Z1 tail/lite fit KZA1?

swest wrote: That was the beginning or the squared look on everything, cars, trucks bikes, good thing it only lasted a decade. :blink:
Steve

I think the size and shape may have been changed for safety and possibly regulatory reasons rather than as a styling statement. The bottom of the KZ1000 light is still rounded though, perhaps they should have tried it upside down.

The trend for squaring things off on vehicles in the 80's was generally not successful and certainly makes many vehicles look more dated than most 70's ones. One that bucks the trend some, is the squarer styling of the European Z1000J and Z750's that are like the ELR's and the first model GPz's I think I actually like that look more now, than I did in the early 80's. On my Z1000J, I always found the the really square light with the dark grey finish to be rather ugly, so there was a continued theme of back lights getting less attractive between 1975 and 1981.

I saw one of these for sale the other day and had forgotten how ugly the styling was, a 1982 Suzuki GSx450. Basically the same idea as a Z1 , tank side covers, tail piece, but a disaster of squared of shapes IMO. This picture is quite flattering they look worse in the flesh

The Kaw's that have the squared look I like now. A piece of history.
Steve

sure does

Z1 tail is on and fits nicely, for comparison the KZ1000 tail in 'red' .

The KZ tail light had two reflectors on it. I assumed it was because they used shocks with no reflectors the same with the forks. They put reflectors on the frame.
Steve