Kawasaki B8M Red-Tank Furore
Encyclopedia
The B8M was the first racing motorcycle by Kawasaki, created from the 11 horsepower Kawasaki B8
. The Red-Tank Furore had a two-stroke 123 cc Kawasaki rotary inlet valve
cast iron
engine producing 23 hp. It was equipped with a four-speed transmission.
The B8M was created solely to compete in the Japanese Motocross Championships by Kawasaki engineers which took a stock Kawasaki B8 and modified it by changing the forks, seat, adding handlebars
with a cross bar, raised expansion chamber
, knobby tires. A later version was made with "Kawasaki" stretching the length of the fuel tank without knee grips. The success of the B8M lead to the development of the Kawasaki F21M for 1968.
Motocross Tournament. With all the Kawasaki bikes completing the race, the race team proved that the "Kawasakis are strong machines in tough circuits". Later at the Fukui Prefecture
Motocross Tournament, the Kawasaki machines won all the race events and at various motocross tournaments held in West Japan, Kawasaki machines were victorious in most of the events - despite not competing the past year. The outstanding achievements of the "Red-Tank Furore", named for it's red fuel tank, earned it a fearsome reputation." --Kawasaki Museum
120cc (unmodified), had ~13-14 hp. Others to compare to:
Kawasaki B8
The Kawasaki B8 was a 125cc street motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki Aircraft, LTD from 1962 through 1965.-History:The B8 was the first motorcycle to be completely be a Kawasaki from the ground up. The B8 was based on the Meihatsu B7 which had used Kawasaki engines. The Kawasaki B8 is said to...
. The Red-Tank Furore had a two-stroke 123 cc Kawasaki rotary inlet valve
Rotary valve
A rotary valve is a type of valve in which the rotation of a passage or passages in a transverse plug regulates the flow of liquid or gas through the attached pipes. The common stopcock is the simplest form of rotary valve...
cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
engine producing 23 hp. It was equipped with a four-speed transmission.
The B8M was created solely to compete in the Japanese Motocross Championships by Kawasaki engineers which took a stock Kawasaki B8 and modified it by changing the forks, seat, adding handlebars
Motorcycle handlebar
Motorcycle handlebar refers to the steering mechanism for motorcycles. Handlebars often support part of the rider's weight, and provide a mounting place for controls such as brake, throttle, clutch, horn, light switch, and rear view mirrors....
with a cross bar, raised expansion chamber
Expansion chamber
An expansion chamber is an exhaust system used on a two-stroke cycle engine to enhance its power output by improving its volumetric efficiency. It makes use of the energy left in the burnt exhaust exiting the cylinder to aid the filling of the cylinder for the next cycle...
, knobby tires. A later version was made with "Kawasaki" stretching the length of the fuel tank without knee grips. The success of the B8M lead to the development of the Kawasaki F21M for 1968.
Racing
"In 1963, the B8M Motocrosser took the top 6 positions in the Hyogo PrefectureHyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
Motocross Tournament. With all the Kawasaki bikes completing the race, the race team proved that the "Kawasakis are strong machines in tough circuits". Later at the Fukui Prefecture
Fukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
Motocross Tournament, the Kawasaki machines won all the race events and at various motocross tournaments held in West Japan, Kawasaki machines were victorious in most of the events - despite not competing the past year. The outstanding achievements of the "Red-Tank Furore", named for it's red fuel tank, earned it a fearsome reputation." --Kawasaki Museum
Horsepower
There appears to be contradictions in the B8M's brake horsepower (based on the B8). The B8M is probably more accurate at 21-23 hp. The 120cc machine of the same time, the Kawasaki C2Kawasaki C2
The C2SS 120 and C2TR 120 Roadrunner were Kawasaki motorcycles made from 1964 through 1969.The C2SS was an off-road and road machine powered by a single cylinder, two stroke, rotary disc valve engine with displacement of 120cc producing 13+ hp. It was street legal having headlight, taillight, and...
120cc (unmodified), had ~13-14 hp. Others to compare to:
- 1967 Kawasaki G1M 100cc off-road racer had 16 hp.
- 1962-1969 Kawasaki F2 175cc had 18 hp. (unmodified)
- 1970 Kawasaki F3 Bushwhacker 175cc had 20 hp. (unmodified)