1985 Kawasaki KLT160 Question

[2Tim215]

I just brought this winner home today, (you should have seen my face when I pulled up). The price was right so couldn't pass it up, 140.00, runs great with wired on Carb and all. My first Kawasaki. Okay, although someone tried to make this look like a Honda I can see it was originally Lime Green. Every search I tried for a 1985 KLT160 comes up with a Black frame. Were the frame colors optional? I ran the VIN and it is a 1985. It runs so good and has reverse so I am debating on what to do with it. I haven't seen many of these around. Are they considered scarce or is just a run of the mill version? Hoping you Kawasaki fans can help!


It was kickin the snow even with bald tires!

Gotta love those original Headlights! That's my son riding it, he's my, "Test driver". If you look you can see the Lime Green frame underneath where they missed it with red!

[CRAZY70MAN]

my klt is all black but there were red ones as well I believe. They were only produced in 1985 and are pretty hard to find . Mine is a beast in the mud and trails.....one of my favorites I have come to find actually. It is a really great rider and well built trike......

[2Tim215]

Someone else said that they had Red plastics on theirs but the frame was still Black. I'm sort of puzzled why this one was Lime Green! I love the reverse option!!!

[MonroeMike]

The plastics came in red and black (ebony). I have only seen black frames.

Maybe someone tried to make it look like a Tecate, before the Honda paint job.

Kawasaki Photo.

http://www.kawasaki.ca/images/corpor...85_KLT160A.jpg

[2Tim215]

You might be on to something there Mike! I'll take a closer look tomorrow to see if there is any Black under the Lime.

[2Tim215]

Okay, just uploaded some photos. If you look close you can see, red, green, primer, and bare metal. The underneath looks original with no red. This appears to have been factory green although any 1985 KLT160's I have seen are black frames. Hoping someone can let me know if they have ever seen a factory green KLT160 before! If I can't change the Title of the thread I may start a new one to try and reach some Kawasaki experts. Not only does this appear to be factory green but there is also another number above the VIN I just found when looking at close-ups on my computer. Anyone know what the second number is for?

[MonroeMike]

Someone may have stripped down to bare metal before painting it green.

[2Tim215]

Someone may have stripped down to bare metal before painting it green.

That crossed my mind Mike but that would seem like a lot to go through for a Utility Trike. Guess it's possible but didn't seem likely to me.

[WisconsinJohn]

Well, I've been doing a lot of research on Kawi's and ran across this link:
http://www.kawasaki.ca/corporate/atv-museum
I have not seen a green frame on any of the trikes with green plastics...I am no expert but have only seen black or red 85s myself.
I'm workin on an 81 with an original black frame and the guy before me spray bombed the whole machine (green plastic, gold rims) all black. What a hack...yours looks like a solid bike congrats!

[2Tim215]

Thanks for the link John! I'll bookmark it. I am stumped with this one. Wondering if it could have been a prototype? I'll go out tomorrow and see if I can read the rest of the numbers above the VIN. Maybe I can gather some info there. The frame looks original, no welds etc., back plastic is rough, front is good with some fade. So far I only put fresh oil in it to test drive it. I'll probably start cleaning it up some tomorrow.

[Frankencelery]

No, it should have been a black frame. Maybe someone did strip it and repaint, but it does seem unlikely. I want one of these!

[fabiodriven]

Prototype? I doubt it... I'm almost positive these frames were all black.

[2Tim215]

Mystery solved! After looking close at the VIN and trying to figure out what the numbers above it could be it became apparent that this was still the original label under the paint. Now I knew that whatever paint was under the factory label would solve the mystery.....

BLACK! Although I found it hard to believe that someone went through the extent of taking the frame down to bare metal, apparently that's what they did when it was painted Lime Green, except for the label above the VIN where they must have taped it off. Thanks for all of the input, next time I'll know where to look!!!

[JoeyStacks]

Good find I rock a KLT 185 and the thing is bulletproof. You can torture them and they wont die. Mine had the red plastics and black frame. Then I spray bombed it

[MonroeMike]

Now you gotta paint it.

I just noticed one of the rear tires is on backwards.