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50th Anniversary Heads Up 13 Feb 2023 20:01 #880166

  • krazee1
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Hard to believe I'm this damn old, but I believe during the Summer of 2024 there will be some sort of event to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Kawasaki Plant's opening in Lincoln NE. I'm planning on volunteering to help with the event, and will let you know if there will be enough cool old history stuff for a Motorcycle Guy to plan to attend. Unfortunately motorcycles are no longer built in Lincoln, the last 2 wheeler rolled off the line in 2005. I hated it at the time, being the Production Motorcycle Mechanic I was out of a job. But this led to a really cool job being a mechanic/half assed fabricator in the R&D Dept. until my retirement in 2018. There are a few nice examples of bikes built at the Plant in the Product Display Area, but to my current knowledge no KZ 900A or B. There is a beautiful 1984 Ninja, I think it is possibly the bike that was the 500,000th vehicle built in the Plant. Also a representation of the first motorcycle off the line in January 1975, a blue KZ400 with black and gold stripes.
If someone wanted to make the trip, Speedway Motors also has a World Class Museum in Lincoln.  

I will let you know more, as I learn more!    Mike
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
The following user(s) said Thank You: slmjim+Z1BEBE, Nessism, taildragger1197, martin_csr, riturbo, Street Fighter LTD, Mikaw, Dragbike_Mike and 2 other people also said thanks.

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 15 Feb 2023 07:06 #880218

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Thanks.  Since you mentioned it: I think this KZ400 was on EB quite a while ago. not sure what year it is but guessing around '75.

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 15 Feb 2023 08:05 #880220

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Yup!  looks like a 75 model to me.  We also made a red "standard" model with the black/gold stripes. IIRC, it was kick-start only, drum brake on the front and no tach, speedometer only. 

Mike
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 15 Feb 2023 16:09 #880227

  • Nebr_Rex
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I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.


.
2002 ZRX1200R
81 GPz1100
79 KZ1000st daily ride
79 KZ1000mk2 prodject
78 KZ650sr
78 KZ650b
81 KZ750e
80 KZ750ltd
77 KZ400/440 cafe project
76 KZ400/440 Fuel Injected

www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0


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50th Anniversary Heads Up 15 Feb 2023 16:57 #880229

  • Wheelhop
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Sounds like a great event, please keep us posted on dates as I am only a few "states" over from you!
1978 KZ 1000B (73 tribute)
1977 KZ1000 project
1976 KZ 900
1976 KV 75
1976 Honda Elsinore MT250
1974 Z1 900 project
1971 Honda CT70

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 15 Feb 2023 19:06 #880232

  • krazee1
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I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 16 Feb 2023 08:42 #880256

  • slmjim+Z1BEBE
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We'd be up for that!

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
A biker looks at your engine and chrome.
A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.

1972 Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A

www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
An enthusiast's forum focused exclusively
on all things Z1, Z2 and KZ900.

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 16 Feb 2023 16:32 #880292

  • Nebr_Rex
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I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.


.
 
2002 ZRX1200R
81 GPz1100
79 KZ1000st daily ride
79 KZ1000mk2 prodject
78 KZ650sr
78 KZ650b
81 KZ750e
80 KZ750ltd
77 KZ400/440 cafe project
76 KZ400/440 Fuel Injected

www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0


.

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 17 Feb 2023 17:39 #880360

  • krazee1
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I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.

Gordon M.?

Mike
.

 
Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)

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50th Anniversary Heads Up 22 Feb 2023 18:44 #880653

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I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.

Gordon M.?

Mike
.

Gordon F.
2002 ZRX1200R
81 GPz1100
79 KZ1000st daily ride
79 KZ1000mk2 prodject
78 KZ650sr
78 KZ650b
81 KZ750e
80 KZ750ltd
77 KZ400/440 cafe project
76 KZ400/440 Fuel Injected

www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0


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