Kawasaki America

Do any of you know when they started making the KZ1000 range in the US, and where they made in NC ? or elsewhere.
I am trying to find where mine was put together. in 1978

Kawasaki started building the 1000's from the start in 1976 for the 77 model year at the Lincoln, Nebraska plant. On all the US produced bikes the serial number started with a 5 in the actual numbers part of the serial number. Lets say you have a 78 KZ1000 A model for a US produced bike the serial number will read KZTOOA-5XXXXX. Hope this is clear.

Kev...the KZ1000's were first assembled in Lincoln, Nebraska starting in October 1976 (I have KZT00A-500095 dated 10/76). www.zedder.com has a listing of US and Japan frame numbers.

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2008/02/03 09:11

The first KZ1000 is the 1977. There seams to be a common notion that there was also a 77 KZ900 but there was not. They were only left over 76s. The 77 KZ1000 was available in Diamond Wine Red or Diamond sky Blue Wit the double thin gold pin stripes. I am not sure where the bikes were made but they were clearly marked on the Goose Neck as “made In Japan” or “Made In USA” right on the white sticker.

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Update.... I just took a look at my Kaw ID book and it seams that ALL 1977 KZ1000 started with a "5" and that is correct they were ALL made in Lincoln also the 1978 A2 was made in Lincoln.

otakar wrote:

...they were clearly marked on the Goose Neck as “made In Japan” or “Made In USA” right on the white sticker.

Have always enjoyed pointing out the “Made In USA” to the Harley guys. :lol:

Excerpt from Exhaustive Development History of Z1 --

The KZ900-A4, produced for the American market was unique in that it was actually made, or rather assembled, on the production line of the Lincoln plant in Nebraska. This plant had previously produced the Z400 twin model in early 1975. This was a first for a Japanese company and got the bikes right where Kawasaki wanted them, in the worlds biggest market place for motorcycles.
Engine units were imported from Japan and fitted into frames on the production line. Eventually more parts were to be sourced in the states leading to a "Made in the USA" motorcycle. Kawasaki were so confident of the 900 range that they invested over $20 million in the Lincoln plant.
Production of the KZ900 at Lincoln started in June 1975 in readiness for the 1976 season. 9200 units were produced in 1975 with another 12144 produced in 1976. This was about 60% of the total Z900-A4 production, proving just exactly where Kawasaki thought their largest market was.

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/02/03 09:56

WAY TO GO PATTON. Most People do not realize, how many FIRSTs kawasaki actually had. Going way back before WW2. For example the first Fighter aircraft to employ a V12 engine. The first train to go faster than 200Kph in every day opperation. the first Monoshock on a production Bike, ETC ETC.

I thought about taking a picture of the Kawasaki plant in Lincoln when I flew out of there for Salt Lake City back in October but a) by that point all electronic devices must be turned off and stowed, and b) I was in an aisle seat on the left side of the plane across from the lavatory. :S

The plant lies just north of the Lincoln Municipal Airport and one gets a good view of it from the right hand side of the plane when leaving from the terminal. Upon my return I was in a window seat on the right hand side of plane so I didn't get to see it again either.
:pinch:

As a side note some 650 models were also built at the Lincoln factory, the 77 B1, the 78 B2/B2A and the 79 B3. All these models were also built in Japan, the US 650s also have frame numbers starting with a 5.

B1 1977
000101-026990 Japan
500001-508015 USA

B2 1978
027501-032200 Japan
508016-515325 USA

B2A 1978
033501-044828 Japan
515326-523523 USA

B3 1979
045201-047350 Japan
523524-533520 USA

My rebuilt '76 400 was made there, too.