z1r history and information

Hey, i have a few questions about the z1r, how many were produced each year? I see they went to a mk2 style crank, and 28mm carbs, any other engine diferences? A friend and member on here just snagged one off ebay cheap. Its a 1980, im just kinda curious how rare they are and what they can bring in for $$$ when restored. The bike he bought is 99% complete, alot to work with

In the US only the 78 and 80 were available, The 79 was only available in Germany and only 300 were produced. The 79 and 80 were MK2 engines with a larger gas tank and a 19" front wheel.=, and 4-2 exhaust. The 78 had a much more slender tank profile and was about a gallon smaller. The front wheel was 18" and the discs were symmetrically drilled. As far as I know there was no other Kawasaki that had the same drilled disc pattern. Also the 78 had a 4-1 exhaust and 28mm Mikunis. The 7 extra HP it had over the 1000A were achieved with the larger carburetors and a different ignition timing. The other changes in the engine were purely cosmetic. I also believe that it was the first Kawasaki with a Semi-sealed beam headlight instead of the common sealed beam. It was also the first Kawasaki with an electric fuel gauge. There are quite a few more 1980s than there are 1978s. A 1978 in a perfect original condition can fetch a very good buck. Once any changes have been made the value drops very rapidly. The 1980 is usually not quite as valuable as the 78 even though the MK2 engine is much more sought after.

For the numbers produced (based on frame VIN's) see zedder.com/msg1.htm by year.

According to those numbers there were 17,000 1978s and only 3,000 1980s For some reason the 17K looks fishy. The 300 for the 1979 German model looks right. There wer only 7000 KZ1000As made in 1978. But I did find this link that states that there wer only 500 units made in 1978.

www.autoevolution.com/moto/kawasaki-z1r-1977.html

According to zedder there was around 17000 78s made and only 3000 or so 80s. This coincides with what I've seen over the years, lots of 78s, few 80s. I liked the 80 model more because of the bigger tank and dual exhaust ect. I kick myself for missing buying 2 80s over the years when opportunity was there. There were around 500 of the 78s sent to ATP for turbos, so for sure there was a lot more than that made. Also if you add up the KZ1000A2 and A2A they total 21000 give or take. Was there really 80% as many 78 Z1R made as KZ1000A? I've seen gobs of 78 Z1Rs over the years, but not that many. If I had to wager a guess which may be way off, I'd say in 1978 KZ1000 production for the USA would be
48% LTD
35% A
17% Z1R

Those # do not jive with the 3s in the link i provided. I don't think Kawasaki produced 17,000 of any bike those days. There were only 6000 KZ1300s made in 79 and less than 8000 KZ1000Js made in 81. I am willing to believe the production run of 500 for 78. There were only 500 of the KZ1000G "Classic" made in 1980

www.autoevolution.com/moto/kawasaki-z1r-1977.html

I was watching that bike on ebay. Good price, I would have picked it up in a heartbeat if it was a little closer.

Definitely worth the buy it now, especially when you consider that there was just an inner fairing that sold on ebay for over $450, and side rails that sold for about $150 each!

I'm with you on the 17000 number being high, but for sure they sent 500 or so 78 Z1R to ATP out in CA to make the Z1R-TC and the 500 was just a small portion of Z1R production for 78. I know there were and still are lots of them out there. Z1R in 1978 was not what Kawasaki had hoped for in sales, that's why they got rid of 500 by ruining them with a turbo, and doubly ruining them by repainting them in Z1R-TC garb Dealers around here were selling new 78s for around $2500 later on after they weren't jumping off the sales floor. I would have bought one at that time, but didn't like the color scheme.

Everything that I found on the web states the 500 PC limited run. I doubt VERY VERY much that ATP got 500 of them. 100 Maybe. I know when I worked at the dealer in Honolulu at that time, he sold only 2 Z1Rs for 78 I also know that the one here in Burr Ridge sold only one. In Honolulu I bought one out of the two and here in Burr Ridge I bought the Only one. at that time there were only three Kawasaki dealers in the Chicago metro area, and South West Kawasaki was the second largest.

otakar wrote:

There were only 500 of the KZ1000G "Classic" made in 1980

There were actually about 3200 G models produced...see zedder.com...some of the problems with tracking the G model is that they were assembled in Nebraska.

Mcdroid wrote:

otakar wrote:

There were only 500 of the KZ1000G "Classic" made in 1980

There were actually about 3200 G models produced...see zedder.com...some of the problems with tracking the G model is that they were assembled in Nebraska.

3200 sounds right for the 1000G. As to the Z1R, I've got Micky Hess book "Z1 Kawasaki" here in my hand and of course if it's in the book it can be taken as gospel :laugh: According to the book Z1R production in 1978 was "less than 17500", KZ1000A production in 1978 "less than 23000", KZ1000B production in 1978 "7500". Z1R-TC numbers: 220 sold as 1978 model with original Z1R bodywork, 280 titled as 1979 models with the black repaint.
I don't mean to argue the point, but how many Z1Rs have we all seen? They were all over the place, not rare.

Thanks alot for the help. $1350 for the whole bike was a steal in my mind. Almost all complete, stock exhaust, stock everything.