SHOEI
00
The KR600'a front fender hid.. en
entI-dlve front end, end IIIao
Improvea elrflow. Duel dlaca ere
alottecl.
1981
Kawasaki
KR500
makes
Down
Under
debut
USE WHAT THE
WINNERS USE
0')
By Lou Martin
Team Kawasaki Australia had
the honor of debuting to the
world the 1981 KR500 Grand
Prix racer: TKA Manager Neville Doyle and 500cc class contender
Gregg Hansford were on hand to show
the bike.
They wouldn't 54Y a lot about it and
a horde of Japanese engineers surrounded the bike when it wasn't circulating the Calder track in the hands
of Hansford.
The machine is lighter and more
powerful than the 1980 version raced
by Kork Ballington and Hansford.
The only specs given on the racer was
iu capacity, 498.4cc, with a bore and
stroke of 54 x 54.4mm. The carburetors
are Mikuni VMMSS.
The engine is a water-cooled rotary
valve square four. The gearbox is the
mandatory six-speed constant mesh
with a dry clutch employing eight friction plates and nine steel plates.
The brakes are slotted disa on the
front and one slotted disc on the rear.
All calipers are double action uniu.
The rear suspension is a conventional
swingarm coupled to Kawasaki's gasfilled Uni-Trak suspension unit_
The moat unusual feature of the
KR500 is the front fender. It is designed
to improve airflow and penetration.
This fender also coven the anti-dive
suspension which is designed to
prevent the forks from compressing
under braking and therefore allow the
machine to retain iu straight-line
geometry
while
braking
and
cornering. This system should aid a
rider like Hansford immensely because
he is a late, hard braker.
The frame owes" iu lightness and
strength to iu welded alloy monocoque
design. The fuel tank is the main
member of the monocoque construction, and the tank is internally braced
for greater strength.
Hansford, ablyaisisted by Doyle and
former endurance racer Tony Hatton,
will make a $500,000 (Australian) attacJr. on the world championship. Hansfor will contest all rounds of the 500cc
title chase, as well as selected interna•
tionals. Look out Kenny Robertsl
~"
:L7!/~
.JB
~~RACING
75992 Baseline
Twentynine Palms. CA
92277
n4/361·9119
Sa.... Service, P.ru
FAST IfAIL OllOEII
7ud'?J7-J
1537 E. WeInut. Peud..... CA 91101
(213) 195i2l11
27
