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I'm in Western New York, near Niagara Falls. 20 minutes away from Paul Gast's Shop FBG.
There was a pretty famous know drag strip called "NIAGARA INTERNATIONAL DRAGSTRIP" Ran from 1961 - 1974. plenty of history and info on web. Ran buy a nice guy, still alive named Dean Johnson. I was only there 3 or 4 times as a teenager.
It held east coast national events. Had all the big name stars of the day. Quite a FB following.
OK, this is where I'm going! Check out this brand new 1974 Z1A running. Track closed same yr. as this Z1A. Those bikes were like $1,995 new. which equates to about $11,000 in todays value! A lot of money back then.
I posted the Paul Gast picture on old drag bikes on FB Paul on a small 450? Honda.
And the Guy ?? on the new Kaw has Malpe Leafs on his helmet sayin' he was from Canada. Right across the border to Niagara.
There is another pic floating around with 2 Ladies standing next to this same Z1A, I'll look for.
I can just think what all the other older guys, on Triumphs and Harleys and Norton's. The small 2 strokers. Guys ran anything in the day! When this new showroom bike was most likely cranking out 11.80's - 12.00 second ET's all day long Like nothing to it!!!
Here Ya' go picture proof! They had a big reunion in 1996. I still have a T shirt!

Something im building now kz650 drag bike it has some potential running Turbo's. Independent oil cooling system has zx6 rear suspension and kx 500 front and alot more if your interested in how it turns out ill let ya know

z1kzonly wrote: When this new showroom bike was most likely cranking out 11.80's - 12.00 second ET's all day long

I recall a stock Z1 1/4 mile time was more in the mid 12's ?

A long time and many pounds ago, I ran my '81 GPz550 at a dragstrip - managed a 13.9 @94mph.

IIRC that's about a second off of what it would run new. Of course I'm a rank amateur and she's geared pretty short so I spent a fair amount of time shifting.

cb900f wrote:

z1kzonly wrote: When this new showroom bike was most likely cranking out 11.80's - 12.00 second ET's all day long

I recall a stock Z1 1/4 mile time was more in the mid 12's ?

More in line with my memory and glancing through period magazine tests, 12.20s was about as quick as I saw. (but what's a couple tenths among friends) The point was it was pretty much earth shattering performance for a stock machine compared to what was out there. So many variables in running a fast E.T. with a stock machine. I'd be willing to bet that Pee Wee Gleason (110 lbs.?) on a properly prepared and tuned bike, at sea level and maybe with a little tailwind could have broken into the elevens!

Mike

Yes Jay "Pee Wee" was the hired driver for Cook Neilson An Old Fuel Harley Drag Racer. Cook was Editor of CYCLE World magazine.
and all the new test bikes were tested at a drag strip.
I was just thinking myself, I always put a 14 th front sprocket, Always had a Kerker, And we all put Hog 16" wheels on. I used to run old 16" AVON classic tires the Harley Guys gave me. They always seemed to be squared off flat. And with 10 pounds of air, they hooked on the stock bike. I always ran high 11's with that 1st bike I ran. 79-80. Sure was fun! Drove the bike to the track, took the mirrors off, we had to tape the headlight a few times with black electric tape. That was our safety!

OK! Don't have to be a drag racer to enjoy this video!!

Z1 - KZ Nice history story! Jack from cycle drag has a KZ1000, he grew up with his Dad running a Z1 dragbike.

Well that 57 minutes went fast! Three very cool guys and a very well done video, thanks very much for putting it up. I'm going to have to check out CycleDrag.com.

Mike