1970 Kawasaki F5 Bighorn 350 Road Test - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1970 Kawasaki F5 Bighorn 350 Road Test - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, vintage magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
All
THE
GOOD
STUFF
Kawasaki's 350 Bighorn
single is the first big bore
enduro machine from Japan
Back in 1964 one of the Spanish
motorcycle manufacturers released a
new type of machine to the American
market. It was the first production light-
weight street/trail machine. It caused
the motorcyclists, and even great num-
bers of non bike enthusiasts, to really
take a second look at this new machine.
It was a single cylinder two stroke with
semi-knobby tires, and was also
equipped with full electrics to make it
street legal. A few motorcycle maga-
zines immediately had this new honest
to gosh street/trail machine on their
covers. There was a lot of excitement
over this new breed.
Most thought it was a keen idea, but
what exactly could it be used for. In
those days a motorcycle rider either
rode on the road or in the dirt. There
couldn't possibly be a machine that
could do both well or could there?
A few years passed and in the mean-
time the industrious Japanese factories
were producing a multitude of small
displacement woods type trail ma-
chines. They had knobby tires, lights,
and usually a monocoque stamped steel
frame Most of them were in the 90cc
bracket and the power was limited. They
were heavy for their size, but they would
take you just about anywhere
Then in 1967 one of the Oriental
factories released the first real mass
production street/trail (or enduro) type
machine. It caught on like wildfire, the
time was ripe. It was light in weight,
attractive, street legal and was at home
on the trail or road Since then the
Japanese and European factories have
been hard at work producing newer and
better enduro type machinery. The
Japanese machines had the advantage
of being available in large quantities,
with high quality components and good
electrics. The European machines were
79
a little more expensive, but they had the
upper hand in the handling and suspen-
sion departments.
It was only inevitable that one factory
would soon come out with the best
features of both A roadster and a dirt
bike. Kawasaki's release of their 350cc
two stroke single probably surprised
some of the other manufacturers who
have been contemplating the same
move. In our testing of the Bighorn we
were rather surprised with some of the
new ideas that Kawasaki has in-
corporated in the machine.
In an attempt to incorporate all the
good qualities of an off road machine,
some of the frill and dash used on other
bikes of this type are missing. The main
color scheme is brown with white back-
ground on the gas tank and underside of
the fenders.
In the comfort area, the Kawasaki
factory has gone all out to top the other
enduro machines. Excepting the handle-
bars, the Bighorn is exceptionally com-
fortable. The saddle is wide, long and
thick and provides optimum cushion
for the smallest or largest of riders. The
Kawasaki’s new Bighorn has
used most of the qualities needed
to produce a fine mannered off
road machine that is just as at
home on the road.
The muffler is fairly quiet for
a large displacement single.
The pipe and heat shield are
tucked in nicely and pegs are
well located and spring loaded...
15792 RL- ncf12