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About Us
1970-1974 In the early 70’s, we were regular competitors in the Southern California club road racing circuit (ACA & AFM). During that time, we road raced numerous 4stroke and 2stroke machines, but had our best success with Bridgestone 175 twins and Kawasaki 350 Bighorn singles. Besides numerous production & GP class wins, we were also part of Team Banshee that set 4 Bonneville 175 class records in 1971. |
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1971 Willow Springs racing a 175 Bridgestone 1972 Carlsbad Racing a Yamaha 350 |
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’74 Laguna Seca on Kaw 350 Bighorns (Production & GP) 1973 OCIR Pits with the Bighorn GP bike |
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1973-1975 MX and Flat-Track were exploding in popularity in the early 70’s, and we used our road racing engine experience to build numerous machines for local So-Cal MX and Flat-track racers. We specialized in the rotary-valve Kawasakis, and other Japanese125s & 250s. In 1974 we prototyped and raced the first privateer reed valve Honda CR125 motor. We were then hired as mechanic for Rex Staten’s 1975 CZ 250 and 400 campaign. We built the CZ400 engine that Rex Staten used to lead the 1975 Carlsbad USGP (until all the motor mounts broke). Click Here to Read the Story |
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Turn 1 1975 USGP ….. Rex Staten & the CZ400 Comfortably in the lead |
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After our stint with CZ, we were commissioned to build a case induction 1975 YZ125 for DG Performance owner Gary Harlow….it took about a week to build the motor. Upon seeing the finished product, Harlow immediately hired us to run the race team and research dept at DG Performance. |
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1975-1979 – We were employed by DG Performance (a So-Cal MX speed shop) to run their race team and research department. During that time we developed and built all the 80, 100,125,& 250 race engines used by Bob Hannah, Broc Glover, Mike Bell, Dave Taylor, Chris Heisser, and numerous other DG team riders. |
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A “just completed” 1975 YZ125 DG Racer 1976 USGP with Marty Tripes & a Team DG RM 370 |
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Pondering Mike Bell’s Team DG RM125 test bike 250 Odyssey testing 78 YZ125 team prototype |
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We built a prototype water-cooled head for a 1976 YZ 125. Water circulation was via thermo-siphon |
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1979-1980 – After 4 years of non-stop pro MX racing, we stepped away to work for Derbi Motor Corp USA. While Derbi’s main USA business was mopeds, we spent time at the factory in Spain to help develop their line of 125 and 250 MX machines. During that same time, we developed a line of performance pipes and engine mods for the popular mopeds of the day. It was a fun diversion from the intensity of pro MX racing. |
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The 1979 Dyno lab at Derbi Motors in Mollet Spain … The watercooled 125 being dyno- tested. |
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1980-1986 Missing the off-road racing business, we founded Klemm Research in an effort to bring top quality racing engines to the privateer MX and ATV racers of the day. Rather than sponsoring “team” racers, we hired top pro riders for race testing. Our ads were focused toward letting the customers know that “our very best” mods were offered to our customers… not race team riders. |
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| In 1980, Klemm Research was designated the engine builder for Kawasaki's newly formed Team Green MX Division. We built the engines for countless Team Green racers including NMA Mini Champions Paul Denis (1982, left) Bader Mannah (1983 center) , and Bobby Moore (1984 right) Bobby was the only NMA champion to go on to become FIM 125 World Champion. | ||
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Klemm Research was dominant in AATVA National Championship Odyssey racing during the peak years of 1980-1986. |
We also built national championship engine sets for Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha 3&4 wheelers. Above is an example of the TriZ 200cc, 250cc, & 341cc racing kits |
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Below is our “Buy the winning engine at the races” ad. Many ATV racers took up our test riders on the offer, and bought the entire top end off the winning bike at the end of the days racing. It was our way of asserting we sold our best mods to everyone. |
US Suzuki contracted us to build and sponsor the very first racing LT250 quads. We sponsored Gary Denton who immediately won, and went on to be a multi time national champion (Gary is shown below on his first test ride of a prototype LT250). |
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1986-1990 In’86, the staff at Klemm Research bought us out, and we took a limited clause of non-competition on ground vehicles. With that we went to work for the Jet-ski aftermarket company, Westcoast Performance. Among many other things, we developed a full line of 91-octane and 105-octane engine modification sets for the Kawasaki 440,550,&650 Jet-skis . We also designed the 24-port 550cc racing reed cylinder, and developed the first oem SeaDoo OEM 2-into-1 high-performance exhaust pipes.
Group K Big Bore 2strokes With the coming of supercharged 4stroke PWCs, Group K developed a line of 91-octane big bore kits that offered horsepower and reliability than none of the “new technology” 4stroke PWCs could match…. Along with much lower fuel consumption rates than the 4strokes.
