z1r history and information

To continue talking about serial numbers... I was thinking about my earlier claim that I had never seen a bike with a serial number above 10,000. I have data for Ebay sales of Z1Rs back to 2008. I went back and looked through it and there are a few high number frames, but very few are above 10,000.

The seller listed the frame number in the Ebay action for 137 1978 D1 models, and 25 D3 models. Here is the graph:



There is not a lot of data here, but it does cover a lot of years of watching Ebay. But if you take it as representative, it looks like Kawasaki stopped shipping bikes to North American after about frame number 8500, and then shipped a few more at the end of production starting around 14,500.

Oh, and there are a lot more 78s than there are 1980s.

Just to add another data point - my Australian '78 has chassis no 9004 ,swingarm is stamped 1277 (ie made in Dec 1977)

I have a question about a 78 Z1R I just picked up. I am doing a complete frame off and noticed there are no rear foot peg arms and no center stand brackets. I thought someone had cut them off but on closer inspection, it does not look like this frame has ever been modified. is this possible? KZT00D002230 vin

scarabexc wrote: I have a question about a 78 Z1R I just picked up. I am doing a complete frame off and noticed there are no rear foot peg arms and no center stand brackets. I thought someone had cut them off but on closer inspection, it does not look like this frame has ever been modified. is this possible? KZT00D002230 vin

Someone must have done a good job of shaving them if they left no trace. The rear pegs are mounted to a small-tube triangle on each side. The center stand mounts to four tabs that protrude from the cross tube under the swingarm.

There are also downward facing screw bosses to the left and right of the center stand mounts. These were mounting points for the stock exhaust collector box.

Here are some pictures:

Hi All.
I have 5 Z1R's.
2 x D1 both in the 15000 range.
1 x D2 in the 17500 range
2 x D3 1 in the 18000 range and 1 in the 20000 range.

My understanding is that there were 17000 + D1's made. Around 300 D2's and around 3000 D3's.
The D2 was mainly sold to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The D2 in Luminous Dark Red is the Rarest Factory Bike.
The Z1R S in Germany was a Kawasaki dealer Upgrade.
The Z1R TC was also a Kawasaki USA upgrade.

The Greatest Bike Built.
Cheers KRAZA. Australia............

tufftimes wrote: I have 5 Z1R's... 1 x D2 in the 17500 range...

You actually own a D2?!?! :woohoo:

Please post some pictures of this bike!

tufftimes wrote: I have 5 Z1R's... 1 x D2 in the 17500 range...

I suddenly have many questions about the D2. There were a lot of details that changed between the D1 and D3. Is the D2 a combination of features?

Engine: Does it have the Mk2 engine?
Front wheel: 18" or 19"
Brake rotors: Drilled larger diameter like D1, or less drilled and smaller dia. like D3?
Exhaust: 4-to-1 or 4-to-2?
Seat cover: D1, D3, or unique?
Wiring harness: Like D1 with connector block under left side cover, or without like D3?
It had the smaller gas tank like the D1, right?
Which side cover badges?

Hi.
Great to see that you have several Z1R's.
Yes the D2 has the Mk2 Engine.
The front wheel is 19".
Brake Rotors are the same as the D3.
Exhaust is the same as the D3.
Seat cover the same as the D3.
From what I can tell it is pretty much the same as the D3.
It has the electronic ignition like the D3.
The reason the D2 was not released in USA is that it did not comply with the new emission laws.
All the D2's and D3's in Australia do not have the clean air systems fitted to them as do the US D3's.
I looked for a long time to find a D2 in Unmolested condition.
The one I have is a very low number D2, in the first 10 made.
I have the History of the 3 previous owners.
What is unique about it is that the Frame numbers (digits) are the same as the Chassis number.
Which would confirm it being one of the first built.
Unfortunately it is in Black and not the more desirable Red.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
I ride all of my Z1R's they are not museum pieces. But I always replace parts with OEM as much as possible.
Cheers .

dohc wrote:

tufftimes wrote: I have 5 Z1R's... 1 x D2 in the 17500 range...

I suddenly have many questions about the D2. There were a lot of details that changed between the D1 and D3. Is the D2 a combination of features?

Engine: Does it have the Mk2 engine?
Front wheel: 18" or 19"
Brake rotors: Drilled larger diameter like D1, or less drilled and smaller dia. like D3?
Exhaust: 4-to-1 or 4-to-2?
Seat cover: D1, D3, or unique?
Wiring harness: Like D1 with connector block under left side cover, or without like D3?
It had the smaller gas tank like the D1, right?
Which side cover badges?

dohc wrote:

tufftimes wrote: I have 5 Z1R's... 1 x D2 in the 17500 range...

I suddenly have many questions about the D2. There were a lot of details that changed between the D1 and D3. Is the D2 a combination of features?

Engine: Does it have the Mk2 engine?
Front wheel: 18" or 19"
Brake rotors: Drilled larger diameter like D1, or less drilled and smaller dia. like D3?
Exhaust: 4-to-1 or 4-to-2?
Seat cover: D1, D3, or unique?
Wiring harness: Like D1 with connector block under left side cover, or without like D3?
It had the smaller gas tank like the D1, right?
Which side cover badges?

Hi All.
I was just chasing some brake parts for a D3 I am repairing and noticed that the D3 has a different rear master cylinder to the D2 and D1. The D1 and D2 share the same rear master cylinder. I have a D2 parts catalog and it definitely shows a different rear master cylinder to those fitted to my 2 D3's. So really this is the only difference I have seen between the D2 and D3 Z1R's.
Cheers Kraza.

...They say you shouldn't wake a sleeping dog, but!

...I just picked up a 1980 Z1R and was reading up on the Z1R numbers game. I was wondering if anyone had any updated info on the number of 1980 Z1R's produced?

...Also, what's with the side covers? Some with MKII added and some without. Is there a difference? If so, what?

holy crap what an original looking z1r.
awesome score.

doing the math on the frame numbers that are recorded on
zedder.com shows production for 1980 z1r's to be 3308 .

compared to 17291
1978 z1r's.

leon

Did not know their was a factory Red z1r. I got an extra set of body work along with my z1r and was going to paint it red to match my SS Camaro.
Pic anyone