Kawasaki KR 750

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Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Production period 1975 to 1978
class motorcycle
Motor data
Two-stroke engine , water-cooled three-cylinder engine , inlet with piston edge control
Displacement  (cm³) 748.2
Power  (kW / PS ) 120 hp at 9,500 rpm
Top speed (  km / h) 290
drive Chain
Brakes front: double disc,
rear: disc
Wheelbase  (mm) 1397
Empty weight  (kg) 136-147

The Kawasaki KR 750 was a racing motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki , which was developed for the Formula 750 . With this machine, Gary Nixon was able to achieve second place behind the superior Yamaha TZ 750 in the 1976 season .

History and technology

The national championship of the AMA took over the regulations of the FIM for near-series motorcycles with revised engines up to 750 cc for the 1972 season . Kawasaki developed a racing version from the street model Kawasaki 750 H2 , the also air-cooled Kawasaki H2R. Individual victories in national races could not hide the fact that the design was not competitive. The H2R, which was 270 km / h fast, was said to have a consumption of up to 28 liters per 100 km. The regulations were expanded for the 1973 season so that major changes to the engine and chassis were allowed. At the end of 1974, Kawasaki decided to develop a new factory machine (model designation: 602). The new racing motorcycle, the Kawasaki KR 750, was ready for use as early as March 1975.

The water-cooled three-cylinder in-line engine (bore / stroke: 68 × 68 mm) with contactless thyristor magneto ignition was supplied with an oil-fuel mixture via three 35 mm Mikuni carburettors; the maximum output was specified as 120 hp, which was transmitted to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox. The reinforced double-loop tubular frame was cushioned by a telescopic fork on the front wheel and a box swing arm with two shock absorbers on the rear wheel. The tire width was 3.25–18 at the front and 3.50–18 at the rear.

A Fubar version ("fucked up beyond all recognition") of the Kawasaki KR 750 was used on a trial basis by drivers Yvon DuHamel and Gary Nixon in 1976. A parallelogram swing arm with anti-dive and anti-squat was tested on this test machine. For the 1977 season a revised KR 750 (602L) was presented, which was lighter (136 kg) and provided with higher performance. However, she had no chance against the Yamaha TZ 750 D in Formula 750. Nevertheless, Mick Grant managed to win the North West 200 race and the Isle of Man TT in 1977 on the factory Kawasaki. For the 1978 season the Kawasaki remained technically unchanged, and for the 1979 season , the performance was reduced for durability.

A newly developed four-cylinder racing machine, the 602S , in which the two outer cylinders were installed offset forward in the frame, was used in training by Gregg Hansford in the 1979 season.

literature

  • Wolfgang Gruber: Formel 750. Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 1st edition 1977, ISBN 3-87943-523-5 .
  • Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. Heel Verlag, 1st edition 2001. ISBN 3-89365-924-2 .
  • Siegfried Rauch: Famous racing motorcycles - 150 old and new racing machines for Grand Prix use . 2nd Edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1980, ISBN 3-87943-590-1 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wolfgang Gruber: Formula 750. P. 81.
  2. ↑ Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. P. 46.
  3. ^ Siegfried Rauch: Famous racing motorcycles. P. 109.
  4. ↑ Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. P. 47.
  5. ↑ Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. P. 50.
  6. ↑ Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. P. 52.