Vintage Motocross Works Bikes and Production Models
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Featured here is a 1974 Kawasaki SR400. A few words from the current owner:
I bought the bike from Christer Hammergen around 15 years ago. I’ve since restored it using parts supplied by him. The bike is the late 1974 model supplied for the British Grand Prix and later rounds of the GPs. It has the lower engine, reed valve cylinder and different geometry to the earlier model.
A few words from Kent regarding the history of this bike:
At the end of 82 when I was leaving Suzuki to go to Kawasaki, I test rode the race bike at Indian Dunes with Roy Turner. I didn’t really like the race bike so I asked him what they would let me change on the bike and he said probably anything, so we started back to Kawasaki and upstairs over the race shop where they had all the old bikes and I saw one that I liked, the way the frame geometry looked and we pulled it out. It had a air-cooled motor which we took it out and replaced with a water-cooled motor. We started working and testing it at Saddleback Park. All the information that we got from that bike went to the factory and became the 83 SR Works bike. This bike then became my practice bike.
The current owner explains this bikes history:
This was Honda`s first bike to win the prestiges Supercross title in 1982. It was Donnie Hansen`s ride. Honda threw all their knowledge, their best engineers and a lot of money in the battle to be number one in the US Supercross series.
There were two versions of this bike. One for Supercross and the other one for the GP`S. The difference between the two was the tanks and the suited shrouds. This bike is the Supercross version.
Most of the screws, bolts and nuts were made out of titanium. The rest contains a lot of magnesium and chromoly.
On the top of the tank, there is a tunnel to let air flow to air box. This bike is an engineering marvel! Look at how perfect and close the pipe, the seat and the shock fit! Now you can imagine that rumor`s said that American Honda paid more then $75.000 for each bike.
Super adjustable, light and strong 43mm showa forks. They cost more then $13.000 in those days,
Instead of a steal brake ring Honda left the rear brake plated!
If you compare the RC 250M/81, you can see that everything has greater dimensions like frame tubes, swingarm, shock etc.
The engine was offers with a 5 and 6 gear box, but they run most of the time with the 5 gear box. . Power, handling and suspension were years ahead in those days.
Featured here is a 1977 Honda RC500. The bike currently belongs to Martin Hagon. The history on this bike has yet to be confirmed however it is believed to have been a back up bike for Team Honda.
Martin provided these additional details on the bike:
Thanks again Martin for allowing us here at vintageworksbikes.com to feature this bike!
Joakim “Jocke” Karlsson of sweden was 5th in the world on this bike and took 2nd and 4th at the Nismes MXDN in September 1997
