On the left: 1983 KZ1000R ELR. The bike on the right is a 1984 KZ1100R ELR.
Fans of “Steady” Eddie Lawson rejoice! What we have found for you today is not one limited edition model ELR built to celebrate Eddie’s Superbike dominance, but TWO rare bikes – both by the same seller. Somebody has been hoarding the goods, and luckily for us the time has come for him to thin the herd. Feast your eyes on these two very similar – yet very different bikes.
From the seller:
All genuine ELR models have the all important “R” in the VIN. The North American market bikes had the “R” as the 7th digit in the VIN, whilst the bikes sold in certain other select worldwide markets had the “R” as the 6th digit.
Right off the bat, the seller is helping you understand that these are the real deal – not re-sprayed KZs looking to be cashed in quickly. And not only are both of these bikes up for auction at the same time, both are NO RESERVE auctions. If you have been lusting after an authentic ELR, here are two great options for you!
Bike #1: 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR Eddie Lawson Replica
The first of the two bikes is a 1983 model KZ1000R ELR. These are the bikes with which US-based riders are most familiar. And while this particular model was not a US bike (Canadian origin), it retains the same look and nomenclature of its US brothers.
From the seller:
As this machine was not sold new in the U.S. it was not fitted with the Federal emissions equipment that feeds oily fumes from the motor back into the airbox. If you live somewhere that this will cause problems at smog check time I suggest that you keep it in mind and bid accordingly. The bike has a clear U.S. Title from the State of Utah–a picture is included.I had not ridden this bike for a couple of years before deciding to sell it. I had a new battery and new Bridgestone tires fitted and rode it the distance (35 miles) on the trip meter Friday at speeds up to 90mph. It is essentially running fine, but would likely benefit from a little attention to the carburetors. The brakes worked OK but seemed a bit spongy and the clutch a little heavy. Nothing serious here, I just want to be up front about it. The bike burns no oil and is great fun to ride. Absolutely everything works.
This bike has 18,965 miles on the clock. It is clearly not new – nor a museum piece – but looks to have been cared for pretty well over the past 28 years. Click here for more information on this great 1983 KZ1000R ELR.
Bike #2: 1984 Kawasaki KZ1100R ELR Eddie Lawson Replica
The second ELR at auction is a slightly rarer 1984 KZ1100R ELR. If memory serves correctly, this model did not come to the US – but maybe one of our sharp RSBFS readers can correct me on this front. Like the first, this particular bike was imported into the US as well, and thus lacks any Federalization – emissions, stickers, etc.
From the seller:
As this machine was not sold new in the U.S. it was not fitted with the Federal emissions equipment that feeds oily fumes from the motor back into the airbox. If you live somewhere that this will cause problems at smog check time I suggest that you keep it in mind and bid accordingly. The bike has a clear U.S. Title from the State of Utah–a picture is included.I had not ridden this bike for a couple of years before deciding to sell it. I had a new battery fitted and rode it the distance (12 miles) on the trip meter Friday at speeds up to 70mph. It is essentially running fine, but would likely benefit from a little attention to the carburetors. Nothing serious here, I just want to be up front about it. The bike burns no oil and is great fun to ride. Absolutely everything works except the neutral light which I will hopefully have sorted before the auction ends.
The bike has damage to the front portion of the top fin on the left side of the cylinder head. There is a picture showing this. Once you know it is there it is obvious, but I owned the bike for quite a while before I even saw it. It doesn’t affect the bike in any way, other than cosmetically obviously.
The original black chrome exhaust system is in excellnt condition. It is completely solid, but does have a small dent on top in line with the rear axle on the left side. There is a picture of this. A lot of owners of KZ1100R machines like to fit a Kerker 4 into 1 to capture more of the iconic Lawson look, but I prefered to keep the stock system.
This bike has a few more miles than the ’83 model: 27,047 according to the seller. This only highlights the great aspect of these bikes and their longevity; with KZ-based engine and transmission plus ELR-specific features such as bodywork, suspension, brakes and color, you get the rarity of a limited edition model with the benefits of a mass-produced foundation. For more information on this 1984 KZ1100R click the link and jump over to the auction.
There you have it – two great bikes from one seller. These are no reserve auction – and the bidding has been pretty low thus far – so you might have a real opportunity to pick up some rare sporting hardware on the cheap. Good luck!
MI
I’m not a big Kawi fan, but this and the Z1R are 2 of my favorite bikes from my day (late 70’s-early 80’s).
Only problem I have with the original ELR is that Kawasaki went and made an exact modern replica of it! And it’s a good looking bike too. I guarantee you that 95% of the public doesn’t even know the difference between the 2.
Now if we can just talk Yamaha into making an exact replica of the RZ500…..
I totally agree with you Kelly (although I prefer the 80’s ELR to the more recent – and undoubtedly superior) recent release.
Besides the Yamaha wish, how about Suzuki stepping up and modernizing the Gamma for us….