The A1R finally arrives

So this pile of parts, nicely wrapped up together and… …three very heavy beer coolers…

Equals to this: a very rare production racer, the Kawasaki A1R, one of 166 made, IS FINALLY INSIDE MY WORKSHOP!!!! This is some 10 years and many many frustating times after I bought an original sales  flyer and decided to build a replica… Whoooohooo!

This couldn’t have happened without a lot of very helpful friends and a very understanding previous owner. Roll of Honor:
Thanks to Edwin for his patience and help: selling a bike to an unknown guy overseas is not easy and requires a lot of trust.
Thanks to Jeff G for driving 600 miles to pick up all the pieces & parts and then storing them for a few months.
Thanks to Ric Brett who, without even asking, took the pile of bits, shipped it back to the UK and then tripped over them for a few months before I could myself organized.
Thanks also to RGTS and their very helpful and cunning driver who ferried all the stuff from Nottingham UK to Lausanne, Switzerland, managing to find a hole in our very tight & stubborn Customs Administration.

Back to the pile of parts… I’ve got the front wheel somewhere else and the back wheel came with this lot. Basically, with the exception of the RH lever assembly and front brake cables, it is complete. I have located a set of crankcases in Holland and they might come with extra motor bits. Needless to say, this might turn out expensive. All details are in there, even the original hydraulic damper. All brackets are present, the fairing’s been slightly altered for more airflow to the carbs. the other bit not original is the rev counter replaced by a Smith… finding an original could (again) prove very expensive.

Upon looking into the pile of bits, the differences between the racer and the road bike are more marked than what I initially thought: almost all cycle parts have been reinforced. These mods will the subject of future posts.

I also have now 3 extra A7 motors, which will be uselful for trades and hopping up the Samurais.

For the moment, it will go on the shelf, times being what they are… thanks to the GCF.