Description
This motorcycle is Lot 23 to be auctioned by Bonhams at the Timed-Online June Sale, please see the Bonhams website for full details. The timed online auction runs between June 6th through June 16th, with lots closing from midday June 16th 2025.
Public Viewing:
Available 11th & 12th June 2025 from 09:00 until 17:00, by appointment only at Bonhams Milton Keynes.
Lot 23
1989 Kawasaki 249cc KR-1
Registration no. G388 CVT
Frame no. KR250B-005745
Engine no. to be advised
Before emissions legislation effectively limited its use to small-capacity scooters, there was one last glorious flowering of the two-stroke engine in the 250 class. Kawasaki's final fling, the KR-1, arrived in 1988. Looking every inch the pukka Grand Prix racer, the KR-1 featured a water-cooled, parallel-twin engine mounted in an aluminium alloy beam frame. With 55bhp on tap the KR-1 was good for around 130mph but suffered from unreliability caused by piston ring failures. This problem was swiftly sorted on the successor KR-1S, introduced in 1989, which in addition to stronger pistons came with a longer swinging arm and larger-section rear tyre.
In 1991 Performance Bikes magazine got 135mph out of a KR-1S, bettering Suzuki's rival RGV250 by some 10 miles per hour. Kawasaki's last two-stroke sports bike, the KR-1S ceased production in 1992. Increasingly stringent emissions legislation would eventually see all these evocative two-stroke sports bikes cease production, with the result that all of this final generation are now highly collectible, especially the ultra-rare KR-1.
We're advised by the vendor that when this KR-1 was seven years old it was the subject of an engine rebuild by Kawasaki; this may have been carried out to address the aforementioned piston issue but this is not known for certain. Unfortunately, there is no related paperwork and thus this motorcycle is sold strictly as viewed. The current odometer reading is 22, 898 miles. There are three old MoTs on file, the most recent of which expired in September 2010 at 22, 864 miles.
The Kawasaki was purchased by the current vendor in 2007 and displayed at local events where its rarity made it a real head-turner. It was used infrequently before being placed in dry storage in 2013. Recommissioning will be required before the machine returns to the road (it last ran 10 years ago). Offered with a service manual and V5C Registration Certificate. Some spare fairing parts are included in the sale.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
