K3 1984-85

Model Details

Frame No from:KH125K-001601 to 003000, engine No from: KH125DE 007501 to 011500, original colours: Candy Cobalt Blue & Candy Cardinal Red. 6v electrical system. New style graphics on the tank and the addition of stripes on the side panels. Engine number range the same as for K1-K2 & L1. Candy Cobalt Blue colour scheme only appears on the K3 & L1. K3 RRP was £749 in '85.

The UK K3 first appeared in 1984 with a change of colour scheme - it was usual for large bike companies to update their designs every couple of years to look 'fresh' for the punters. Out went the Galaxy Silver and the Passion Red to be replaced by bright Candy Cobalt Blue and deep Cardinal Red. There was also an alteration to the graphics with the side panels getting stripes and the tank receiving a large wide decal with the badges placed on it rather than the thinner stripes curling above and below the badge as on previous K1-K2's.

The Candy Cobalt Blue colour scheme only appears on KH125s making their first appearance in 1984. The L1-Ex of the same year had the same Cobalt Blue with the same graphics pack but the L1 had alloy wheels, EX panel badges and a sole upper chain guard while the K3 Cobalt Blue had wire wheels and an enclosed chain guard. Mechanically there wasn't too much change from the K1, K2 and K3 but the service manual does show an alteration to the speedometer gear assembly at front hub on the K3.

The brochure for the K3 is entitled, "KH125 - Performance That Never Quits". The blurb on the back had changed the marketing focus just as clearly as the new graphics had altered the paintwork. The somewhat boring and bland commuter needs of the K1 & K2 has given way to a more upbeat feel. Yes, the fuel economy is still mentioned, it's a small bike and many buyers looked for frugal fuel costs but, the brochure now claims that the K3 is "A performer because we gave the reliable motor a race-proven rotary disc valve and a quick shifting 5 speed gearbox ... and equipped the nimble frame with adjustable rear shocks and a powerful hydraulic disc brake".

While the features hadn't really changed from the K1 & K2, Kawasaki were using words like 'race-proven', 'quick shifting', 'nimble frame' and powerful brake' - a real change in the feel of the marketing. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the UK learner regulations had arrived the previous year and Kawasaki had now decided to woo the youth market who were now captives of the 125cc law. By a bit of careful marketing, Kawasaki hoped to sell to the younger learners who had to buy a 125cc but without alienating their more traditional frugal-minded commuters.

For those owning or looking to own a K3 series bike in Candy Cobalt Blue my advice is to check the frame number carefully or you could be left with something that's not quite what you expected. As the Cobalt colour schemes exist for both the K3 and the L1-EX, unscrupulous sellers can whip off the alloy wheels of an L1-EX, put on much cheaper spoke wheels and pass the bike off as a K3 when in fact it's an L1-EX with missing alloys. While owning the more expensive (when new) L1-EX isn't a bad thing, it will cost a fair bit of cash to buy the alloy wheels if you want to restore it or put it back to standard. If you have or, are buying a Cobalt Blue KH125, check the frame number, a KH125L-xxxx is an L1-EX bike and a KH125K-xxxx is a K3 bike. Be aware of the difference because it's relatively easy to swap, wheels, chain guards and panel badges!

Pictured below are a couple of used Cobalt Blue and Cardinal Red K3 bikes. The red version pictured here has a non-standard rear rack and a single chain guard that has been painted black. Note the different style graphics on the tank and side panels compared to the K1-K2. (A badge is missing from the left panel of the red bike too).