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Kawasaki A1-R 250

The Kawasaki A1-R 250 rotary was released in 1967 and was closely based on the A1 Samurai road bike. The frame was basically the same but with additional bracing. The rotary-valve motor had numerous changes however, including pressed-in iron cylinder liners with modified porting, thinner (1 mm) piston rings, magneto ignition, straight cut primary gears and closer ratios in the five-speed gearbox.

Racing 26 mm Mikuni carburettors with remote float bowls were fitted. Output was around 40 hp at 9500 rpm, compared to the A1’s 31 hp at 8000 rpm.

Kawasaki racer Dave Simmonds achieved fourth place at the ’67 IOM TT and a fifth at Assen to finish 10th in that year’s 250 cc World Championship.

About 150 A1-Rs were produced during ’67-’68 before the A1-RA became available in ’69.

Source Phil Aynsley