Kawasaki A1 Samurai
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| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Production | 1967–1971 |
| Successor | Kawasaki S1 Mach I |
| Class | Standard |
| Engine | Air-cooled parallel 2-cylinder, Two-stroke, 2 rotary inlet valves |
| Transmission | Chain driven 5-speed |
| Suspension | Inner-spring telescopic front fork, shock absorber and swing arm (rear). |
| Fuel capacity | 13.51 liters (3.57 gallons) |
| Related | Kawasaki A7 Avenger 350 |
The Kawasaki A1 Samurai is a 250 cc (15 cu in) standard class Kawasaki motorcycle which was sold from 1967 through 1971.
The Kawasaki W1 did not sell as expected, because all rival bikes were still faster, lighter and had better steering. Kawasaki developed the lighter A1 Samurai in 1967. The A1 took center stage as a high-performance machine, with approximately 80ps per liter. It was quickly followed by a larger-bore model, the Kawasaki A7 Avenger which shared most of the Samurai components except the motor.
The A1SS Samurai has a crossover dual exhaust mounted on the left side and just below the seat. Other than exhaust system, there were no other changes between the standard A1 and A1SS.
The engine was a unique straight twin, two-stroke, air-cooled, oil-injected, dual rotary disc valve. The engine's ignition air supply began in an air filter canister below the seat and was pulled through a large plenum chamber just above the transmission and behind the cylinder head then downward into the two internal passages leading to the carburetor housing feeding the carburetors. The A1 had two Mikuni carburetors located on the engine's left and right sides and inline with the crankshaft. The carburetors were enclosed and protected from the elements by carburetor covers fixed to the crankcase. Inboard of each carburetor, and supporting each carburetor, was the disc cover. The rotary disc valve was housed inboard of that cover. The A1 Samurai motor was lubricated by the Superlube system, with 2-stroke oil directly injected in the intake tract. Previously equipped with points, the ignition system was equipped in 1969 with a Capacitor discharge ignition including thyristor-based switching system then increased the voltage to between 25,000 and 30,000 volts reducing the unburned fuel mixture within the cylinders.
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