Little Belter
Kawasaki’s GPz305 twin, launched in 1983, was a brave move: a bike that matched the head-banging Yamaha 250LC for speed but with refined performance and low fuel consumption.
There are those who, back in the dark days of the early 80s when the powers that be first introduced more complicated ways of getting your bike licence, mourned the end of the UK's regulations that limited novices to bikes of less than 250cc before they passed their test.
After all, it had produced machines like the RD250LC – a ton-plus bike on a good day – and a lively market for a wide range of less dramatic yet very practical alternatives.
Of course it was the Elsie's red rag being waved in the face of the face of the legislative bull that killed off the 250cc class in the UK. Too many young guns were being wiped out, so in 1982 basic training on 12bhp 125cc bikes was introduced, even though the industry had lobbied for a more logical power limit on bigger bikes, as was successfully being used in Germany. Scrapping the old 250cc limit did however have a silver lining. It enabled manufacturers of four strokes to consider the idea of upping the capacity of their quarter-litre bikes in the quest for more performance that would match the two-strokes, producing little gems like Kawasaki's GPz305, a fourstroke six-speed twin.
Taken on face value, this was a remarkable package that, unusually, matched performance, economy and wieldy handling. It could top 100mph, cruise smoothly at 80, return a fuel consumption of up to 70mpg and also provide an exciting element of flickability. And not for a silly price.
Trouble was, would aspiring riders think logically once they’d gained their full licence after riding a 125 and consider the rather novel 305 appellation in preference to a more ballsy 550 sports bike? After all, the 305 was small and compact, even compared with other 250cc twins. It just lacked the presence of the bigger bikes.