Model Numbers or Acronyms? KZ Z SR LTD CSR

I recently bought a 1982 KZ650 CSR and love the bike. I am curious if the various letters used in Kawasaki model numbers are simply model numbers, or if they are acronyms that mean something. I can imagine the CSR standing for Cruising Street Racer.

Can anyone please enlighten me on this? If you know, then what about Z, SR, LTD & CSR? Thanks.

Post edited by: WABBMW, at: 2007/06/15 12:49

Ok Z is just a pretty good letter for Zippy in my own thoughts but not officially. CSR is for cruiser, LTD is limited and most argumentative is SR which I say stands for Sportster but others here say stateside replica.

Welcome.
C model 650s are the Customs.
Other letters designations are just models that started with As, then Bs etc.

While SR was used exclusively to the 650 D, the Ltd series began with the KZ900 then with the KZ1000 and was expanded in 1980 to several models. The CSR designation came along in 1981 (if memory serves), and was regarded as a lower cost version of an Ltd, most notably with wire spoke wheels.

Probably the best way to observe the history is to view as many period ads as possible. Sometimes magazine reviews of a given model will give some clues about the factory's marketing strategy of the time. You can get a lot of this information at Motorcycel Reports (disclaimer, I've not done business with these folks, I just know they exist).