What IS a Z1?

Can some of the riders/fans characterize for me what a Z1 is? What makes it different?

the 55 chevy of motorcycles! late 72-75 900 kaw .the bike that all the other factory hotrods from kawasaki were originated from,not to mention the bike that stood the rest od the bike builders on end to try and outdo !:laugh: ive always said the z1s had plenty of power for real world riding,forget the 160 plus mph factory stuff they shove out the doors there isnt enough road to open them up anyway safely!the problems the z1s had were mostly handling issues which can be easily dealt with

1972 was the launch of the Z1 but they really didn't make them to the showroom until 1973. They were powerful and technologically ahead of anything else at the time with the big inch motor and double overhead camshaft design.

To jump backwards a bit, the Honda 750 was introduced in 1969 with its single overhead cam design and it probably influenced the Kawasaki engineers in the design of the 903 cc Z1 motor. While Kawasaki was working on the Z1 they knew they needed a bike to take on the big Honda and Kawasaki brought out the 500 Triple, two stroke which was eventually enlarged to the 750 displacement. Both of these two strokers would outrun the Honda and this was what Kawasaki was hoping for but neither of these two strokers were as reliable and streetable as the Honda four stroke.

The Z1 was offered until the end of 1975 when it became the Z900 (in Europe) and the Kz 900 in North America. This motor was enlarged in 1977 as the 1000 and if I am not mistaken, the Kz900 and the 100 were both offered in 1977.

Plummen is right about the power and the handling. If I recall, in 1976 Kawasaki made the frame and the swingarm a little stronger which helped handle some of the wobbly handling issues.

If you really want to learn all about the differences in the early Z1 and Kz's then check out Z1Enterprises.com Jeff is pretty much the resident expert on these old classics.


Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

1977 Kz 650 Custom with 810 kit, WG prepped Mikuni Smoothbores

1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi Rosso Corsa Red with Tan Leather Interior

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

1999 Jeep TJ (Wrangler)

A few months ago these were going for 4X this.
www.amazon.com/Kawasaki-Z1-Ninja-All-Mod...6-1998/dp/1855790343

Due to uproar in American politics (blaming the bike for riders deaths) they toned the bike down a little as well.

Back then, you had single/double cylinder 650's such as Triumphs, Norton, BSA and the earlier versions of Japanese bikes. Then this power monster 903cc came out, riders weren't prepared for it...

Anyhoot, I believe they went from the 28mm down to 26mm carb as well. Changed some of the ergonomics, not sure about the brake systems but maybe.

OMR

Honda 750/4 came out in 69' and I have my brothers 72' Triumph 3 cylinder 4 stroke 750cc that won it's share of competitions. But you are right the Z1 brought it to another level. Ya can't overlook those fire breathing 2 strokes either! Killed more mosquitoes and twist wrist banzai happy motorcycle riders than DDT and mean old blue hairs! :woohoo:

I bought my Z1 in Nov, 72. But, being in the UP of MI, I did not take delivery until spring. The dealer had no problem with that because it was the only one he got in 72 and had one for the showroom. Great bike. It caused my wife to be to hit me up for a ride and the rest is history, 35 years ago.....chris3

I bought mine in March of 1973. Still have the little plastic "Kawasaki Kard" they gave me to note service check ups on the back. At the time the dealer said each Kawasaki franchise was allowed to have 6 models total. There was a lot of hype in the magazines of the time but one of the biggest seling points was it came with electric start. I had a 1962 Harley Sportster that was magneto ignition kick start and I only weighed 135 pounds, could hardly get the thing started.

The z stands for zapper as I have read before in articles concerning the name of the bike and how when Honda came out with the 750 it was all the rage until the z1 came unto the streets.
I remember my dad buying the honda and later complaining you couldn't go anywhere without a wrench set to tighten everything up as the vibrations seemed to have a way making things come loose. Then he got rid of that and got the Suzuki 850 rotary engine shaft drive bike and had taken it in for warranty work and they gave him the mechanics z1 to ride. 74-5? Can't exactly remember. I was just a kid but that is when I realized that this was the coolest bike on the planet. I was so scared and thrilled when he cracked that throttle open. Right then and there I knew I would ride and own one of those bikes as soon as I was able.
Nothing on the planet is like this bike to me. I think Kaw shoulda kept this one going as their streetbike as Harley did with their bikes instead of trying to copy them with those dime a dozen two cylinder bikes that everyone wants to own because they can't afford a Harley. I hope someone realizes this and brings back the bike in a way acceptable to today's standards instead of trying to copy the harveys or the plastic fantastic. If I wanted a plastic bike I would buy one and the same for a Harvey Donaldson. The zephyr was a lame half hearted attempt that looked good but engine wise?
On second thought forget that idea. They will never equal the build of that bike today ever. They should at least make oem parts for us to buy instead of that somewhat quality junk we see. I would love to buy a new tank set that hasn't been molested by hack painters.

I bought my Z1B new off the showroom floor...traded it in on a new KZ1000A1 and I'm still missing Z1B...what a colossal blunder:(

Who would have thunk that the Z1 would still be a bad ass ride 35 years later?
Funny how, at the time, I was thinking that 900 cc's was just too much for any motorcycle.

Z1 owners are in a pretty exclusive club, for sure.