1965 Kawasaki B8S Aircraft.

[BDRB]

Found a 1965 Kawasaki 150 Aircraft.Anybody know anything about these?Thanks.

[fishkens]

Sounded interesting so I started poking around the web. Here are a few links if you haven't seen 'em already.

FWIW...

http://www.cyclechaos.com/4um/f10/ne...s8-150-a-1548/

http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Kawasaki_B8S

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0065414AAkF2EH

And an interesting history of Kawasaki...
http://www.kawariders.com.au/showthr...Origin&p=31288

Hopefully this isn't just internet misinformation.

[rtwdoug]

too late, its sold.
no, not to me, hahaha
Im in ID now, & passing thry WY tomorrow, so have been looking for bikes on the way.
pretty cool old bike, but I dunno a thing about em, I just liked that it had serial # 2 on it

Doug

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by BDRB

Found a 1965 Kawasaki 150 Aircraft.Anybody know anything about these?Thanks.

Kawasaki Aircraft was the name of the Kawasaki Heavy industries subsidiary that started building their bikes. It's the company name, not a model name. I'm wondering whether the badges came off an earlier bike. I didn't think they were still using the "aircraft" name as late as '65.

[chiefrider]

A high school buddy had a, what? Kawasaki 160 or 175 of later vintage that looked very much like this. Slower than a Honda 160, faster than a Yamaha Twinjet 100. Four speed rotary box.

We called it "The Maytag."

Tom in Salem

[subagon]

In the flea market at this year Barber Vintage Days.

[Boatman]

Just picked this one up today. Original owner, purchased in 1966, all manuals and paperwork. Owner says he has a file somewhere that has the original BOS. As he recalls, the last time it was ridden was around 1971.

[chazbird]

Nice find, it seems all there. The original owner was safety conscious for sure; note the Buco helmet sticker and the homemade foot guards around the rear pegs. I don't think signals were required in 1966 either.

[Boatman]

Originally Posted by chazbird

Nice find, it seems all there. The original owner was safety conscious for sure; note the Buco helmet sticker and the homemade foot guards around the rear pegs. I don't think signals were required in 1966 either.

The only thing missing that I can tell is the lower chain guard. I talked to the owner today and he said the turn signals were on it when he got it along with the foot guard. He bought it new so the dealer must have added those.

I did some tinkering with it today. After vacuuming all the mouse nests and carcasses out of the frame I removed the air filter and looked into the carb,,,, looked pretty good. Pulled the plug, cleaned it and reinstalled. Removed the ignition cover and ran some emery cloth through the points. Investigated what voltage it was and determined that it was 12 volts,,, was surprised it wasn't 6 volts. Hooked up a battery and everything worked except the horn. Shot some fuel into the carb and hit the starter,,,,,,, ringa ding ding!!!! Holy shit ,,,, it runs!!! Need to clean the tank and carb and then see if it will move under it's own power.

Something I found interesting... it's a 4 speed and you press the shifter down for all four gears, after you get to fourth, press it down one more time and it's back to neutral. I asked the PO and he said he remembers that the first time he rode it and it did that he thought something was wrong.


http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20Super%20150/

[chazbird]

Wow, it started. Myself I've had good experience with two strokes sitting a long time - not long as that one - and so long as the tank and carb are clean, without stuck valves or gummed up push-rods, cams etc., they are liable able to start up pretty easily. Most people agree the crank seals can go dry and that if they are shot it won't run properly but if someone (over) filled it with oil prior to it sitting maybe that won't be a problem. The transmission pattern I believe is called rotary and I don't think it is allowed in the US anymore, as plunging through neutral into first from fourth can be somewhat undesirable. I've ridden some bikes somewhat recently in Asia that still have this "feature". That will be a cool bike to clean up and tiddle with and will indeed be rare.

[Boatman]

The PO dumped oil in the cylinder every couple years and turned it over so I'm hoping the seals are ok. The fact that it starts and runs by drippling fuel in front of the carb leads to believe I may be lucky.

[Boatman]

It seems the Japanese were way ahead of the game with this bike.... cone filter!!!




Pulled the carb and opened up expecting to see white stuff (corrosion) but was happy to see just oxidized gas. It came apart with very little effort, even the smallest jet backed right out.

[concours]

Pine-Sol baby...

[Zammy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1...item2a1fb74282

feast your eyes

[Boatman]

Originally Posted by concours

Pine-Sol baby...

Yup,,, it's soaking as I type. Need to figure out how to handle the tank now. It had about a half tank of "gas" still in it so the bottom half is pretty good. The upper half is pretty rusty. Was thinking of PineSol for a couple days with flush and then EvapORust for anouter couple days.

Saw a vid today of a guy that puts aquarium gravel in the tank, wraps it in a heavy blanket and throws it in the dryer!!!. It's amazing how well it worked but I don't want to risk damaging this tank.

Originally Posted by Zammy

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1...item2a1fb74282

feast your eyes

Holy cow!!!

I'm not sure I believe the statement that it's not a restoration,,,,,,, the seat cover isn't correct and not very well done either.