K7 1992-94

Model Details

Frame No from: KH125K-013501; engine No from: KH125DE014293 original colour schemes: Ebony & Sunbeam Red. Electrical system up-rated to 12 volt from K7 onward. Engine number range same as for K5-K10.

For the full story of the K7 I recommended reading the K6 page first. Kawasaki knew that the uprated electrical system was in the pipeline and possibly that's why the previous K6 model was only available for year. You can see this because the brochure for the K7 is also for the K6, this is the first time that two model numbers shared a brochure. (The front is pictured on the K6 page and the rear on this page). It's therefore surprising that they bothered releasing the K6 at all.

It's a bit of a weird situation in the showrooms with two models that look the same but aren't. Was there a price difference between the K6 and K7? Were the K6's discounted or the K7's just more expensive? "Hello Sir/Madam, I see you are interested in the KH125. Will you be riding in the dark? In that case you'll want to stump up some extra readies for the 12v version. Day riding only? Then save a couple of quid by going for the flickering glow-worm in a jam-jar 6v version".

So, the Japanese had finally realised that 6v systems, even on small bikes, were outmoded especially in modern European markets. Despite the 12v upgrade the colour schemes remained the same with Ebony and Sunbeam Red still being offered. Again, it was a great opportunity for Kawasaki to update the paintwork and graphics but it was an opportunity missed. The colour scheme had been around since 1985 and clearly a revamp was required but unfortunately it never happened.

As I said earlier, the same sales leaflet/brochure was used for both the K6 and the K7 models with the front depicting the Sunbeam Red version (see the K6 page) and the rear (below) showing the Ebony version. Kawasaki really needed to write something new in their sales literature, they'd been regurgitating the same advertising bumf for years now. It's somewhat ironic then that the change in electrical system was the biggest development to happen to the KH since the colour change seven years previously and it's not mentioned at all! Nowhere.