Rickman Kawasaki

The money part is funny.I bought it a year ago last Christmas.I don't think it was the present my wife was expecting,I don't know if that was a smile or a snarl I saw.With work family,and racing,I've just now found the time and some funds to get at it.The motor turns over,the calipers and master cylinder need a rebuild and it looks like the carbs need a complete going over.I'm really looking foreward to getting it up and running.I'll keep you posted.Thanks Jerry

sounds like a very cool ride how big are you allowed to go with your rules and what are you gonna use for carbs.

In our club the Superbike class is'72-'82 up to 1100cc,no clip-ons.Mostly modifications that were available at that time.The motor came with 28mm carbs,the same as I'm using on the'75 Z1 I've been racing.This'll be my fifth year racing it and I'm starting to get it around the corners faster.The motor is so smooth and controllable that the bike slides in a predictable way.I've had two especially fun races at Mosport and Mid-Ohio,both times with Suzuki gs1000 that had more power than me.The one at Mosport got me on the 3rd last corner at the end of the back straight,but I re-passed the one at Mid-Ohio after the straight and caught him a couple of corners later and got to the finish first.So I'm hoping with the handling of a Rickman I can pick up the pace.My bike dynoed at 85hp and the guy that won at Mid-Ohio last year was riding a true Superbike that he raced in the 70s-a beautiful two-tone green '75 Z1 with 125hp.There's a good article in Motorcycle-Retro on it.Tough competition,out of my league and pocketbook,but I love riding the Kawasakis and I'm having a great time. Jerry

excellent i am going to begin to build a track day 1000j in august and would love to do some vintage class racingin a year or two too... as my ducks get in row...you got any pics of your races or the bikes or tracks???????????

With massive appologies to Jerry for my lack of timely response (been grading papers man, sorry!:dry: ); here are some pics of the soon-to-be-raced Rickman Kawasaki.

I'd also like to go on the record as saying THIS WAS MY IDEA, JERRY!!!
I can't tell you guys how many nights I've stayed up fantasizing about racing a Rickman Kawasaki in vintage superbike. *ghuh!*

This'd be THE bike to start with, that's for sure!

And proof that Jerry does not just "talk the talk..."

Our man Jerry "walks the walk!"

The grid!

And in closing, Jerry is a motorcycle 'enthusiast' ... just as many of us are ... go get 'em, Jerry!

-KR