Kawasaki A1250 Samurai
Kawasaki A1250 Samurai | |
Manufacturer | |
---|---|
Production | 1966 - 68 |
Engine | Two-stroke, parallel twin, 2 rotary inlet valves |
Compression ratio | 7.0:1 |
Ignition | Capacitor discharge ignition |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: Inner-spring telescopic fork Rear: Shock absorber and swing arm |
Brakes | Front: Drum Rear: Drum |
Front Tire | 3.00 -18 |
Rear Tire | 3.25 -18 |
Weight | 154 kg / 339.5 lbs (wet) |
Recommended Oil | K-tech 10W-40 |
Fuel Capacity | 13.5 Liters / 3.57 US US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Two-stroke, parallel twin, 2 rotary inlet valves. The engine featured a 7.0:1 compression ratio.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 3.00 -18 front tire and a 3.25 -18 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum in the front and a Drum in the rear. The front suspension was a Inner-spring telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a Shock absorber and swing arm. The A1250 Samurai was fitted with a 13.5 Liters / 3.57 US US gal fuel tank.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Kawasaki A1 250 Samurai
The Kawasaki W1 did not sell as
expected, because all rival bikes were still faster,
lighter and had better steering. Kawasaki developed the
lighter A1 Samurai in 1967. The A1 took center stage as
a high-performance machine, with approximately 80ps per
liter. It was quickly followed by a larger-bore model,
the Kawasaki A7 Avenger which shared most of the Samurai
components except the motor.
The A1SS Samurai has a crossover
dual exhaust mounted on the left side and just below the
seat. Other than exhaust system, there were no other
changes between the standard A1 and A1SS.
The engine was a unique straight twin,
two-stroke, air-cooled, oil-injected, dual rotary disc
valve. The engine's ignition air supply began in an air
filter canister below the seat and was pulled through a
large plenum chamber just above the transmission and
behind the cylinder head then downward into the two
internal passages leading to the carburetor housing
feeding the carburetors. The A1 had two Mikuni
carburetors located on the engine's left and right sides
and inline with the crankshaft. The carburetors were
enclosed and protected from the elements by carburetor
covers fixed to the crankcase. Inboard of each
carburetor, and supporting each carburetor, was the disc
cover. The rotary disc valve was housed inboard of that
cover. The A1 Samurai motor was lubricated by the
Superlube system, with 2-stroke oil directly injected in
the intake tract. Previously equipped with points, the
ignition system was equipped in 1969 with a Capacitor
discharge ignition including thyristor-based switching
system then increased the voltage to between 25,000 and
30,000 volts reducing the unburned fuel mixture within
the cylinders.[1]
This combination of displacement (247cc), CDI system, and rotary discs produced 31 hp (23.1 KW) @ 8000 RPM gave the Samurai a power-to-weight ratio of 1 horsepower per 11 pounds of weight, a 0-60 mph of 6.6 second,[citation needed] making the Samurai as fast or faster than production competitors in its class. Source
Overview Early on, Kawasaki executives quickly learned that customers wanted far more than just getting from Point A to Point B on a fun little machine. The open roads and huge continent invited bigger bikes with more performance, much more. So, in a brazen move for the time, a twin-cylinder, rotary-valve two-stroke motorcycle called the A1 Samurai was created, soon to be followed by the larger A7 Avenger. Both bikes were specifically designed for the United States market under the leadership of the president of American Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp., Royozo Iwaki, but before launch they needed to be proven on Americas roads. In February 1966 a factory engineer from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. arrived with a Samurai prototype, and American Larry Beall, a future Kawasaki sponsored racer, signed on as test rider. With a budget of just USD2,000, the test ran from Oklahoma City to New Mexico, with most of the route in Texas. The trip was successful, and within months A1 production bikes along with Kawasakis first production road racer, the A1R, began arriving at dealers. They were fast. Their performance matched that of the British bikes twice their size. Word of this performance began to spread among dealers, customers and the press. When Jim Deehan won the Open Production race at Willow Springs Raceway aboard an early A1 Samurai the first road race for a Kawasaki vehicle the floodgates of interest in the Kawasaki brand burst open. Kawasakis unique brand of daring, in-your-face attitude had arrived.
Make Model | Kawasaki 250 A1 Samurai |
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Year | 1966 - 68 |
Engine Type | Two-stroke, parallel twin, 2 rotary inlet valves |
Displacement | 247 cc / 15.1 cu-in |
Bore X Stroke | 53 x 56.0 mm |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Compression | 7.0:1 |
Induction | Carburetor |
Ignition | Capacitor discharge ignition |
Starting | Kick |
Max Power | 31 hp / 22.6 kW @ 8000 rpm |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | Chain |
Front Suspension | Inner-spring telescopic fork |
Rear Suspension | Shock absorber and swing arm |
Front Brakes | Drum |
Rear Brakes | Drum |
Front Tire | 3.00 -18 |
Rear Tire | 3.25 -18 |
Wet Weight | 154 kg / 339.5 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 13.5 Liters / 3.57 US US gal |