1970 A1 Samurai

[reprodecals]

Just wanted to post a pic of my 1970 A1 Samurai. It is an original and unrestored bike from Switzerland and a bit different than the Canadian model with points rather than CDI. It's been collecting dust since I got it a couple of years ago and I decided to get it ready to ride in spring. The last things that I have to replace are the fork seals and steering head bearings, and it's done.

Yes Kawboy, I am also working on the H2 so I can bring it to Paris.

[510sss]

Very nice bike congrat's ;D

[pipe welder]

That's great Andre.
I've never driven a Kawi twin.

What are they like? (Wide power or peaky? Any power or are they like the Honda Dream's?)

How many Kawasaki twins do you have?

[H2 Dude]

Nice ANDRE ;D

That was my first motorcycle way back in 74 .
My Dad help with the purchase of $450 .
It was a 1970 with 71 body work.

Had the bike for 3 years and put on 20,000 miles .
I went everywhere . Rode all year .
The only issue I really had was the crank seal was leaking ..Took the motor out and on the bus we went..lmao yes sir the BUS.
Cost me $75 to have it fixed But when I got it back the RH cylinder slightly siezed ( caught it in time ) Turns out the mechanic forgot to put the cylinder base gasket in..
The bike had low end grunt and pulled like a horse from what I remember .
Pulled a indicated 105 MPH . 2 up 90 MPH

I averaged about 50 MPG and oil consumption was great .

This 250 was far better then than ANY todays 250 .

Here are some Pics of my A1





Me on the A1 during winter of 74/75

[510sss]

Just love the old bike day's , Great pictures Ian
great times

[autofobe]

I had a 66 yamaha 250 back in 69. The son of the local kawi dealer had a brand new Samurai. I lived out on the farm & he would chase me home every chance he got. There was a three mile strech, & I would be wide open, flat on the tank,about 95mph when he went by. That was why my next bike was an H1 ;D

Nice bike Andre

[Rick]

I got my bike license on a 1967 A7ss...rode that thing everywhere..great bike....

Rick

[reprodecals]

Wow, great pics Ian! I love old pics and seeing all the snow in one pic, you are no fair weather rider. Great to see others have great memories of these.

Pipewelder. I have no other Kawasaki twins but several single cylinder Kawasaki 2 strokes from the mid 60s to the late 70s. I also have a '66 Yamaha 250cc YSD3C Big Bear and a '68 Suzuki TC250 (X6 Scrambler) and love them both this little rotary valve Kawasaki twin is noticeably faster than both of them. I also own a 1965 Honda Dream which I have never had the interest in firing up and riding after trying one a few years back. It isn't even in the same class as any of these 2 stroke twins but it is so fugly that I had to have one in my collection. I also have some RDs, an RZ and a TZR250. I like high performance 2 stroke twins. The 250cc A1 Samurai and 350cc A7 Avenger twins were Kawasaki's performance bikes till '69 when the H1 arrived and both are relatively rare today.

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2009 2:57:25 GMT -5 reprodecals said:

with points rather than CDI.

Yes Kawboy, I am also working on the H2 so I can bring it to Paris.

]

sounds good Andre, very slick looking bike the A1, see you in Paris, we'll
be holding you to it ;D

Areilman likes those Snowy days don't he

[H2 Dude]

Sure do Don.

I have a pic of me on My 250 Honda some days after the blizzard of 77 .

The one pic was taken after the Blizzard of 77
I'll post in the pic section
You'll love my Long Hair..a guy not to F^&* with ..lol

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2009 13:15:45 GMT -5 H2 Dude said:

You'll love my Long Hair..a guy not to F^&* with ..lol

and the sign said , long haired, freaky people, need not apply

[dickjny]

- My first bike (out of college in spring of 1969) was a 1968 Kaw A7SS (High Pipes). Beautiful bike and very fast; but, short wheelbase and ez 2 wheelie. Like Rick, I rode it everywhere. I rode if from Watertown, NY ot Elmira, NY and back all the time. As I recall it didn't like unleaded gas very much; but, we had mostly leaded gas then. I managed to break the frame in a few places (welds sucked). Broke the original "keyway" rotory valve too; but, the later ones were spline drive. Somewhere I have some semi-race all alum rotory valves that are NOS aftermarket. Engines were very nice; but, complicated compared to piston port or reed vavle (Yam RD's). ... Dick J. - NY

[brucebishop1100r32]

Beutiful Bike

[dickjny]

- I started out in 1969 on a 1968 Kaw A7SS. Great looking and fast bike. Very wheelie prone and scary at high speeds. It's do about 115 but over a ton was very scary. Went from that to a 50cc Lambreta then a 1968 Triumph 500 Daytona (US Navy in Italy). Came home in Nov 1972 and bought my 1972 H2 in April '73. - Still have lots of A1 & A7 parts. Could use a CDI box if you every come across an extra. ... Dick J. - NY

[reprodecals]

Jun 15, 2010 17:03:29 GMT -5 dickjny said:

- I started out in 1969 on a 1968 Kaw A7SS. Great looking and fast bike. Very wheelie prone and scary at high speeds. It's do about 115 but over a ton was very scary. Went from that to a 50cc Lambreta then a 1968 Triumph 500 Daytona (US Navy in Italy). Came home in Nov 1972 and bought my 1972 H2 in April '73. - Still have lots of A1 & A7 parts. Could use a CDI box if you every come across an extra. ... Dick J. - NY

I am fortunate. My A1 is a European model that was shipped here from Switzerland and has points. Apparently the North American A1 & A7s were the only ones with the CDI ignitions. If I ever come across a CDI unit, I'll let you know.