82 gpz 1100

hi everyone -im thimking of adding a gpz 1100 to my garage[1982] 12000 miles looks great but havnt ridden it yet -owner says he has babied it- trading my triumph speed four for it straight up -i guess ij just want to know if this is agood bike overalland what problems i should be looking out for -iown a kz 650 and have owned a750 in the past -ijust dont have any experience with the bigger fuel injected models-i would really apreciate your input so i dont make acostly mistake[when did they start making fuel injected models? thanks again mike////

theyve come a long ways with fuel injection and controls,but im here to tell ya the fi on my 84 gpz1100 sucked when they were new a set of 29s cured the issues i was having at the time! :laugh:

PLUMMEN is correct when he states that they have come a long way in improvements in FI. The second generation FI systems (the first being the KZ1000G/H and GPZ1100B1) were an improvement and Kawasaki has incrementally improved ever since. If you can be assured that the FI system is functioning well, then the bike is a joy to ride...if there are glitches, then they can be troublesome to diagnose...and there are no new replacement parts available, only used parts on eBay. Personally, it is my favorite bike of the bigger old Kawasaki's. That said, the handling characteristics between the Triumph and the GPz are worlds apart and the Triumph is a far superior bike. I don't know what Speed Fours are going for these days, but if the Triumph is in good shape, I'd be tempted to keep it and try another route to getting the GPz.

I just got an 82 GPZ1100 a few months ago. It has fuel injection still. My problems with the bike were electrical. I had two bad connectors. If you have any trouble with it, you can get help here. Does it have original paint, seat & exhaust? That would be a bonus.
BUY IT!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

A 27 year old bike with a huge plethora of possible issues for a 7 year old or younger new, reliable sportbike. The guy with the GPZ must think he's died and gone to heaven. No way would I ever go along with that trade!

Sure, buy the GPZ if you want but if you would rather have the GPZ than the Trump at least sell the triumph for a reasonable price instead of giving it away for a less advanced, slower, inferior, etc etc bike.

Just my $.02

I won't try to argue technology, handling, etc., and certainly a lot has changed in their 20 year gap, but I think if you compare the original specs of the Speed 4 to the GpZ1100 you'll find the GpZ was considerably faster (top end) and a little quicker (1/4 mile) than the Triumph. Of course this is comparing 2 brand new bikes which neither of these are. Depending on how they were maintained since new there's no telling how the the 2 bikes in question compare today. Ed

My mistake though overall if I was given the choice between the two... It'd still be a toughie