub in the bike laced to a factory rim as the super light factory  rear hub was prone to bearing damage. The bike is now re-united with the factory hub. It has special bend Renthal bars that are one off from the Renthal factory in England .  The bike is 100 percent complete and is regularly started.  
The bike was owned by the Nicoll family from 1988 until Dave King purchased it.

Ex – Dave Thorpe Ride

1982 was Thorpe’s first full year of racing GP’s in the 500cc class.  He won several races on this bike and finished the season in 6th place.

Featured here is a 1978 Kawasaki SR380. This bike is very rare as there were only two made. The first 1978 SR’s that were made had the long sharp angled shocks. Apparently it did not handle well so they had to redesign the frame and suspension angles.  Because Thorleif was not competing in the 500 class, they did not bother sending him the new frame design for the 380, instead they sent him 2 new 250’s with the new design.

This bike has not been restored, only cleaned and cosmetically touched up .

Mark Hilderbrand’s first works bike was a 1976 Kawasaki SR250.  He bought the bike from Gary Semics and later learned that the bike was previously raced by Jimmy “Jammer” Weinert.  Mark has been collecting works bikes from all over the world ever since. (http://www.nightmare-racing.com)

Seeing the need to provide quality parts and plastics for other enthusiast’s restoring Kawasaki’s, Mark started his Internet business Night-mare Racing. If you are restoring a Kawasaki and are in need of quality reproduction plastics, graphics or advice on what is right or wrong with your restoration, Night-mare Racing is the place to go! Mark says he has had the opportunity to meet some very special friends along the way and we here at VintageWorksBikes are glad to have the opportunity to share some of his collection!

This was Kawasaki’s first works 125 raced by Steve Wise and then later in the season by engine. The rotary valve version was raced in Japan.  The bike shares nothing from the production model and is a pure work of  art from the Kawasaki works factory!

Full works 125 engine with magnesium cases and reed valve.  The 125 Kawasaki was down on power at first and had some teething problems.

Fiberglass fuel tank, billet lower  triple clamp with cast top clamp.  The forks were knurled for better grip. This bike currently has works Kawasaki titanium bars however, Mark was not 100% sure if they were allowed to race with these bars.

Billet works KYB forks made for Kawasaki.  The magnesium hubs had nikasil liners inside instead of steel rings.  This allowed them to run cooler and were much lighter at the same time.

Ex-Kurt Nicoll ride

Here is the history as shared by the current owner:

I purchased this bike from Kurt himself.  The bike had been stored since the last GP of 1987 , when the bike was given to him from Kawasaki UK.  It was left in the Nicol workshop attic  for 22 years, until I purchased it.  It has everything left as it was, not run since 1987. All I have done is check and clean the bike lightly.  It runs superbly,,

The history of the 87 SR.

The bike was designed for Georges Jobe.  He had many failures on the 86 bike, yokes snapping, and other failures, so Jobe was in no mood for a shabby 87 factory bike, if he was to re-sign with them. They enlisted Johan Luytons of Belguim, as his mechanic who is a superb engineer.  Over the winter, Jobe won some Supercross events on the production 87, so all was looking good in the Kawasaki camp. Then suddenly he jumped ship, to run his own team with  Honda……..

The bikes were given to Kurt, along with head mechanic Johan Luytons. The bike was modified to suit Kurt, the detail on this bike is amazing, even the hubs are machined for weight, the bike is a full factory works bike..

Factory carb, factory frame, factory sub-frame, factory seat, factory rads, factory swing arm and factory billet linkage.  The suspension, front and rear, are factory.  Only production parts are plastics.. even left hand rad cowl is pre production 88! Airbox is factory, along with fuel tank and Hitachi ignition. The engine has factory casings, SR cylinder, special gears, clutch and titanium bolts everywhere.  Sand cast clutch cover, and hand made solid billet yokes.  The bike still has Kurts Renthal bend bars, and his mushroom favorite grips!

I have spoken to Alec Wright awhile back to gain more light on the factory SR. As Kurt explained, and Alec, this bike is very special in alot of ways.  Many factory bikes that turn up, often have certain parts removed, as Alec expressed all Kawasaki rear suspension units were returned to Ohlins.  This SR has a works SR rear shock.