Back in the pre-interstate days of family car-trips, New England was peppered with small museums devoted to cars, trains, airplanes, trolleys, and occasionally motorcycles. One such museum just east of Hartford, Conn. has an almost pre-historic Ninja up for sale, and while it’s not running, it looks substantially original and might be a good choice for restoration.
1986 Kawasaki Ninja 600R for sale on eBay
Updated in 1985 from the GPz-550, the Ninja 600R ( known as the GPz-600R in some markets ) employed a 16-valve head and had 75 ponies on tap. Engineers at Kawasaki also re-oriented the alternator to slim the engine, and employed their first perimeter frame, though in steel tubing. Suspension was air-assisted both ends, 37mm front forks with anti-dive and monoshock rear. Triple disc brakes were good for the day, and 16-inch wheels helped handling. The full fairing was primarily plastic which helped keep the weight under 400 lbs.
Listed by a long-time repair and restoration shop also housing a museum, the bike looks complete but ready for some TLC. Thankfully no major surgery has been done, just low-profile front turn signals, SuperTrapp mufflers, and tinted windscreen. From the eBay auction:
· Turn Signals Work
· Starter Works engine turns over and has compression
· Needs New Coil Pack
· Rated for 12.7 Second Quarter Mile Time at 125mph
· Slip-On SuperTrapp Exhausts installed
· Tinted Wind Shield installed
Evidently needing ignition help ( which might lead to a carburetor cleaning ) this Ninja might be a nice bargain. With some fresh fluids, seals and brake pads, this Ninja could return to the road and display the performance and handling which launched a dynasty. Or if those classic good looks strike you, a full restoration and back to the gallery or bike show…
-donn
These were the cornerstone of sportbikes to come! Whilst not a particularly great bike, we have these to thank for the FZ,FZR,GSXR,CBR series that came to pass. Remember when the legislating safety nazi’s wanted to ban ‘Bullet Bikes”? Compared to a modern sportbike these are quite the watered down turd, but they really started the ball rolling and got us to where we are now.
Meh. Too bad it is not a ninja 600rX model. A true rsbfs. Have not seen one of those for sale (in decent condition) in over a decade.
This was the first street bike I crashed my brains out on. Loved that bike, just didn’t know how to ride then. Right when the news was running the series about banning “bullet bikes”, and I was taping that on my VCR. lol
Makes me laugh as they put the “ninja” stickers on upside-down……and displayed it and no one could tell.
The bodywork is a jumbled mess. Lower/ side/ tail is 86 blue red white. Upper is from an 86 red blue white. gas tank is from an 85 model. Basically a parts bike for several models. The 85-88 ninja 600r were all the same except for colors and the aforementioned aluminum framed Rx model. I raced several of these in the late 80s. They were not as capable as the fzr or the cbr/ hurricane 600s.