Kork Ballington Shows Legendary KR500

Ex Motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Kork Ballington shows some of the features of the Legendary KR 500, then fires it up.

[@johnnyrvf]

Back in 1986 I was offered and bought a rear wheel from one of the KR 500 s. Everything was made out of magnesium; including the spacer between the bearings. It was 18 x 4.5 inches. The cush drive was a masterpiece of engineering. I fitted it to a Suzuki GS 1000 that I sold 34 years ago.

[@yzr500owc1]

One of the most beautiful machines ever both physically and musically and along with one of the most talented riders to ever grace a Kawi. Thanks for the memories Kork!!

[@robertc4257]

Riding a GP500 2-stroke in shorts and flip-flops. the man is a legend.

[@rattusnorvegicus4380]

...& without a seat!

[@jansolo55]

@@rattusnorvegicus4380 .... and sitting on exhausts pipes 😁....

[@martinlewis967]

He’s in Australia ,he is barbecuing his nuts. Love the sound makes my kr1 sound like a toy

[@Jarnoparoni]

Hello Kork! As a boy 15 years old I see you often 1979 at the track. Remembering your great riding still - brilliant!! You are one of the best in Grand Prix racing history. Great video, thanks! Regards from Germany, Torsten

[@DamianDeEu]

Wow! Adjustable rake angle, adjustable front axle, 'anti-dive' damper, suspension adjustments... Pretty spectacular for it's era!

[@FrantisekVorel]

Kork thank you for the video and for what You have done for us. Frantisek.

[@tdmrat]

In those days as a kid of twelve,thirteen years old, i was a big fan of Kork Ballington and Kawa! thanks for showing this wonderful bike!

[@andrewrees6618]

So awesome! I started racing in 1982. I remember watching him in 1983 at brands hatch on wide world of sports.

[@criticalmass181]

What an absolutely legendary man. Nice to see he's still a 'good guy' too. Thanks for the vid.

[@dazmos_65]

Always nice to see an old Grand Prix bike still alive that escaped the crusher.

[@bediasamaro]

I still remember the pictures of Ballington and his Kawasaki back in the late 70's in some Motociclismo magazines we could get to at that time in Cuba. So now -thirty years later- the sound of it comes to complete the whole idea. When it warmed up a little, it came to roar as expected, and it convinced. Engines are like living creatures. Thank you champ for posting that for us to enjoy.

[@awesker0]

Music to my ears! That baby is totally unreal! I remember my dad telling me about those engine setups, nice to finally hear and see one, I think they sound nicer than the more modern v4 strokes. Take care of her mate!

[@stephenhayston4314]

what a beautiful bike,loved the humour as well thanks Kork

[@sitnolg]

What a boytjie and from Natal nogal!! I cant wait to read his recently launched autobiography "Ballington Unkorked". Brisbane, you are lucky to have one of South Africas winning sons.

[@fw1421]

I remember building the 1/12 Tamiya kit of this way back when! I always wanted one of these to ride on the street. Love the clatter of a two stroke and dry clutch plates!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@petersayle2089]

Bring back the 2 stroke ! 500 GPs of the late seventies to late nineties were terrific. Great to see The KR 500 again. Hat's off to Kork for this video.

[@Carbonfly69]

The sound of a 4 cylinder 2-stroke sounds like music to me! Really great!

[@bjorndunderbeck]

Thanks mr Ballington, I always loved the kr from when I was a kid, probably just cos it was green ,appreciated the engineering when I was a little older! hope you are keeping well!

[@Aguijon1982]

Thanks for showing it! Its a really rare bike. I love 2 strokes! Great sound! It sounds like 3 motorcycles together.

[@skts2610]

What a work of art and Kawasaki continue to make master pieces to this day. Kork was and still is an absolute legend, loved the vid👌🏽👍🏽

[@pabloperez4063]

Kork ....a great champion....a fantástic job you made with both 250 And 500! Kawasaki was silly to retire so soon

[@robertwallace7968]

Wow stunning piece of engineering looks great even now 40 years on

[@spscorse]

Thank you for that it was a great presentation thanks for sharing

[@rg500delta]

By god, that bike looks and sounds fantastic. What a terrific video. Thanks, Kork!!

[@Dizaster199]

Two thumbs up!!! A brilliant piece of history, and you just can't beat that idle sound!

[@fernandochavez7807]

Thanks for showing this piece of art !

[@londonweekend]

Thanks for that Kork, the '82 version is my all time favorite bike - especially with the original big front mudguard, and those gorgeous exhausts - t just looks fantastic and the green/yellow/white with flashes of red colour scheme suits it so well -absolutely DELICIOUS!! - would love to see more footage with it's clothes ON though!! I'd also like to see the '80 and ''81 versions and Eddie Lawsons and Greg Hansons bikes - a shame it wasn't more succesfull so there would be more stuff about it

[@nedcoed]

what a beautiful engineerd machine. damn i wish we could have those two strokes back in road racing. thanks Kork for sharing it with us !.

[@MrMatuse]

That is one beautiful machine ,thanks heaps for taking the time and sharing it for us two stroke lovers ,I owned two KR 250's in the eighties and it's probably good they never made them for the general public or I might not have been here today. It's great Kork .

[@nuskaha]

that is one heck of a gorgeous bike...two strokes sound brilliant.cheers for uploading your great vid

[@daggs1968]

the best. thank you Kork Still a Bloody Legend !!!! cheers Mate !!!!

[@pmcaRSV4]

That aluminum brushed tank… what a beauty

[@woodywood8755]

Thanks Kork, I enjoyed building the Tamiya model of this bike years ago. You can't beat Kawasaki for some different engineering.

[@310cadet]

Great video, thanks for the great memories. My Brother used to work for Stuart Baldwin in the 80's and some of your old bits and pieces were on show for us to look at !!! Those magnesium carbs were so light and well made !! Dave R

[@Tony200861]

I met Kork in '79 I think it was - ace guy! Still got the signed poster on my wall, alongside the photos I took of the great man, with his brother and the great KR500!

[@jeffdonovan127]

Thanks Kork,seen you ride the 500 a few times and a pleasure to see you and the bike then and also now,keep up the good work!

[@djh83004]

Most awesome !! just watched the DVD of Kim Newcombe which featured Korkie, great time awesome racing.

[@chugg535]

Well, that was a treat! Thank you.

[@d.c7464]

The square 4 is a amazing engine.

[@Ady11000]

Nice vid and a dam good bike , It takes me back to when two strokes ruled the earth .Thanks for posting

[@colinstewart1432]

2 stroke 4 ever 🤜💥🤛

[@fractaleM]

Thank you Kork! I 've visiting every summer Ken Suzuki's pention Silver Stone in Kaluizawa in Japan.

[@andrewhills6535]

RESPECT TO A LEGEND ✌🏻

[@quartusbuys6831]

He lived in Pietermaritsburg and I watched him as a kid on a modified road bike 3 cylinder Kawasaki air cooled running with Agostini, Paul etc on works machinery

[@5millman]

a legend and the hero of every ZA school boy in the 70's

[@86GAMMA]

Thanks for this great posting! Straight into my favorites!

[@cronauer1985]

what a sound. looks and sounds great with a true legend . great vid .

[@sethbrown1763]

Thank you so much, sir! Much appreciated.

[@symcardnel1741]

Thank you Lord!!! And thank you Kork!!!

[@LaPauseTech]

amazing, beautiful, etc Thanks to show us this amazing bike.

[@atomicorang]

A real treat..I still thing the front brake calipers are interesting. Wish you could do a close-up view and talk about them.

[@TheRhodes76]

Bloody awesome,sounds amazing! thank you.

[@SPOOKSTR]

Great vid Kork....watched you ride at the Barry Sheene Festival od Speed 2009....awesome !!!

[@velisusi1]

I want these 2-strokes back ❤❤

[@albertocassardo9655]

amazing... old but still rocking!

[@blipco5]

Why can't somebody in my neighborhood have one of those? Gorgeous stone wall. 👍

[@pabloperez4063]

NICE TO SEE YOU, 4 TIMES WORLD CHAMPION, KAWA MAN

[@Mercmad]

What a coincedence, while i was looking at this, I was just watching a movie on TV "Assen" filmed in 1977... and who should be interviewed but Kork Himself..the Winner!.

[@quakermaas]

look at the calibers..big square blocks :)) 2:26

[@warp65]

Team Wine and Dine. Fantastic, thanks for the look.

[@awesomecooly123]

Anybody notice the beautiful Silvia in the driveway?

[@cryogeneric]

excellent vid... You've *GOT* to post some track day stuff. I would love to see that baby on a circuit again.

[@kawaslakkie]

Thanks for the show, love the 2 strokes!! Kawaslakkie.

[@AbleBaker1]

Went to KZbin to get the URL of that wonderful GP at Silverstone between Kenny Roberts and Barry and look what I found. Superb ! A wonderful talk through of the Kwacker's qualities - with humour. The only thing missing is pizza ! A new video AND a new book ! Where do you find time for a Castle ?

[@rscudiver]

Very nice. Thank you for that. Bike sounds AMAZING.

[@rooskie]

EXCELLENT. man.. i'd love to fit soem lights and take it out on some mountian roads... thanks for posting that! great to see it not sitting 'on a shelf' so to speak.

[@norm4328]

Thanks for great video of the lagend.

[@MrBeracah]

Thanks for showing such a great bike, love the engineering. Any chance you could detail the anti dive system please. I’m interested as a retired engineer. Thank you

[@shin1601214so]

これは、かなり貴重な映像(^.^)昔からのカワサキファンとしては凄く嬉しいです。KR500は一度、もうかれこれ30年前に元カワサキGP監督をされていたケン鈴木氏の経営する軽井沢のペンションに泊まった時、庭に置いてあったのを見て記念に写真を撮ったのを思い出しました。500はレースで結果が出なかったけれど、それでもやっぱり今でもカワサキ伝説のマシンですね。

[@Foxxtrott1100]

THAT THING SOUNDS BRILLIANT !!!!

[@paulscountry456]

The heat coming off that must have been bad on hot circuits.

[@Jimo368]

How did he not burn his legs? Thanks for showing this amazing machine.

[@JaguarAir007]

Hey Kork, thumbs up to the age old Kwak. Pity they dont have an Aldo Scribante or Kumalo race track here for you to play on. Ever thought of taking it to Lakeside and thrashing the "lighties" of today? You never know what may happen. Re-ignite the passion. Well done mate. Murray

[@sethbrown1763]

Thank you so much for sharing with us!

[@melciveng]

Total legend and has there ever been a better name in any sport?

[@Pablo22578]

Thanks Kork - great to see.

[@tr1ckcyclist]

Outstanding! How about you and the bike coming to Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2008? We'd love to see you.

[@ronaldhart6362]

I was lucky to see you tide in 79 at Silverstone...If I remember correctly you rode the 250 & 350? Wonderful machine Thank you for sharing her with us Naked 😄 She's Beautiful

[@DrGasosa]

I LOVE THAT SOUND!!! 2 STROKE 4 EVER

[@davemonday5381]

Do you mind turning that thing down my wife is in bed. Had to grab the remote. Seriously that sounds fantastic like 4 kx 125a3’s fastened together. The Eccentric adjusters in remember having the on my 1985 GPZ1000RX. But to have them on the front spindle that’s cutting edge now same with the anti dive. Simple but brilliant. I remember you winning at donnington park. You may have been on the same bike. I was racing the school boy motocross on a kx125 at the time. It’s in my garage with all the other competition bikes Kawasaki made that year. Brilliant Video I’ve never lost my love for the Kawasaki’s I’m just about to buy a z900rs se. It will probably be the last new bike I ever buy. Thanks for the memories. Take care. Any one you consider to one of the all time great riders Kork Ballington has beaten.

[@umiskivinick]

wow. thanks for sharing this mate.

[@ReijoReccuLehtonen]

I see you Imatra 2014! Kork drives very fast!

[@fernandomotoholic1417]

oddly enough a few years ago there was a set of magnesium engine cases up for sale on egay for a KR square four, I found it very strange since these bikes were not p.r. priceless machine take good care of it.

[@nickdavis22]

Sounds Fantastic!!!

[@trickymicky0007]

proper decent bloke-have a castle for me Kork:-}

[@derekclark7545]

If only Kawasaki had sorted the weight, the brakes and got it to hook up out of turns better. what a fantastic well thought out GP bike. The mechanical anti dive is so unusual for a gp bike but is that why the brakes cooked plus the extra weight. sounds the absolute nut, just love the sound of the blowback through the carbs at low revs, easy to pick out with the bodywork off. nice thanks Kork.

[@nosharpe]

A winning combination. Kork & Kawa & Kastle (sic)... well perhaps a Windhoek. Great pity Kawasaki never really featured in 2 stroke 500cc GP bikes.

[@josemanon6295]

K&K ABSOLUTE LEGEND

[@leefortes]

Excellent! Excellent!

[@barebonesmc]

great memories thanks, is it ok if i use a few clips in a video i am doing? i will credit you of course, thanks again

[@nothing11287]

Cool, thanx for sharing

[@nghonleong]

great to see a champ doing this just for kicks.....freddie or eddie - where r u? just curious to ask - seem like shot in downunder...is kork there now?

[@Team-fabulous]

Hi Kork, the strip tease worked a treat, once i saw the monocoque chassis i was fully aroused. A thing of complete beauty, thanks for sharing it.

[@snetterton88]

Superb,thanks for posting this,did Kawasaki give the bike as a present?Best get her out on track soon to keep the wheels turning! If you do can I have a go!?!

[@Z1RD1]

WOW ! That's brilliant.

[@MrJonnyboyification]

a pure race bike

[@FPVandotherprojects]

Amazing video!

[@jcotteri]

Thankyou!

[@ropermachine]

to own it , you tell your race director you want it when the season is done!! usually when you win a championship !!

[@seapeddler]

Fitted with modern radial tires, how fast would it go?

[@seapeddler]

83 Honda Interceptor was perhaps much more refined with its' V4, and superior handling.