The last of the big 4 Japanese manufacturers to start selling motorcycles, Kawi had a little bit of catching up to do when it came to understanding the US market. They initially offered small-displacement two-strokes, and while those bikes have definitely caught the eye of a few passionate riders, the average American buyer was looking for something bigger and more powerful. Enter the Kawasaki Avenger, the bigger brother of the A1 Samurai.
In addition to having a great model name, the Avenger featured a 350cc twin with some race-bike features, particularly the dual rotary valves and to a lesser extent, the oil injection. At the time, only Kawasaki and Bridgestone were putting rotary disc valves on engines with more than one cylinder – these valves yielded higher torque at low revs and more horsepower throughout the powerband. Kawi’s “Injectolube” system ensured oil was mixed in with petrol and also fed to the main bearings. The engine produced 42 horsepower, enough to move the 350 pound (wet) bike up to about 105 miles per hour. For more on why the Avenger is such a collectible, check out this writeup from Motorcycle Trader Australia by Ian Falloon.
This specific Kawasaki Avenger is a first year example with 9,500 miles. It has been serviced and the seller describes it as a “running and riding survivor”. The bike comes with some extras including another used front fender.
Find this Kawasaki Avenger for sale in Grant, Florida with bidding up to $2,888 and the reserve not yet met