Kawasaki KR1S 250

I owned my 1990 Kawasaki KR1s for 9 years and loved the bike very much. The only reason I changed it was for a brand new Yamaha R1. I had the kawasaki tuned a couple of times, ending up with a stage 3 tune from the legendary Stan Stephens, after the usual damage from the piston rings turning in the barrrel (approx9000miles). To be honest I wished I had never bothered having it tuned as it erased the exhileration experienced from the power band, instead making the bike more driveable throughout the whole rev range. I found the bike a bit tiring on long runs due to having to go up and down the gearbox regularly to keep it on the boil. However I would definitely buy another one tomorrow. Cracking little bike.

Just a hot stroker with mass killing potential both me and other big bikes not a toy just a S.A.M with handling to match if ur under 10 stone!! never go without steering damper.

A very fast and light bike. Hearing it scream as you fly by your mate on a gpz600r; he gets sick of smelling the two stroke; he can't catch me...

It still accelerates quite fast, even with a passenger; although they don't have much of a seat!

I have had it for 5 years. I have moved on to a CBR900RR '96. With the KR1S you are either going the pace of a scooter or flat out; there is no in between.

Looks great, even after all these years. Very fast for its size and the smell of two stroke s addictive.

Becoming quite rare to see one nowadays as most were raced, robbed or crashed.

Very good bike for beginners as well as experienced riders.

I had mine new and loved it but had a kid and needed the money to do stuff to the house, I look back on my KR1S fondly and have always regarded it like my 350 YPVS only madder and more possessed by naughty spirits, I couldn't go out on it and just ride it always ended up being silly, (I now ride a Harley and am completely cured), I'd be loathed to buy another as I feel the passage of time and the frailties of this bike may cause problems but grins per mile on a budget you'd be hard pressed to find anything like it (RD350's or RGV's etc)

I bought myself one of these Kawasaki KR1S 250 motorcycles last year. I had been on a 4 stroke 400 for about 6 months but wanted something just as fast but cheaper on insurance. This was an excelent choice. nearly £200 cheaper on insurance, and just as fast. Bike is very easy to do routine maintenance. Only needed to go to work shop for fork seal cos I did not have the tools to do them. All components are easily accessible. If you want a 2stroke fun bike, this is the one, Acceleration still surprised me up until I sold it. Power ban starts at about 5k rpm then really kicks in at 7k before you know it your past the redline at about 12k. I did not find this was a bike for wheelies or stoppoies, you can get your knee down though. (Suggest you make sure you have knee sliders on first) Sadly most KR1S have not been taken off the road and put on the race track where they compete well with the 400cc bikes. Quite rare to find an original that has not had loads of work doen to it. If you can find one in mint condition un tuned and totally standard with less than 10000 miles on the clock, expect to pay upto £2000 for it. but cheaper ones can be found from about £500. The main problem with the enigne is sticking power valves, (Keep some WD40 with you at all times) Power valve linkage comes loose (Fix with cable ties for a more permanent fix and the engine, well the pistons and gudgeon pins to be exact. But other than that, the bike is a real work horse. Parts still available in many places, even the odd breakers will still have some good parts. Rear wheel is 18" make tyre choice limited but reccomend a Bridgestone Battleaxe.