TOPIC:

I am looking at two bikes, one is a 82 GPZ 750, the other is a 81 GPZ 1100. I am looking for a bike to run around town on. I aready own a Harley Davidson Electra Glide for the road. I want someting lighter for around town and the occaisional interstate short trip. Which do you thing is the better all around handler the 750 or the 1100. I'll say thins the 750 is no slouch in the speed dept. any bike tha goes over 100 mph is good with me. Hit me with some opinions.

The 750 is lighter.
Steve

As SWEST mentioned, the 750 is lighter - by about 40 pounds. Either bike will exceed 130 mph with no problem, so getting around town shouldn't take long. Below are the specs. Ed

GpZ 750
www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki...saki_z750gp%2082.htm

GpZ 1100
www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki...aki_z1100gp%2081.htm

...The 1100 is a sweet machine, but I prefer the lighter, more agile 750 for around town and short trips. The 750 is definitely easier to avoid those doors knuckleheads throw open in front of you on Main Street, USA. God forbid we should look behind to see who's coming before throwing that door wide open.

...On the other hand, the Harley would be easier to throttle up and torque right through the damn doors.

Guys thanks for the feedback. I am definitely leaning toward the lighter 750. As we all agree it can get down the road quite quickly. it would be a very nice change from the Harley for around town. I tend not to want to take the Harley out of the garage for a quick in town trip, because it feels like I am moving an 18 wheeler when I push it around. However on the open road I have absolutely no complaints. it is as steady as a rock. the people on this forum are very helpful. I have been on other forums (like my harley groupd....lol) where the people get very snarky when information is asked for.

I owned both over the years basically, 1983 GPZ750 and a 1982 GPZ1100. I liked them both. The GPZ750 probably is the better city bike, but that GPZ1100 was just so fabulous I'll never forget it, and my favorite bike of all time on long trips while it lasted. Unfortunately it was a piece of junk, but what greatness in the time it was not junk, which was 20,000 or so miles. It's been 32 years ago I sold the GPZ1100 and still have dreams at night I found it in the back of the garage and still have it. I think the 82 GPZ750 was a great one though. Of course 83 they went to swoopy bodywork and less comfort, so the 82 could be really great also in the 750.

The 1100 are big heavy old beasts, that's what I love about them but arm wrenchingly fast and best suited to the open road.

The GPz750 R1 is lighter and a lower seat height, They look very similar to the 1100 but the only body panels the same are the front fairing and the tail. Seat width and length is identical. Personally I think the 750 R1 handle beautifully, very confidence inspiring.

The 750R1 is a rare one year model, but very cheap compared to the 1100.
Find a nice one and I think it will more than hold on to it's value.

Maybe look at the 550 too, six speed close ratio gearbox and very strong and reliable motors. Feels about as quick as the 750.

Basically, anything that says GPz on the tin with twin shocks and they are all fantastic bikes.

The 750 is a much better handling machine, lighter and better for around town and twisty roads. But I LOVE the power of the 1100 engine. My solution was to install a GPZ1100 engine into the GPZ750 frame. Now I got the best of both worlds.

Baldy, just what all was involved in that swap? Sounds interesting.

The 750 is a much better handling machine, lighter and better for around town and twisty roads.

Yes, the nicest handling kz four I've ridden, and they look so pretty too.

I know what you are saying about that GPz1100 power, every time I rode it I had an Adrenalin rush, like a crack whore chasing a rock- i just needed it so bad. Maybe I got lucky on that, and call me old fashioned here, but it was brutal and shockingly powerful, even guys on modern sportbikes respected it.

Jrider wrote: Baldy, just what all was involved in that swap? Sounds interesting.

A lot of work. I wanted the engine to sit as low as possible so I could do regular maintenance so I cut the bottom tubes of the frame and got the engine in really low. I welded the frame tubes back together with tubing slugs inside the tubes for strength. I can remove the top end without any problems. I had to make motor mount tabs and re-design the Kerker pipe to get it to work with the ZRX swingarm. There are a bunch of other small things I had to take care of. I installed a 1175 Wiseco piston kit in it along with WEB cams, ported head and the Mikuni RS36 carbs. I wanted it lighter than the GPZ750 so I really put it on a diet. It weighs in now with full fuel at 420 pounds.
It is a beast, it will rip you arms off when you get on it hard. If I am going to die on a bike this is probably the one that will kill me. It is so fast and smooth that before you know it your at 120 mph and only at 1/4 throttle. It requires a lot of discipline to operate. It handles better than the GPZ750 probably due to the shocks, stiffer swingarm and the lighter weight. Very addicting bike to ride. I give modern sport bikes fits.

Thank you Baldy. The result is stunning. I thought I saw a step by step of this project somewhere. Did you post something like that? Also is it necessary to sit the engine low to fit it in the 750 frame, or was that just a personal preference?
what did you strip from the bike to lose weight?