When it comes to high-performance vehicles with timeless appeal, the Kawasaki Z1R and Porsche 911 are legends. Though they represent different types of machinery, both have captivated enthusiasts worldwide and influenced generations of design and engineering.
In the early 1980s, Kawasaki's Z1000 reigned supreme with its "bulletproof" engine and heritage rooted in the iconic 1972 Z1. But when suzuki launched the GS1000—a bike with modern styling, better brakes, and smoother handling—Kawasaki knew it had to step up.
Kawasaki's answer was the bold and radical Z1R. Designed at the request of Kawasaki USA, it became the world's first production motorcycle with a standard bikini cowl. The goal? "All the performance of a Z1, but with modern styling." To achieve this, Kawasaki brought back the Z1's 28mm carburettors and introduced a streamlined 4-into-1 exhaust, boosting the bike to a claimed 90 horsepower.
In terms of aesthetics, the Z1R was way ahead of its time. Its unique "coffin" fuel tank, holding just under 100 miles (160 km) worth of fuel, paired seamlessly with angular side panels and a distinctive boxy tail, giving it a futuristic edge.
Sadly, it was simply too radical and initial sales were poor. Kawasaki adopted a larger fuel tank and even allowed a limited-edition Turbo version to be sold but the market was simply not ready. After a few short years the Z1R disappeared and was forgotten, until now.
Today, the Z1R is at the height of its popularity and prices reflect this. But - there is good news - many parts are common to various litre class Kawasaki machines of the period and CMSNL holds impressive stocks of genuine parts, ready for worldwide delivery. og on today and bring your Z1R out of the shadows!
source: https://www.cmsnl.com/kawas...
issued: Monday, October 28, 2024
updated: Monday, October 28, 2024
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