KE100 | Retro Review on my '78 KE100

[@Scott-ow3tz]

I use to love riding my friends 76 yamaha DT175. It was fast smooth, fun powerband. We use to jump barn fires with it in the woods at night . One night I think someone in the group drove it into the barn fire and jumped off it only for it to go up in flames in the barn fire. But they were great little enduros for the times . Yes I remember it being very comfortable

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

Tears are filling my eyes as I watch this. This is exactly my first bike...same year and same color...bought new off the show room floor in Pennsylvania US in 1978 when I was 12yrs old. I believe it was around $700. It was a total surprise when I got it...I almost got the less expensive kaw 100 which had a smaller frame, but my dad wanted me to grow into it. This bike represents my fondest memories...the freedom to explore the woods, dirt roads and trails of western Pennsylvania for hours and hours. (Often times with my fishing rod and tackle box) Yep...my face is soaked😢❤ I absolutely loved this bike!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

***As I recall there is a bundle of wires under the seat with a clip/plug that doesn't like getting wet. I sprayed it with some sort of silicon waterproof spray with no further problems.

[@patoneill555]

Love it! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@AudiophileTubes]

GREAT post!

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

Came back to rewatch this again and listen to the excellent narrative. It's so awesome to hear the exhaust note again and the area you are riding in reminds me of the western Pennsylvania roads, woods and trails of my youth. **I heard you mention a Yamaha XS while narrating. I was curious...I didn't see a video about an XS in your Playlist?? My first street bike was an 81 Yamaha XS1100 Special. What A Bike!!! I also had an 84 Honda V65 Magna...loved it as well. Currently riding an 03 Honda VTX1800c. I believe I may start looking around for a duel purpose in the used bike market. Maybe a KLR.

[@AsherCB350]

Nice. I have one of these right now sitting in vermont. I’m going up there this weekend to ride it ! It’s in blue though. I also have an old Suzuki ts125, and Honda cl350 scrambler and cb350

[@brianhalliday2384]

Childhood is not complete without owning a 100cc 2-stroke enduro bike. In High School, I drove a Yamaha LT2 100 Enduro for two summers. Your Kawasaki sounds awesome, nice find!

[@JohnVoll-kp7qb]

Greetings from Norway. About 40 years ago I sold my 1978 KH 100 ES. I bought the very same bike back many years later. ( At least the main frame is the same ). I picked it down to molecules and then the projeckt stopped. Now, seeing your video I got the inspiration to restore and put the thing back together after beeing in parts over 25 years. I really recognice and enjoy the sound of these bikes. Thanks for the inspiration. John.

[@joewolfone]

My first bike was a little1974 Suzuki TC 100. You definitely brought back memories with this ride.

[@jefftaswelder9154]

TC 90 was mine 🤔had the low range kick leaver and it was a weapon 😉🍺

[@patoneill555]

That's an awesome little bike! Glad you enjoyed the ride Joel.

[@IRQ1Conflict]

My first bike was a Suzuki TS75. Late 70's. Can't remember the year. My cousin had a Kawasaki 100 four stroke same vintage and yeah, lots of good times on those old trail bikes. To be a kid again.

[@grumpyartist9416]

I bought one brand new for 1,000.oo when I was 16. I loved it! Put many on and off road miles on it. I only weighed about 100lbs at the time lol!

[@AshleyPomeroy]

What fantastic countryside - the trail seems to go on forever. And there's no traffic! Or random rubbish dumps. I can see where something like this would be a godsend if you were young and needed to get about.

[@lgwappo]

I remember these from the 1970s. Kawasaki made these for many years. A friend of mine got a used one & it had a lot more power than my Honda SL100 4-stroke. I remember new ones were $399 at the dealer & later went up to $459.

[@uni-byte]

Ahh, the sound of a two stroke! I love how in The Terminator: Judgment Day the kid rides a little Honda XR100 but they dub in the sound of a two stroke! Yeah, there are far too few choices in the offerings these days unless you want off-road/competition only. I don't think there are any lightweight street capable dual-sports at all.

[@patoneill555]

Haha, I remember that.

[@uni-byte]

@@patoneill555 I really love this video. You have the history just right. Yes, I think they should bring bikes like this back. Honda now have the XR150L and at a reasonable price point. Probably precisely the 202X version of your KE. We need more of your content dude!

[@billbright1755]

I have a 78 KD100 M that I ride all the time. Great little fun and frugal machines. Run all day on a cup of gas very torquey power band.

[@davelew86]

I started with the Silver tanked Kawasaki KD 100. It was a small bike frame with the same engine as the KE 100. That engine was crammed into that tight little mini-frame. The yellow tanked KE 100 was my 2nd motorcyle. I thoroughly enjoyed both bikes and rode my 77 KE till 1990. Great looking bike and I aporeciate being able to re-live riding it with your video. Interesting note... Back in the mid to late 70s, the popular bikes in Texas anyway were, YZs, RXs, KDXs, Maco, Bulltaco, and Rup

[@randydalton5720]

Had that exact color too! My dad gave it to me when I was in the 6th grade in 1978. Took so many girls for rides back in the day!

[@solracer66]

I had an orange 1973 G5 100 which is almost exactly the same bike back in the early 1970s. Even though I only had it for a couple of years before upgrading to a KE125 when I got my license because the KE was a better street bike I have many fond memories of it and the adventures in the woods and fields we had. My brother had a 1972 G5 so we'd race around all the time of course. I have been thinking of picking up one just for fun as I know that the days of gas-powered motorcycles and especially 2-strokes are likely numbered and I'd like to experience it again before that's not possible. A buddy of mine has been thinking of organizing a sub 100cc motorcycle tour and I can't think of a better bike than the G5/KE100 for that!

[@dylangraham5509]

Let’s not forget about the Yamaha TW200… It’s got to be one of the most capable enduro bikes still on the market today… 😂

[@patoneill555]

Lol, I was wondering if someone was going to mention that little gem!

[@thomasclark5059]

I love mine. I’m trying to restore my ke 100 & I came across this video!

[@zmaxdudeonline7854]

​@Thomas Clark just picked up an '88 with 1000 mi on it for $300

[@MacAdventures23]

Liked the video. I just got a 17 Crf250l because of your first couple videos. Always enjoy the videos keep them coming!!

[@patoneill555]

Thanks man, hope you enjoy the new ride!

[@brettwaltman3386]

I’m wanting to get into dual sport bikes and I think this would be a great starter bike for me, thanks for this video it was great! And I think it would be cool if they started making more like this, cheap, small, not top of the line but still good enough to have fun on

[@laureanosanchez5265]

I have a More modern unit and i can tell is a great starter, super simple and reliable. The suspension is not great for really bad roads and the gearbox shifting is hard. I cant complain for any other thing she will take you anywhere

[@IrnMaiden304]

Looking at a 73 tomorrow, had a 2001 brand new in the crate, it took 7 years of literally every day riding. The older KE / G5 cylinder wasn't aluminum with a nikasil lining, it was sleeved so putting a wiseco in them was fine, but the carbon rotor could get chipped and sucked in the motor, I don't know when they switched to a metal rotor but the 01 had it. The last bit of life my 01 had, I got curious, and Frankensteined the exhaust with a KDX 80 and the original, and the head got milled just a little ( more where the spark plug was then the head gasket ), it actually had a power band and would wheelie on it's own ( 1st gear really, 2nd not as much ), was an interesting little experiment at the end.

[@mdog1615]

i have a '71 g4tr 100 , the predecessor to the KE , great bikes !

[@rancidmilk8824]

I have an early Kawasaki KE100 from 1973 that I'm fixing up to use as a daily commuter for work. I loved the video!

[@patoneill555]

Awesome, thanks!

[@fhukit]

One of my first trail bikes. I had a blue 1980. I beat the snot out of it, and it took it. Great bike!

[@albertchavez2693]

At 14 i had a 1973 yellorange TS 185 Suzuki , she was one of my favorites of all my bikes , throout the years i had 8 bikes and my two all time best were my 1974 Kawasaki H2 3 cylinder 2 stroke air cooled fan fast , and my last bike was a 1998 Honda XR 650L fun bikes the whole lot :)

[@Veryfastslowcar66]

Couldn’t have said it all better…. Lovely bike and excellent video

[@CDOO2391]

What a great reminiscent cruise. Awesome bike I agree I'd buy a new smaller dual sport. I have a 300L and have been eyeballing the trail 125 but I want something with a clutch for the fun factor.

[@breezeonby1643]

Great trip down memory lane!!! Began riding on a Yamaha GT 80 when I was twelve, then the YZ 80, a handful of other small 2 stroke Yamahas and an XT 350, KDX 200, well, you get the idea. On a V Strom 650 now, but want to get back to real trail riding with street legal bike. Most likely going to purchase the CRF 300L. Thanks for your great videos!!!

[@WeBuildStuff]

Just got a 1975 ke100 yesterday. I'm stoked to get it running!

[@patoneill555]

Nice! These bikes are a blast.

[@carsonlambert7852]

That bike is sick

[@uni-byte]

It is! That's the era I cut my teeth riding. I had an XR185 then a YZ125 back in the late 70's. However, working in the business back then I got to ride pretty much everything. Bikes like this were endless, easy, harmless fun. We need more like that today.

[@rolandwheeler4842]

Love the video! I ride a '76 DT175 myself when not on my CRF250L. Yamaha makes those entry level bikes you are asking for: The TW200 and XT250! Both air cooled, and carbureted in the case of the TDub!

[@rusty2075]

That bike was awesome !! Suzuki TE 185 ..is the bike you were thinking ...

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

I'm embarrassed to say how many times I've watched this. If you were closer, I would make you a generous offer for it. 😉 ***interesting to note, I was recently back home in Pennsylvania and visited the family that my 78 KE100 was passed along to in the mid 80's. I tried to look among the over 100 vintage trail bikes that were stacked in 2 garages at their farm, but didn't see it. It is still possible that its hidden there somewhere. ***I just bought a 22KLR 650...it makes me feel about the same way the KE did 45 yrs ago. 😊

[@patoneill555]

Love it!! Stoked you enjoy this video so much.

[@jacobrowell4041]

Just picked up a 78 KM100 and I’m super stoked to get it ready to ride. Picked it up for $75, needs a carb cleaning, fresh petcock valve, and gotta get the oil injection working. This is my first bike, and I plan on getting a Tenere 700 within the next year or so. I can’t wait to cruise around town with that roaring 2 stroke sound. It’s got plenty of patina too :)

[@patoneill555]

Love it!

[@hunterst0989]

The new Honda xr150l follows these lines. My 1st road bike was a trail 70 when I was 12. Then when I was 15 I got a dt125 and a Honda nx125. I think I’m going to get that new xr150l. I still have the NX 125 I got when I was 15. It still runs and my 16 year old daughter rides it to and from school. I hope she keeps it going and passes it on to her kid as well. I have 4 more kids to give road legal bikes and so far they all love dual sports so I may need a whole fleet of XR150ls 😂

[@jeffferguson899]

awesome bike

[@richardcarlson8382]

I bought a new KE100 for $499 in Nebraska in spring of 1976. Had it for 5 years. Wish I had never sold it.

[@pinittowinit8481]

Good video. I got my dads old ke 100 to run off ether yesterday. I'm probably gonna clean the carb today and see if it drives. His is the same year.

[@patoneill555]

Awesome!

[@pinittowinit8481]

@@patoneill555 Took it for a ride yesterday, I put premixed fuel in it just incase the oil injection didnt work... It tried fouling the plug a few times but other than that it workef

[@danmac2925]

I bought a new Kawasaki G5 100 in the spring of 1974 for $400. It had a 1 year unlimited miles warranty. In the summer of 1975 I rode it from Minnesota to Alaska and back! I think the engine was the same as yours.

[@patoneill555]

That's awesome!!!

[@berttompkins9096]

I had this yellowone in72 or 73. It kicked honda xl 250s . I now have a 2022 50th Anniversary Z900RS toclebrate 50yrs of owning Kawis. 4 of them In the man cave. Hondas and Moto Guzzis. Yeah. But I'm with my 1st love. Kawasaki.

[@moto2org]

I would love to see some small bikes come out for new riders to get into the sport, but there is a problem right now in Ontario Canada with insurance companies not providing coverage for anything under 150cc. Its a big problem when you can't get insurance on a 125 dirt bike for kids (or adults for that matter) to use the OFTA trails.

[@patoneill555]

Luckily I was able to find coverage for this little guy.

[@moto2org]

@@patoneill555 That's good to hear, it's possibly due to it being registered as a dual sport bike vs dirt only...

[@garywinterbottom6073]

I had the exact same bike same colour mine was a 78 model. 😊

[@cormackdanskin609]

I have a 1974 g5 100 so that’s what is what it was designated before ke100. I puts around and Lerner on .

[@barneyprince9257]

Yeah I think the resurgence of the small cheap bike already happened in the form of the Honda grom and z125 . That is the bike we’ll be talking about 40 years from now maybe

[@clydeosterhout1221]

Your wish is granted: the Honda xr150 is headed to the US and Canada!

[@AZZscar]

I had a KE125 that I bought used around 1984 for $400.

[@darrylmain925]

Had a 1982 KE100. 1984 got the 250 KLR

[@Scott-ow3tz]

Great video

[@trailblazerstudios]

If y'all think 10,000 plus on the clock is too much, wait till you hear about the motorcycles in Pakistan, I bought a 1974 KH100 with 65,000 on it, although entirely pristine, and a friend of mine has a 1979 and he's done nearly 50,000 on his, and I know people around here who have done well over a 100,000 on their two/four strokes on the original engines though most of everyone has had a redone top end, including myself, I had mine rebored almost 1500km ago, no problems so far. though I've noticed the clutch sliping off mid ride a couple of times, I'll have to take it apart and look into it, probably a worn out clutch.

[@AshleyPomeroy]

India, Pakistan, SEA are all hardcore motorcycle territories - I often wonder if people over there are given bikes at birth and taught at school how to adjust valves.

[@sambananas4513]

72 SL125 stripped of everything unnecessary, no battery, wired to run off the mag., knobbies and ditching the cops on the way to the trails constantly in NJ in the 70's. Oh those light under 200# bikes are great.

[@jamiesteele698]

Nice I had a KM 100 (four stroke)in blue when I was 13 (I’m 58 now 😉)if I remember $599

[@jamiesteele698]

I started watching videos on the old KM 100 and yes it’s a two strokers,I can’t remember putting two stroke oil in the reservoir! But that was almost 45 years ago (KM 100 was the little bother of the KE)😢

[@kevindavis-ph9ec]

Had one just like it in 1980 I was 15 road it all over good bike took alot of abuse

[@Happyviews82]

Love my 74 ke125 😝

[@carlgressel574]

Honda has a 150cc dual sport now!

[@patrickseals5746]

This was a neat area you were riding. Oregon???

[@patoneill555]

Ontario Canada!

[@jefftaswelder9154]

please do more rides on this bike 😁🍟love these old bikes 😎🍺 oh and please ride it in the bush , it WILL surprise you 😁😉

[@patoneill555]

Glad you enjoyed the retro ride. Definitely we will be seeing more of this little mustard!

[@torito880]

I got the smaller version. The km100

[@it3210]

こういうオールドカワサキはビンビン来るよな！最高だぜ！

[@akthethotboi9711]

I’m buying a km 100 and restoring it lol

[@patoneill555]

Bad ass 👍🤘

[@johngriffineldoradohs8162]

Are you interested in selling the bike?

[@ghostmost2614]

Obviously you are not happy with this bike. You should sell it…to me. My first bike 75 KE100 Red

[@tvdinner325]

I have a '76 KV100, and wouldn't part with it.