Aus Deutschland, dall’ Italia, and from good ole Nippon (or Nihon) too
RAU KAWASAKI GPZ1100
This rare ’83 Kawasaki GPz1100-powered endurance racer caught our eye when it went up for sale in March through French auction house Artcurial. The bike was originally put together by German frame maker Manfred Rau who, like Swiss rival Fritz Egli, specialized in producing nickel-plated tube chassis.
Having been built for European endurance racing, this Rau Kwak was developed and gradually upgraded throughout its active life before being snapped up by an enthusiast who’s had it in his collection for the past decade. Artcurial expected the GPz to make between €25,000-€35,000 (£20,800- £29,200), but it failed to sell at auction.
Maybe a cheeky post sale bid could relieve the collector of this Rau racer and see it back on track again? We’d like to think so…
ENGINE
The stock GPz1100A motor is a strong lump, producing a claimed 120bhp (110bhp at the wheel), and it’s ripe for tuning. This Rau Kawasaki has been taken out to 1170cc – stock displacement is 1089cc – and runs race cams, lightened internals, Keihin CRs and a free-breathing Rau 4-1 pipe. Claimed power is a healthy 143bhp.
CHASSIS
The minimalist lightweight spine frame is made from tubular steel and uses the motor as a stressed member. Nickel-plating is very much an Egli influence. The swingarm’s a simple – yet strong and light – box-section affair supporting almost vertical piggyback Öhlins shocks. Forks are Marzocchi. Brakes are a hotchpotch of PVM discs and ’80s spec Nissin calipers up front, and a single-pot caliper, likely from a small-capacity Kawasaki, at the rear.
DETAILS
The handmade alloy tank is all part and parcel of the Rau ‘kit’. Volume is unknown but given its length and shapely form we estimate it to hold around 23 litres – enough to keep it out on track for hour long stints, at least. The Pitsch tacho is a nice period touch; redline is set at a modest 8250rpm. There’s a large red shift light too, just in case. Maintaining consistent oil temperature isn’t a problem, thanks to the perfectly positioned fairing-mounted cooler.
FMW MOTORCYCLES GTS1000
It takes a brave soul, a mad man or a genius to build a special out of a GTS1000. Italian tinkerers FMW Motorcy
