page_title: Kawasaki KR-1/KR-1S
hierarchical_section_title: Kawasaki KR-1/KR-1S
caption_attribution_description: English: Kawasaki KR-1S - Black and Green version of the two stroke 250cc motorbike produced in 1989
context_page_description: The Kawasaki KR-1 and KR-1S are road-orientated 249 cc two-stroke sports bikes introduced between 1988 and 1992 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
  Unlike the competing TZR, NSR, and RGV ranges, the KR-1 was not inspired by a Kawasaki production race bike, as they did not build or race one. Despite this, Kawasaki still conceived the KR-1 so that they could tap the incredibly competitive quarter-liter two-stroke market; the most important JDM motorcycle class in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Kawasaki was the first of the Japanese 'big four' to cease production of its road-going 250 two-stroke, when it called time on the KR-1 in 1992. They were also the only manufacturer not to eventually produce a V-twin for this class, the KR-1 retaining its parallel twin throughout its short production. It also never received a major update.
  The KR-1 was touted as the fastest in class, as well as the easiest to tune. It was an incredibly popular race bike, where its dicey, prone to head-shake handling and unreliability were somewhat overlooked or dealt with. Given the above, KR-1s in good condition have become exceedingly rare, the KR-1R easily the rarest of all the road-going 250cc two-strokes.
context_section_description: The Kawasaki KR-1 and KR-1S are road-orientated 249 cc (15.2 cu in) two-stroke sports bikes introduced between 1988 and 1992 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
  Unlike the competing TZR, NSR, and RGV ranges, the KR-1 was not inspired by a Kawasaki production race bike, as they did not build or race one. Despite this, Kawasaki still conceived the KR-1 so that they could tap the incredibly competitive quarter-liter two-stroke market; the most important JDM motorcycle class in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Kawasaki was the first of the Japanese 'big four' to cease production of its road-going 250 two-stroke, when it called time on the KR-1 in 1992. They were also the only manufacturer not to eventually produce a V-twin for this class, the KR-1 retaining its parallel twin throughout its short production. It also never received a major update.
  The KR-1 was touted as the fastest in class, as well as the easiest to tune. It was an incredibly popular race bike, where its dicey, prone to head-shake handling and unreliability were somewhat overlooked or dealt with. Given the above, KR-1s in good condition have become exceedingly rare, the KR-1R easily the rarest of all the road-going 250cc two-strokes.
caption: Kawasaki KR-1S - Black and Green version of the two stroke 250cc motorcycle produced in 1989
exif: {}