Gtr or A7 (which is faster)

[husker]

The magazine tests back in the day had the A7's as the fastest of the 350's. In October I went on a 100 mile ride in the Omaha area and my brother went too on his A7. Well much to my disappointment he was able to pull away from me! And my GTR has a 40 tooth rear sprocket. A little more fine tuning is called for.......Rod

[paul]

Maybe the  magazines  were right?   By the way , I've read that there is an early avenger engine and a later avenger engine.  Apparently, Kawasaki spent R&D money for two engines .

[husker]

My brothers is a 71 model with 28mm carbs and cdi ignition. Thought the non stock gearing might even the two bikes out. My GTR is still running a little on the rich side and the ignition timing needs to be checked but then the A7 might not be in the best state of tune either...........Rod

[BRT-GTR]

      Rod,  You sound just like the guys back in the day, love it !            The few years between the machines could make a big difference. How do the claimed HPs  compare?    28mm should be better than our 26mm carbs, there's 16% more throat area !!. 
        There was a power race going on, back then with rapid development in 2S technology.  Every maker wanted the fastest bike on the market.  Let's face it, despite BS claims, the GTR is a tourer first and a sports bike second.
        Brian. 

[husker]

Between the GTR and the A7 the GTR is definitely the choice for longer distances. New rear shocks on the A7 would be a big improvement as the originals springs are too stiff. A7s were rated at 42hp.

[BRT-GTR]

             There ya go, on paper,  he has 5 more gg's than you       and the GTR does need to rev cleanly to 7500 rpm to get anywhere near it's claimed 37hp. The 40hp sometimes shown was poetic licence, just sounds better and sells more bikes ?  Maybe get a Kawa 500, that'll show him. 

[vinny g]

Interestingly..i built a standard 350 GTO engine for a friend that has his own Dynapro dyno.I built it carefully..but totally stock.. and it ran with standard pipes,carbs/filters and ignition.He sent me the Dyno sheet down after he'd run it and that bike gives 38bhp at the back wheel..at 7500rpm.

[BRT-GTR]

                   Wow, that is surprising and pleasing. Even assuming 10% loss through the drive system, which is low, it suggests 42hp at the crank, 25% loss gives an unlikely 50hp !!
           Japanese HPs were usually quoted at the crank because it's a higher number and they might have used smaller horses     unlike the Italians who quoted at the rear wheel where it really mattered.
            You must have done a brilliant job on that engine, I know who to come to in future !!                                 Brian

[slawsonb]

Hey Rod. Looks like there is hope to kick your brother's A7's butt. Get tuning!
...bert

[davis]

I think the Kaw's CD ignition system had a power advantage. But, my GTR towed my buddie's A7 20 miles into Machinaw City in the same rain that fouled out his ignition system!

[husker]

When going on a ride with an A7 it's always a keep your fingers crossed hoping the CDI doesn't die on you. Another factor that makes the GTR a better road bike than an A7 is that A7's have this terrible pre ignition knock when you slightly let up on the throttle. They absolutely hammer.  My brothers and mine both do it and it was mentioned in the Cycle World 350 comparison........Rod   

[paul]

When was there a Cycle World comparison?

[moonpup]

When was there a Cycle World comparison?

It's in the "Download" section, or follow this quick link...

http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=65

[farmerdl]

Back in the day I only ran into one A7.  Had no trouble dusting him off.  Plus next to the GTR the Kaw was butt ugly!

[slawsonb]

Agree with that! My experience is that the GTR could out run RD350's in the straights at Del Ray Beach in the day. So I expect the A7 is at risk to a properly tuned GTR (go ahead and cheat Rod...no judges around).
...bert

[srpackrat49]

Well i have a 1970 GTO  and this last summer i was going for the ton ...... started too hammer down got it up to about 70 and had some clutch slipping    now the gto is up on the lift and i just put a new clutch pack in her   This summer i,m going for it again ... Ton up boys... But i still don,t know if i,m a rocker , or the other one... here in the USA we don,t call ourselfs that... were just bikers

[BRT-GTR]

          Packrat....      No dispute, with a bike, You're a Rocker in the  true sense of the word. Go for that 'burn up' and 'do the ton' then pull in the cafe for a
                                coffee and a 'bacon butty'   ................ Don't you ever change what you are. That's a statement not a question
                                 
                                The 'other ones' were 'Mods' , wore parka jackets or lounge suits! and rode scooters weighed down with mirrors and lights, don't think you qualify
                                as one of them.
                 
                                We're all just bikers or motorcyclists here, now but the media still rake up 'Mods and Rockers' whenever a biking news item comes up.          Brian

[srpackrat49]

Thanks,,,,  One of my other bikes is a Yamaha TDM 850...... And that one halls ass... most folks in the USA never got that one... 2 year only.... ive run into blokes from your side of the pond,,,,, they knew what it was and were serpriced to see one... ,,,,,, and she will go  past harleys like there stoped ,,, and may be one day i,ll get to the   T T,,,,,, there are only 2 things on my bucket list..... The T T and a vinsent

[davis]

Regarding the speed of the GTR: About 1971 I took my GTR up to an indicated 110 mph on a straight stretch of I94. I have read some who felt 95 to 100 mph was tops which I found a puzzle. However, a British magazine Motorcycle Scooter & Three-Wheel Mechanic, April 1968 indicated a (tested) top speed of 108 mph. Perhaps a similar test of a 350 Kawasaki of that period would be a good comparision.

[farmerdl]

Remember though that most of the GTRs tested in the magazines and on the road were improperly jetted.  That makes a big difference in their performance. Even with that there were still some differences from one bike to the next within the same models. My brother and I both had GTRs. Both were overhauled by the same mechanic over the same winter and mine was always a bit faster.