Why is the Kawasaki F11 250 special?
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Motorcycle restoration information
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The history and review of the short lived Kawasaki F11 (250cc). Kawasaki in an innovative company that has always pushed the boundaries on motorcycles, but for the time this bike, the F11, was the odd one out.
All about Kawasaki Rotary Valve engines and the models that used them
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I got a '75 F11B torn apart all over my house. I bought it from Kaplan Cycles in Connecticut. I started tearing it apart as soon as it was delivered. Right now I'm waiting on the bearing pullers to be delivered. I got the bearings and seals for both hubs and as soon as I get the engine split I'm going to do the bearings in it.
I had a ‘74 as a young guy and have a ‘75 now. Love these bikes.
My 1st bike 250 f11 bought it second hand 1975 in Australia for $250 which back in those days was a ton of money for me anyway 😊 I was 15 years old, had a ball riding my pride and joy 👌👌👌
I got mine in 79. It was built up and bored, as fast as 350s, 400s. Got stolen, caught the perp with it behind him all apart in his living room and watched himself fall down trying to beat me. In his own neighborhood. Left feeling a little satisfied.
great vid mate ❤
Can't believe I've never heard of this model. Thanks for the info junkman!
Yeah it was an outlier for the time.
Small correction, when designing the Mach III 500, the 3-cylinder piston port was developed alongside the avenger 350 rotary valve twin Kawaski had in production for a few years. Only that it had the displacement upped to 500cc's. The 3 cylinder was chosen more for the presence of the wide 3 cylinders looking more ominous than the twin 500. So no, Kawasaki was not trying to make a 3 cylinder rotary valve 500. One thing, is the 500 rotary twin made the same hp as the 3-cylinder piston port.
Yes, I need to make a pinned comment. I think it still drives home the point that Kawasaki was all about rotary valves and this the F11 was really out of place for the time.
@@thejunkman I know I had a big question mark when the F11 showed up in the lineup. The rotaries were such torque monsters. It didn't take long to see what mother Kaw was up to, too many complaints of too wide of motors and too heavy of bikes. She needed a new design for her race bikes and so went with the piston port. Back then Japanese companies were too "proud" to "copy" another maker, as they all should have gone to reed valves right away, but Yamaha was first into production. When it finally got to the point they couldn't compete anymore, we all know they went to reed valves.
Yes, that is very correct. They were wide motors. Expensive if a rock or log broke those somewhat fragile carburetor covers. Not to mention the sealing nightmares on some models.
I bought an orange one new in 75. Great bike. Miss it.
I’ve got one. It runs perfectly and everything works like it’s supposed to.
Cool. Thanks for watching.
Great information.
Thanks. I have some ideas for some other deep dives on other models as well.
enjoyed this but you missed my F7 175 first bike and still riding at 70
I have an f11 and not too long ago I laid it down on an ice covered road and that bike took it like a champ, still a little sad that I put a dent in the tank and bent the shifter
Interesting content!
I bought a 1974 F-11 a few years ago. It would stop running once I got it on the road. I sold it soon after.
Brother bought his 75' new in 1976 $849 bucks. I bought the all new 78 KE 250 much improved bike...Then bought the boat anchor ...slug..KL250 what a turd! Then..began Many KX 125 250 500 and 420....Note...NO Kawasaki MX bike was produced for sale in 1977...They began with the KX125/250 A4 in 1978
Cool video !
had a brand new one wrecked it twice and raced on great bike
I have owned quite a few of the 70s kawasaki 2 strokes aside from the early model versions and 350 variants (these are all incredibly rare and near impossible to come by in Australia) multiple g4tr/kv100s both road and farm spec, f6 f7 ks125 early model of the 90cc mini I don’t remeber the name of kd80 and f11. Unfortunately due to life circumstances I ended up selling them all off to a kawasaki collector who had his own museum but I dearly miss them all. Luckily I still have my f11 that was the last one I bought which I am in the process of doing up and hope to collect more again in the future I also have a rather rare 74 suzuki tc185. I was just wondering, do you know how different the f7 and f11 exhausts are?as I am looking at a f7 race pipe that I would like to use on my f11 if possible even with some minor modification. Thanks heaps and keep up the awesome videos!
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ride a Kawasaki and have fun
@thejunkman
Have you ever actually seen a 1972 model? All the data I have seen is that it was made from 1972-1975, but I have never seen a 1972 model. Were they actually 1973 models produced in 1972?
Based on frame numbers there were only a little over 500 produced for 1972 indicating production started late mid year before the successive (F11-00540 & F11E00555) 1973 frame & engine numbers started. I have not personally seen a frame/engine with a 1972 sticker, but they do exist.
👍👍
The F5 was a leg breaking kick starter
B o u g h t And f eleven in nineteen seventy Three took it to Arizona in the trunk of my car Learn to ride the hard pack on it
I had one of these bikes as a teenager I was a big kid I always thought the bike was overweight other machines from Suzuki and Yamaha they would outperform this machine
We sold more 175's than 250's
Be Careful with That Word........ 'Unique'
I guess I am not following?