1981 Kawasaki LTD

[JOJOLTD]

This is an ALL original 81 LTD. Everything on this machine is in mint condition. The sled runs and drives and works perfectly. 3000 miles and still a piece worthy of a museum. 100% original. No chops or replaced parts. It has new fuel lines and new gas and oil. Im open to offers or trades but it is for sale on craigslist for $3500 obo. i am in central massachusetts. My cell is 860-808-4795

[mswyka]

The best I have ever seen a 81 LTD sell for is $1,700.  What have you other guys seen recently?

[greeno]

Price doubles for locations with snow. 

[DougKauer]

It wasn't a 81 ltd, but a rarer 1980 Kawasaki 4/6 ltd with under 500 miles went for $1750 and I just missed out on this one. This is about an hour from me and I might go and look  at it, but I think it is only worth about maybe $1500 - $1600.

[JOJOLTD]

Invader 440's are selling in real nice condition for $1500. This sled will go to someone with enough money to store it in their garage or showroom with their other prized pieces and not drive it. The seat cover in perfect condition could bring $500 alone. the motor, the carbs, the belly pan, the hood, the windshield, the tunnel, etc, etc, all perfect condition. When it warms up again I will take some more pics.

[JOJOLTD]

The 80 4/6 is not as rare as the 81 & 82 4/8. I have 2 80 4/6's and can find parts if i needed them or hack up an invader for parts. The 81 & 82's have keihin carburetors with accelerator pumps and more beefy suspension and a lot of differences under a scope.

[JOJOLTD]

More heavy duty skis, drive shaft, keihin instead of mikuni, 8 ports in a mono block head motor instead of 6, All the "theories of operation" from the 4/6 were changed in the 81 and 82. They referred to the properties of the engines as theories because it was all new proptotypes they were trying (80, 81, & 82). All this info is in the original shop manual for these sleds. They are about 250 pages of every aspect of the machine.

[JOJOLTD]

I have serial # oooo11 1980 4/6. Its in my profile pic. That needs a new crank seal $10, new seat cover, belly pan, and rear shock., the carbs are mikuni which you can find pretty much anywhere.  I have an invader 440 i paid $150 i will take apart to rebuild the 4/6. After all that id say its worth around $1500 or more definitely. This '81 makes it look like scrap.

[JOJOLTD]

Original msrp was $3500-$4000 which is about $10,000+ in todays market. After 911 the price of metals skyrocketed. If this machine is in like new condition and still drives like its 1981 outside the factory, maybe it should be worth more. If kawasaki ever decides to make a snowmobile again the price will triple. Kawasaki was making engines for years till 1976 they made their first complete sled, with all japanese components and american engineers and assemblers. They spanked the competition for 6+ years and pulled the plug in 1982. Why? Mysteriousness adds value. The dual spark plug was "theorized" as a turbo without a turbo. More clean burn, less octane fuel, less unburned fuel. The 8 ports instead of 6 allowed for a faster release of burned fuel which made the cycle much quicker. 95mph in 1980~ on snow. You could have a brand new $15000 mountain sled and the next guy with money could buy one identical. These rare old sleds couldnt be reproduced with a blank check to kawasaki, and side by side new and old, the old one will be much more to talk about guaranteed. It was also the nicest, most expensive sled of its time that money could buy. Rarity adds value. LTD~ Living The Dream...

[gixxer6]

Nice looking sled!  Good luck with the sale. 

As far as the value goes...Having it sit next to an Arctic Cat reduces the Value by at least 25%!  J/K    

[Tory944]

It is hard to put a price on a NICE example...  it all depends on how BAD someone wants it!  I've been known to spend more than the going rates!  LOL

Unfortunately, the following for the Kawis isn't what it is for other brands so the number of potential buyers for the Kawi is much lower.  I just picked up a comparable condition 81 LTD with less than 750 miles for about $600 in a package deal with another sled.  $600 was a steal IMO.

[JOJOLTD]

there was a guy selling an 81 ltd and a 79 invader for about that and they were both real banged up, up in Maine. i passed on the deal. Youre definitely right about the amnt of people who know about kawis but it seems like mre and more peole are getting into vintage riding. Instead of who can go the fastest, now its who can go the farthest lol

[JOJOLTD]

i got that 1999 zrt800 for 1200. runs beautiful for a big backyard beater.

[Tory944]

Nope.  The 81' LTD I bought came from WI.  No good kawis in Maine.  I haven't purchased a single vintage sled in my own home state!

[DougKauer]

A few years  back a guy in New York State had a 1980 4/6 Kawasaki Invader that he fully restored  with many NOS parts and he was asking $1750. If the 1981 LTD had only maybe 200 orig. miles.  $2000 at the most. This price is too high.