I hit 130 on the z1 tonight

I went out riding with my friend, he has a 2007 gsxr 600. His girlfriend wanted to ride on the z1 because it was more comefortable:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :silly: :silly: . We were cruising and i decided to see what the old girl would do so i down shifted and cracked the throttle. My buddy with the gsxr was dead even with me and said we did 130. I had to slow down cause we were coming to a red light, it was good though cause his girlfriend was wrapped around me so tight lol....... I got a hoot out of it that she actually wanted to ride with me on the back instead of on the gsxr with him. She said to me that she was supprised that that old of a bike could go that fast. I said ya its ugly but it's so god dang fast. It's a sleeper.

My wife mentioned something similar to me yesterday... I was following her home, me on the bike, her in her car. We got to a straightaway, and she stuck her arm out the window and made a throttle motion and waved me past. So I accelerated full throttle past her car and went from 60-100 doing it.

We got home and she said that she just wanted to hear what it sounded like being passed by the bike full throttle, that's why she waved me by.

She also said that she's happy I didn't get a sportbike because in her words, "It doesn't sound like an angry bumblebee, and I don't look like an idiot sitting on the back of it".

+1 for the old muscle bikes.
+1 for having a wife that encourages and enjoys actively participating in motorcycling.

It's funny how sound is one of the redeeming factors of our two valve air heads.

That brought back memories....I did the same thing back in 1973 on my Z1 with my soon to be wife on the back. She is still around, after 34 years, too bad the Z1 isn't, but I have a KZ1100D that I feel would give the old Z1 a good run for the money.....chris3

I take it you guys are not talking about stock Z1's especially doing 130 two up.

Kawasaki Z1

Years produced: 1973-75
Total production: 85,000 (est.)
Claimed power: 82hp @ 8,500rpm (factory)
Top speed: 120mph (period test)
Engine type: 903cc air-cooled, in-line four-cylinder
Weight (wet): 246kg (542lb)
Price Then: $1,895
Price Now: $1,700 to $8,500
MPG: 43 (average)

Locozuna wrote:

I take it you guys are not talking about stock Z1's especially doing 130 two up.

Kawasaki Z1

Years produced: 1973-75
Total production: 85,000 (est.)
Claimed power: 82hp @ 8,500rpm (factory)
Top speed: 120mph (period test)
Engine type: 903cc air-cooled, in-line four-cylinder
Weight (wet): 246kg (542lb)
Price Then: $1,895
Price Now: $1,700 to $8,500
MPG: 43 (average)

My first thought was, "GXSR speedo must be a bit off."
My second thought was, "Even if the speedo's off some, that 30+ yr-old bike still has some juice in it".

Ya the GSXR speedo was probally a bit off but damn my old girl is still pretty fast. I figured we were doing aroun 105 to 110.........but i dunno.

I can do 100mph on my KZ650 when ever I want, I usually slow down after that because I do not want to go to jail.

Really my top speed to date is around 110mph ~ 175km/hr.

1978 B2

My KZ 1000ST ~ 190kmph - then it gets scary. 600 lb bike going that fast has to be respected.

Funny thing is, i think both bikes have some more top end left, more than I can handle.......if it was 1978 maybe i would be a little more confident.

KOOL RYDER wrote:

I can do 100mph on my KZ650 when ever I want, I usually slow down after that because I do not want to go to jail.

Really my top speed to date is around 110mph ~ 175km/hr.

1978 B2

I STRONGLY suggest you have a Police Officer ( who you are friends with ) check your speed with his radar/laser.
Not that I'm doubting your veracity, just your speedometer readings.
Back in my youth ( about the time you were born ) I used to drag race, and my Yoshi built Kawasaki's speedo never agreed with the track speed.
Then a few years ago a State Police Officer that I'm friends with, used his laser on me and my Z1.
At 60 mph on my speedo, his said 54 mph, @ 110 mph on mine, his showed 92 mph.
I just figure now-a-days I won't be getting a speeding ticket unless I REALLY deserve it:P

My bike was only a year old when I did it. I am too old to ride that fast now.....chris3

Other ways to check speedo accuracy - a cheap (Garmin eTrex) GPS, or find one of those roadside radar devices with the big readout.

FWIW, my 78 KZ650 is doing 47 when it reads 55!

I did the "ton" on my old Triumph SpeedTwin many years ago. Now I respect my lack of invincibility!:dry:

I don't ride near as fast as most of the sportbike people that buzz by me on the fwy. But I like to spool it up once in a while just to feel the wind.
I think that, if your speedo "indicates" 100, well, that's close enough!