1992 Kawasaki KR1-S *still in the crate* for sale-
Location: Laredo, TX – in a crate
Mileage: Less than 1
Price: Step right up and place your bid
This bike has been storaged, on purpose, in it´s original crate for 19 years now. It was bought from Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI-Japan) on August 1992; which was the very last production batchs for this model.
It is the “pearl” on my personal 2 stroke bikes collection, I decided that is the time to pass it on to some other collector in the world.
And there you have it- A brand new 19 year old Rare Sport Bike For Sale.
These are definitely the rarest of the rare 2 strokes in the US and they rank at the top of the rarest 2 strokes in the world. Some 2 strokes are difficult to find, some are hard to find, some are damn near impossible to find, but a brand new, still in the box KR1-S might come around as often as Halley’s Comet.
I’ve already talked to a few qualified collectors regarding this particular machine and all but one said they’d love to have it. I also talked to a few skeptics who couldn’t get past not being able to see it. I personally have no doubt that it’s in there and preserved perfectly. Since it’s been in a box and protected from the light I’m going to say the rubber bits should be in pretty good shape as well.
The seller has put some pretty tough restrictions on the on the sale of the bike. I totally understand the reasons why and can’t say I blame him one bit. They also have a stellar rating of 100% with 695 transactions within the ebay community so you should find a little reassurance in those numbers.
There is a $200 USD fee for product to be picked up locally. Delivery is to be made within 15 days of bids end, depending on buyer-seller communication and arrangements.
Please DO NOT ASK to open the crate, I will not be willing to do so unless person interested is willing to pay a $3,000 USD non refundable fee.
I’m a little confused as to why he would charge you if you wanted to pick it up. I personally would not move this bike any other way.
What about you- what would you do with this bike?
-Would you leave it in the box?
-Open it and offer it to Barber for display?
-Ride it?
-Do you think there’s another one like it in the world?
-Would you buy the box and not peek inside of it?
Any guess on what it’s going to take to put it in your collection?
Here’s what it might sound like if you win and open the box:
Cheers!
Doug
I would buy it and ride the shit out of it. Aside from the Vj23, this is the only 90’s stroker I never owned. Figures this would come up after I spend all my money on something else…
Awesome! I won a national road racing title back in ’91’ on one for these…best day of my racing life! Wish I could buy this and put it in my lounge!
Pete
That guy is crazy. I bid $10k on it and I got outbid.
Hey Jeff- How have you been? Everyone is watching this one closely. I’m guessing upwards of 20k to pick it up…
It’s not worth 10K! you could restore and go through the hassle of reg’ing two for that rate! Lack of pic’s of the actual bike are cause for concern.
Doug I have been doing pretty good. I am in Afghanistan now for the foreseeable future.
[…] […]
+1 on concern over lack of pics… YES there is a value to the bike never being removed from the crate, but IMHO there is no additional value added for the bike never having been SEEN… removing the crate and taking some great pictures would only enhance the desirability of the machine, and would relieve some anxiety that bidders might be feeling about what they actually get at the end of the day. I think that the seller is just dead wrong on this one and there is only upside to showing that the bike is mint and better yet, even exists 😉
I totally agree with Dallas.
Just watching the video gets you heart pumping!!!!
Seller is an idiot. Its a motorcycle, not the arc. The problem with motorcycling is all the kooks involved who dont love motorcycling.
Dont ask this dont ask that. How about, you keep your bike, and no one will ask you questions, like if they can see what theyre giving you 10/15 grand for. Idiot
Hey Doug, is the seller from Nigeria? Tell him to call Charlie Sheene he will be able to see through the box and tell us what’s in there.
Steve
This ridiculous situation and the seller’s attitiude reminds me of a scene from Spinal Tap. Remember when Christopher Guest is showing Rob Reiner his guitar collection, and they come to one rare one that’s never even been played? Reiner moves towards it, and Guest, alarmed, tells him not to touch it- stay away from it. Then he tells him not to even look at it! LOL Same thing here!
OK, OK guys… now that I have been called “crazy”, “idiot”, “wrong”, “with attitude”, some how “fake”, “nigerian” and “ridiculous” I have to jump in and clear out some of your concerns…
I am Javier Martinez-Abrego, borned and raised in Monterrey, México not in Nigeria… I am the owner of the KR250C3 now on eBay, which it does exist and it is as shown in the pictures, in an unopened crate….
My family has been in the motorcycle industry for 52 years now and, among other motorcycle companies in the industry, we own and operate Kawasaki de México, exclusive importer of Kawasaki Motorcycles for the Méxican market…
I raced on CMRA (Texas Road Racing Club) from 1987 ’til 1997, back then called CRRC…. Me and my brother Rene raced KR’s in D Superbike and Formula 2 Class’s; with good results…. BAck then we imported over 250 KR’s for the Mexican Market, fortunate enough regulations in our country are allowed two stroke bike on streets….
The reason of that bike being on crate intitated when we got newsfrom KHI that KR’s were being discontinued and I decided to keep two bikes as spares, one for Rene and one for myself… After couple of years only one bike was used (an not as spare) and we jumped up to higher CC race classe’s (perdon my english if I somehow misprint some words / phrases)…
Javier-
Thank you very much for coming on our site and clearing up some of the questions. I would like to point out that a reader picked up on the fact that the picture is of a 90′ model and not a 92′ model. Other than that, good luck with the sale and welcome to RSBFS.com.
Doug
Thanks for the information, Javier, I’m sure I speak for the rest of RSBFS’s readers when I say it is much appreciated!
I think we would all love to know why you don’t open the crate and post pictures of this wonderful bike. I can’t believe that there is any collector in the world that would buy this bike and not open the crate. Certainly any museum lucky enough to have this machine would display the motorcycle, and not just the sealed crate. Posting some pictures of the bike would also finally put paid to any whispering that the sale is not 100% legitimate.
Again, thanks for the info and good luck with the sale.
After not needing the KR for racing, still having two others in perfect working condition and two strokes bikes being “removed” from Kawasaki production line, I decide to become an “idiot” and hold one in a crate for some years…. now 19 but initially my thoughts were 25…
I knew there was going to be some kind of response from the “audience” but nothing like I am reading nor comments I have received from eBay message board message system, some positive, neutral and negatives of course…
Am I absolutely wrong when considering not to open the crate? I do not know… Is there an extra value of it because is crated in it’s original packaging? I certanly beleive so. Would it have been the same “buzz” if the bike was assembled and “open” to your eyes? I do not think so?
Am I a fake? certainly no. I can assure you that my family’s reputation is better than good in the Motorcycle Industry around the world.
Shall I open the crate during bid’s time?…. mmm; I am not sure if it will give’s added value to the serious bidders. There is a buyer that has request me the opposite?
I am more in the idea of Adam’s suggestion; I might stop being an “idiot” remove the bike from the bid and keep the bike for some other years as is; I do not need the money that might come from the sell of this bikel but I am following my wife’s thoughts about a process of “detatchment” from material things….
So, there is the situation and will be happy to respond to any “educated” questions you might have for me; any offense words and comments will definitely not hurt my feelings nor bring up my interest to respond to any of that kind…
(I do not have Charlie’s Sheene phone number but it will be in my personal interest to call hom and tell him to stop being selfish and returned to play some more episodes on my favorite TV series)
As for the comment of: “The problem with motorcycling is all the kooks involved who dont love motorcycling”….
My spring brake vacations when I was a kid-teen were “by coincidence” to Daytona bikeweek for years…. which I raced on 1992, 1993 & 1994…
I have owned and ride more than 100 bikes in my life…
Me and my kids (17&13) rather spend an early morning watching MotoGP live than sleeping the extra hours and watching it NOT live…
I personally owned (and operated) Tecate Kawasaki AMA Supercross team in 1996, 1997 & 1998…. worst investment in my life, but on of my most rewardings and enjoyable promotion experiences….
and so on…
so YES, I love (and live out of) motorcycles…!!!
Doug, you might be right; the picture might not “match” the model-year of the bike. I will email KHI on Tuesday and find out exactly what the graphics look like…. thank you for pointing that out.
Dallas, thank’s for your comments. If I were you or any other interested person will think the same. Fortunate enough eBay policies and feedback system is a very good way to “evaluate” the seller’s integrity; with 700 feedback posts, 100% positive; serious buyers can trust the buying process and are open to email me and find out additional information.
Thank you guy’s…
Steve, are you the same Steve who send me a message to my eBay account? If so, I beleive I have somehow respond to your question/concern. Thank you for asking.
Thanks again for your comments, Javier. I guess the real question is, how does anyone know the real condition of the bike inside the crate, or if it has suffered any damage or deterioration over the last 19 years? Unlikely, I know, but given the comments above about apparent water damage to the crate, possible? I don’t know. It’s a real “Schroedinger’s KR-1” kind of situation… 😉
Dallas, I agree with you.Do you think I am not intriguide by the inside look of this crate?
Was there varied wether conditions over these 19 years? Of Course…
Was there a potential changed of condition or damaged to the bike while being storaged? Not likely.
Even do it has not been storaged in a climate controlled warehouse, it hasn’t never been in a flood nor a severe weather situation.
Bike has been moved only once from a different warehouse and both where it has been storaged are warehouse’s that we use for crated bikes only.
But again, empahty has to be taken in consideration for both sides, me as the seller and all of you out there as potential buyers.
Being in “my shoes” will you open the crate?, then re-crated? What would any of you do if you were me?
I am thinking of calling Barer or other USA or European museum and take into consideration offering the bike as a borrow to their showroom, what do you think?
I bet Barber all ready has one…
You are right Frank, even do I do not remenber seeing one, should be there already, thank you for posting…
Honestly? If I wanted to get maximum $$ on this sale, I’d open the crate and take some amazing photos of this minty-fresh machine. Not remove the bike from the crate, but just expose it enough so that everyone can see what a treasure it is. You can still advertise it as being “new, zero miles, never removed from crate” and this is all true. But now your potential customers can see how truly amazing the bike really is.
As far as museum displays, what museum would want to display a crate… except maybe a crate museum? 😉
ja…. I meant the bike Dallas, lend the bike for display…
…your opinion is appreciated, I’ll take it into consideration and request actual bidders for theirs before doing anything.
There is this one person (comany) that send me a message saying they will stop bidding if the crate is opened…. so, it seems not easy to take a decision…
I apologise for saying idiot. A bit harsh I guess. You sound adorable. I was reading in an Spanish accent, and I imagined you are very handsome and very real. It does come off harsh in the ad though, having rules. Just sell it to a friend and make his day!
No bad feelings taken Adam, it is indeed a harsh way but I have learned over the years that on eBay you have to be “direct”, you get to deal with so many different cultures and personalities that you better be as clear as water.
There is a rarer version of this bike still . It is called the KR1-R there are only a handful outside of Japan the 180 or so built almost all went production racing in Japan and were destroyed doing so . They make even more power than the S with 34mm carbs . I am lucky to have one in Australia see my website http://www.motogallur.com . Can post some pics .
Known as the D1 and D2 model their frame numbers are
1989 KR250-D1 = KR250C-300001- 300130
1990 KR250-D2 = KR250C-300501- 300550
Ebony/Lime Green (D1, D2) regarded RARE model
From the KR1 world register.
Luis
Luis, you are right. I never owned one but I did got Race Kits for both of our KR1S race bikes, which I beleived turned it into an “R” version, power & performance wise. It included pipes, cylinders, cylinder heads, full piston kits and carbs.
I remember it helped us beat what at that time, with the production specs, was our headache, Yamaha’s FZR400’s.
If I ever go to AU, I’ll give you a ring, willl love to see your location.
Cheers!
I have seen a KR1-S on display at the Barber Museum . Of all the 250cc Hiroshima Screamers the KR1’s have got to be close to the top of the heap . I think Javier has been incredibly polite to people who have shot and the asked questions later. He is auctioning a crated bike if you don’t like a lucky dip don’t bid , simple . I once bought a Honda 400F with 5 miles on it . The bike shop owner went on holidays only to return to find that the apprentice had opened the crate and was eager to tell the boss that the bike that had been sitting crated for decades was now running like a Swiss watch . Don’t think he finished his apprenticeship there.
i have restored a kr1s here in ireland and have owned one previously on which i put up 25’000 miles . the only trouble they give is the lingage for the kips valves are very flimsy and the kips valves themselves break where they attach to the lingage they have nicosil barrells and it can be costly if they throw a ring etc my brother seen a brand new one for the equivelent of 5000 dollars brand new in a shop in south africa a few years back that one in the crate is mad money.
Javier, I am not a buyer for this jewel, unfortunately, but I thought I would suggest allowing those who doubt the contents of the crate the use of a borescope. This way the box can remain “unopened” yet the contents can still be viewed.
Just my two cents.
Best of luck!!
LEO, I still have some PARTS available in my stock, NOT SURE what but will bring up the list later this month to this and other KR forums. Thank you for sharing.
GARY, you know what, now I am more curious about the inside condition of this crate but I do not beleive there is any BAD damage to the bike, anyhow, I have been “advised” by a serious bidder that he will pull out from bidding if the crate is “touched”. So what should I do?
I do beleived that all this “buzz” has been generated due to the bike being crated, that is for sure. And is the bike is more valuable due to the same reason?, Oh man, sure it is. No doubt now.
I call Kawasaki yesterday and it “seems”, to the best of their knowledge, there is NO other bike like this, crated, in the planet.
My auction hit 3,100 viws minutes ago, it is a big audience for 5 days. This has been a enrichment experience for me so far.
Thank you guys for all comments – suggestions.
The KR1S, was modified by myself, and the guys I worked for at the time, to make it competitive for ‘production’ racing here in New Zealand. We fitted the 35mm carbs from the Japanese domestic market KR1R. We shaved 1mm off the cyl head. We lifted the exhaust ports by 1.5mm. We had 10 of them homologated by the NZ ACU so they were legal for production racing here (our rules at the time). We then kicked RGV and NSR arse.
Man… this is the sort of thing that would inspire a man to go club racing again. Have that crate delivered to my “2stroke guy” for prepping, and go terrorize SV650’s on the track!
Hi Javier,
Any idea yet what parts you still have left ?
Luis
I understand rarity value of an older bike which is still brand new…. But here in the UK Padgetts have loads of older bikes still in crates which they bring out to sell when they can be bothered. I saw them pull out 10 crates of brand new but 20+ year old Honda CB’s many years ago. Right now they have Zero mile Yamaha R1’s from 1999 at £7999! GSXR’s on Zero Miles I think they even have some Yamaha 250 and 350 LC’s still in the back somewhere un opened. But their prices although higher than the retail price of the day are still comparable with todays prices. As they also have a Kawasaki sole dealership they may even have a few KR1’s and KR1S’s there filtered away.
You may get your reserve price but it is not as rare to find a brand new old stock bike as many think…. Especially as that bike has not been licenced for the road in the USA and IF Padgetts have the odd bike even allowing for shipping you could buy a new one for less than the price you have bids at curently.. Museum? Dont think it will go to one personally.. If a museum want a bike bad enough they would talk direct to the manufacturer to source a bike.
Javier.
Are you interested is selling the crate? I have no interest in the contents,but would be happy to bid on the crate.
LUIS, I might get a list up and ready by the endo of next week.
MOREPOWER, Even do the Reserve price is not reach, this has been a valuable experience for me.I have receive all kind of comments and questions, from excellent to extremely offensive, and get to know very nice people from around the world.
What I do not understand is: why does people get mad because someone is offering for sale, at free will, a bike that might be somehow special for few potential buyers? Don’t like it, don’t bid and whish the buyer the best! That’s it!!! No need more.
LUMBAR-COLLECTOR, out of all questions I have received, more than 80 so far, this is the only one that I do not know which way it goes; is it serious or is it a joke?
Guys, again, THANK YOU ALL for your comments, GOOD vibes and not so good ones. ALL of them are well received.
Have a beaitiful and enjoyable weekend!!!!
Not mad or upset you are trying to sell this bike. I am just pointing out that there are dealers who are doing the same thing yet are not getting the premium you may be looking for. A few years ago then there would be a posiblity that some bikes will go for premium prices. I built a bike with provonence that was and still is a lap record setting bike which has world wide publicity and had trouble selling it even at the cost to build price. Yet the same spec bike a year or 18 months earlier would have sold 10 times over. The global economy is on a down turn. I built a bike for a customer which is being seen as the worlds most expensive production bike yet in 12 months has sold exactly none.. It is interesting to see this box with it’s contents un touched since the day it was packed. I dont have any suspicion that the bike inside has any issues as the factory will have packed it well and I am sure that it is perfect.. I just wanted to point out that this bike is not as rare a find as many think.
MOREPOWER, My apologies, I did not meant to address that comment directly to you, as I said, there has being such a bad questions and comments from other persons that I really do not know what is their purpose. It reminds me a saying we have in Mexico, “Hasta lo que no comen les hace daño”. There is some people that “get sick from food they even haven’t taste”.
Cheer’s and have a nice day.
Who ever wins it, to put an end to the story , hopefully will post the photos!
Gary who ever wins this bike will not take it for granted that is for sure. If a member of the public buy it.. They will want to show it off thats for sure..
Javier, personally if it were me with this bike in a crate I would have waited another 12 to 24 months as it seems Japan are now holding on to what they have and grey market bikes are going up in value. OK the KR1S was not a grey market bike here.. But I think I would wait another year or two.. The economy is not as strong as it was but I do hope this bike is sold and someone uses it fully!
Hi Javier.I have some more questions on the timber crate you have for auction.Is it Japanese spruce?Are there any borer,or worm holes? I assume some of the staining of the timber may have been caused by chemical sprays from quaranteen,if so,can they be sanded out? Thank You.
I think the only error you have made is to think that this machine is somehow merely a “material posession”. Only in the same way your family dog is 🙂
Gary, hopefully the buyer will not be like the saler; otherwise he/she will charge us to see the pictures!!! LOL
LumberCollectr, Sir, I have not the minimum idea of what the material is. This kind of crates were used for many years for all bike we received from Japan.
Rabidnz, I do not understand the comment, but I do indeed have noted that I performed few mistakes in my listing description that have caused some confusion/cencerns. And as per the dog analogy, I do hope whoever keeps it today or in the future takes good care of it.
Have a nice week.