I see Honda is making a retro CB1100 is Z1 coming?

I see the new retro CB1100 is out and I saw one at the dealer yesterday. Suzuki has a retro bike as well. Is Kawasaki going to re-produce a modern Z1?

Kawasaki had them for years in Japan. They didn't sell many here, so they pulled them. Maybe just get rid of the stupid Zephyr name... for something more catchy like 23-skidoo or Bees-Knees or Atomic Fireball Express.

bikesevolution.com/Kawasaki/Zephyr-1100,...8/gallery.html?pic=3

kz did a retro. it was a twin. w650 I believe.

I was talking to a salesman (KAW guy)from the local
Honda, Kaw, Yam. Suz.
dealer a few week's ago about the new CB and he said he
has not heard a thing about Kaw. doing a retro KZ.

But then again Kaw. was a few year's behind Honda then KICKED their a$$ in 73.

It didn't sell very well. Maybe the new z800 will sell well even though it's not retro though.

Matteson wrote: It didn't sell very well. Maybe the new z800 will sell well even though it's not retro though.

Doubt it. That bike needs a v/l twin to be competitive imo, the naked bike has nothing to offer over the sport bike other than riding position, that's why it needs to at least sound better than the sportbikes thus the need of the twin motor to be successful. The monster owns the naked scene for that reason. Also 800 is too big for a lot of girls where the suzuki 650 version gets good sales from.

Russ Jackson wrote: Is Kawasaki going to re-produce a modern Z1?

No. That's why every original that gets customized is making the rest all that much more valuable.

Ya for the money you could get way more bike with the z1000. Same position more bike. I like both of them and wouldn't mind having either one for long rides. but like I said, the 1000 is where it's at. I don't like the riding position of the new Ninja or any sport bike for that matter.

Matteson wrote: It didn't sell very well. Maybe the new z800 will sell well even though it's not retro though.

You mean the W-800? That's not imported to the US I thought. And is far from a vintage sportbike IMO. Could me modded tho.

I'm not a fan of the new sportbike styling. I like the early-mid 2000 bikes, the new stiff is too pointy. If you get my drift.

loudhvx wrote: Kawasaki had them for years in Japan. They didn't sell many here, so they pulled them. Maybe just get rid of the stupid Zephyr name... for something more catchy like 23-skidoo or Bees-Knees or Atomic Fireball Express.

bikesevolution.com/Kawasaki/Zephyr-1100,...8/gallery.html?pic=3

I agree. I think the name killed the model off more than anything else. Mercury made a Zephyr...remember those boats :laugh:

I looked at the new Honda on Saturday. That and the new Gold Wing model they came out with.

Kidkawie wrote:

Matteson wrote: It didn't sell very well. Maybe the new z800 will sell well even though it's not retro though.

You mean the W-800? That's not imported to the US I thought. And is far from a vintage sportbike IMO. Could me modded tho.

No, the W-650 which was brought here circa 2000 or so was enough of a poor seller that I think Kaw is completely gun shy to bring anything over that resembles retro. I've noted in the past that the W-650 didn't recall anything of Kawasaki that was notable in the USA. A retro modeled after the Z1? Yes. the W? Not so much.

Kaw could have beaten H to the punch with a 40th anniversary retro model that recalled the Z1. However, I think the company remains committed to the tried and true and will not stick its neck out too far.

This is not a "Retro" CB1100. To imitate the CB750 with this 1100, is a stretch for a 40th Anniversary bike. It should be a "Retro" CB750.

And before you say it would have evolved into this.... Keep in mind the CB1100F was here and gone by 1983.

Below is a a real CB1100.







.