The motorcycle is a replica of the machine campaigned by Kork Ballington, who rode a KR500 to a ninth-place finish in the 1982 500 Grand Prix World Championship. That era represented Kawasaki’s push to compete at the premier level of road racing, and this example recreates the look and engineering of the works bikes from the period.
At the heart of the machine is a 498cc liquid-cooled two-stroke, configured as a square-four tandem twin-cylinder layout that was distinctive even in its day. Fuel is delivered through Mikuni carburetors, and power runs through a six-speed manual gearbox to a chain final drive. Spent gases exit through a dual 2-into-1 exhaust arrangement.
The bike’s construction reflects the cutting-edge thinking of early-1980s Grand Prix racing. It is built around an aluminum monocoque frame paired with an alloy box-section swingarm. Suspension consists of telescopic front forks up front and a rear monoshock working through a rising-rate linkage. Braking comes from dual front discs and a single rear disc, while aluminum alloy wheels are fitted with road race slick tires.
Visually, the KR500 wears the period-correct factory Kawasaki livery in Lime Green, Red and Yellow, the colors closely associated with the marque’s racing heritage. Full-fairing bodywork wraps the machine, complemented by an aluminum gas tank and a solo road race seat sized for a single rider tucked in for speed.
The bike is being offered with a bill of sale rather than a registered title, reflecting its status as a track-focused racing machine. For collectors drawn to the two-stroke Grand Prix era, it offers a faithful recreation of one of Kawasaki’s most ambitious efforts on the world stage.
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Eve Nowell 
Elizabeth Puckett