391:
37:
752:
During its development, the 1973 Kawasaki Z1 was codenamed New York Steak. And it was just that: 23 percent larger than Honda's benchmark 750cc Four, it busted open the fledgling superbike ranks and would soon make its impact in racing, too. Blasphemously heavy at 542 lbs. wet, the Z1 did everything
366:
The Z1 had full instrumentation and an electric start, produced 82 bhp and had a maximum speed of 130 mph to 132 mph (210 km/h). It met with positive reviews from the motorcycle press, who praised its smoothness, damped vibration, easy starting (kick-start and electric were both
821:
By now you must've already heard the story of how the Z1--code-named 'New York Steak' for some ridiculous reason or other by
Kawasaki--was originally intended to be a 750, and of how Kawasaki brass nearly suffered a corporate coronary when Honda introduced its own 750cc four-cylinder in late 1968.
589:
While I don't have a clue what I was doing when
Kennedy was shot, I can clearly remember the first time I saw a Kawasaki Z1. In 1974, this four-cylinder, 903cc, 81bhp, 132mph projectile was the fastest, most glamorous thing on two wheels. Only a handful had been sold in Britain, and only the lucky
406:
The basic design of the Z1 remained relatively unchanged until 1975, when the 903 cc "Z1-B" was introduced, with changes including increased power output, improved suspension, and a stiffer frame. The automatic chain oiler was deleted, the styling was revised – essentially paint scheme and
511:
Journalists and riders called it the king of motorcycles, and it gained a reputation as a super sport model all over the world. The Super Four boasted high performance and quality. This best-selling motorcycle won many prizes around the world within only six months of its
452:
In 2018 Kawasaki released the Z900RS. This bike is a tribute to the original Z-1, but with such modern features as water cooling, fuel injection, a 6-speed transmission, upside-down front forks, mono-shock rear suspension, ABS brakes, and traction control.
785:
It's time to correct one of the popular myths which is becoming ever more prevalent in the motorcycling world. Thus: 'When Honda launched its 750 '4' in 1968, the biking world fell on its knees and worshipped the new
631:
The 1973 Kawazaki Z1 was the world's first superbike and its spiritual successor, the Z1000, relies on the same stripped-down looks and raw, steady power for its appeal. It's the ideal big boy's toy…
333:
motorcycles, had begun prototyping a 750 cc four-cylinder four-stroke sports motorcycle working with McFarlane Design in 1969 to develop the bike's overall appearance. When Honda introduced the
298:
The Z1 was noted for being the first large-capacity
Japanese four-cylinder motorcycle to use the double-overhead-camshaft system on a production motorcycle. When it was introduced, only the
367:
fitted), straight-line stability and linear acceleration. Steering was accurate and the bike handled well, but testers said the rear tire, chain and rear shocks all wore out quickly.
576:
753:
to excess, from its audacious 903cc DOHC four-cylinder engine to its roomy cockpit, enormous linkless chain with proprietary oil pump, and quartet of chrome-plated megaphones.
363:
set a one-lap record of 160.288 mph. Setright commented that this achievement, using a 100-bhp output engine, was reflective of the progress made in a dozen years.
337:
to the market first, Kawasaki postponed the Z1's release until its displacement could be increased to 903 cc and the motorcycle could be marketed in the 1000cc-class.
370:
The Z1 was awarded the MCN 'Machine of the Year' accolade each year from 1973 to 1976 (an award resulting from a readers' opinion-poll run by UK weekly publication
618:
424:
279:
329:
The
Kawasaki Z1 was developed under the project name "New York Steak". In the late 1960s Kawasaki, already an established manufacturer of
567:
302:
used this system; it was a very expensive limited-production machine, as opposed to the
Kawasaki which was less than half the price.
769:
703:
253:
247:
1041:
1000:
657:
467:
868:
839:
733:
415:
In 1976 the Z1 was replaced by the
Kawasaki KZ900 in the U.S. and Z900 in other markets. This was succeeded by the 1977
534:
682:
395:
377:
856:…the DNA of the 1972 Z1 is still clearly discernable in the Kawasaki's current litre-class musclebike, the Z1000.
286:
in 1968, the Z1 helped popularize the in-line, across-the-frame four-cylinder, a format that became known as the
822:
Kawasaki, cornered, had no choice but to make the Z1 even bigger and stronger and tricker than the mighty CB750.
352:
344:
359:, particularly the engine. Also at this time at Daytona a one-off Z1 ridden by Yvon Duhamel that was tuned by
1036:
1031:
288:
609:
802:
913:
977:
Original
Kawasaki Z1, Z900 and KZ900: The Restorer's Guide to All Aircooled 900cc Models 1972-1976
917:
807:
738:
179:
159:
420:
340:
Z1 production began in 1972 as the most powerful
Japanese 4-cylinder 4-stroke ever marketed.
993:
938:
79:
351:
commented that this record was only 0.36% faster than the previous figure set in 1961 at
8:
873:
539:
84:
100:
1013:
678:
653:
462:
343:
In 1972, the Z1 set the world FIM and AMA record for 24-hour endurance on the banked
330:
318:
91:
494:
434:
which had some other references to its predecessor like the model designation code
431:
371:
274:
is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, double-overhead camshaft, carbureted, chain-drive
169:
442:
416:
347:, recording 2,631 miles at an average speed of 109.64 mph. Writing in 1976,
299:
201:
149:
129:
111:
446:
360:
1025:
430:
In 1983, Kawasaki won back the crown of the fastest production bike with the
107:
20:
899:
348:
902:, 1976, pp.138-143 Weidenfeld & Nicolson London. Accessed 29 June 2019
334:
283:
390:
275:
211:
445:
series copied a lot of the design of the first naked Z1, as did the
449:
in 2003. It received updates in 2007 and a major redesign in 2010.
356:
1010:
139:
36:
189:
116:
66 mm × 66 mm (2.6 in × 2.6 in)
96:
407:
side-panel nomenclature – and the braking was improved.
264:
18 L (4.0 imp gal; 4.8 US gal)
194:
F: 11.5 in (290 mm) disk (optional 2nd disk)
846:. Independent Newspapers (Pty) Limited. 5 June 2012
652:. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 150.
317:("Super Four"), the Z1 was the first of Kawasaki's
643:
641:
639:
608:
566:
1023:
636:
501:. Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc
499:240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology
385:240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology
99:903 cm (55.1 cu in) air-cooled,
961:Wagar, Ivan. Kawasaki's 900cc New York Steak,
731:
144:54.2 lb⋅ft (73.5 N⋅m) at 8500 rpm
697:
695:
693:
16:Advanced four cylinder motorcycle from 1972
894:
892:
708:Motorcycle Classics September/October 2012
35:
763:
761:
602:
600:
598:
568:"Kawasaki Z1: remembrance of things fast"
690:
677:, Bath, UK: Parragon, pp. 214–215,
675:The Ultimate History of Fast Motorcycles
666:
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
389:
378:Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
282:. Following the introduction of Honda's
955:
889:
796:
794:
767:
734:"Then & Now: Kawasaki Z1000 vs. Z1"
727:
725:
606:
1024:
834:
832:
830:
758:
650:Motorcycle: Evolution, Design, Passion
647:
595:
489:
487:
485:
483:
911:
905:
803:"Kawasaki 903 Z1 - Bikes of the 70's"
672:
560:
558:
517:
468:List of motorcycles by type of engine
383:includes the 1972 Z1 as one of their
355:, France, by a team using a modified
124:130–132 mph (209–212 km/h)
800:
791:
722:
701:
535:"1973 Kawasaki Z1: King of the Road"
394:1974 Kawasaki Z1A on display at the
134:82 PS (81 hp) at 8500 rpm
827:
704:"Son of Z1: The 1976 Kawasaki Z900"
564:
480:
410:
13:
840:"40 years of Kawasaki's 'Z' sleds"
770:"Memorable Motorcycle Kawasaki Z1"
555:
532:
19:For the Z900 sold since 2017, see
14:
1053:
401:
396:Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
252:542 lb (246 kg) (
246:510 lb (230 kg) (
196:R: 7.9 in (200 mm) drum
931:
861:
801:Kuhn, Fran (24 February 2009).
768:Melling, Frank (27 July 2007).
732:John L. Stein (1 August 2010).
648:Walker, Mick (2 October 2006).
621:from the original on 2022-01-12
579:from the original on 2022-01-12
66:1972–1975; 85,000 units (est.)
50:Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
1042:Motorcycles introduced in 1972
607:Newland, Martin (5 May 2004).
565:Ker, Rod (29 September 2008).
438:, four cylinders and 900 ccm.
234:
224:
1:
1001:Fastest production motorcycle
473:
289:Universal Japanese Motorcycle
229:
968:Kawasaki 900 Z-1 Road Test,
912:Boehm, Mitch (May 5, 2016).
237:: 1,170 mm (46 in)
232:: 685 mm (27.0 in)
227:: 2,200 mm (87 in)
7:
914:"The Legendary Kawasaki Z1"
456:
184:F: Telescopic, R: Swing arm
10:
1058:
324:
305:Marketed variously as the
216:1,490 mm (59 in)
18:
1007:
998:
990:
985:
495:"Kawasaki 900 Super Four"
260:
242:
220:
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148:
138:
128:
120:
106:
90:
78:
70:
62:
54:
46:
34:
979:, hardcover 1 June 2011.
963:Cycle World October 1972
939:"Kawasaki official site"
869:"The Kawasaki Prototype"
811:. Source Interlink Media
742:. Source Interlink Media
58:Kawasaki 900 Super Four
970:Cycle World March 1973
876:September/October 2006
673:Brown, Roland (2006),
590:few had even seen one.
398:
278:introduced in 1972 by
206:F: 3.25-19, R: 4.00-18
710:. Motorcycle Classics
423:, and in 1984 by the
393:
1037:Standard motorcycles
1032:Kawasaki motorcycles
994:Vincent Black Shadow
956:Additional resources
874:Motorcycle Classics
540:Motorcycle Classics
421:Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R
31:
844:Independent Online
399:
174:Full duplex cradle
29:
26:Type of motorcycle
1020:
1019:
1008:Succeeded by
659:978-0-8018-8530-3
463:Kawasaki Z series
345:Daytona racetrack
268:
267:
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991:Preceded by
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533:Siegal, Margie.
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432:Kawasaki GPZ900R
411:Follow-up series
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236:
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41:1972 Kawasaki Z1
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975:David Marsden,
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443:Kawasaki Zephyr
425:Kawasaki Z1100R
417:Kawasaki Kz1000
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373:Motorcycle News
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300:MV Agusta 750 S
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774:Motorcycle USA
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610:"Retro rocket"
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419:("Z1000") and
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402:Design changes
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74:Kawasaki Z900
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898:Motorcycles,
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684:1-4054-7303-7
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615:The Telegraph
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573:The Telegraph
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542:May/June 2006
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261:Fuel capacity
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150:Ignition type
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38:
33:
22:
21:Kawasaki Z900
999:
976:
969:
962:
942:. Retrieved
933:
921:. Retrieved
918:Motorcyclist
907:
900:LJK Setright
879:. Retrieved
872:
863:
855:
848:. Retrieved
843:
820:
813:. Retrieved
808:Motorcyclist
806:
784:
777:. Retrieved
773:
751:
744:. Retrieved
739:Motorcyclist
737:
712:. Retrieved
707:
674:
668:
649:
630:
623:. Retrieved
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581:. Retrieved
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545:. Retrieved
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510:
503:. Retrieved
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384:
372:
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349:LJK Setright
342:
339:
328:
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297:
293:
287:
271:
269:
160:Transmission
47:Manufacturer
881:10 December
714:10 December
547:10 December
272:Kawasaki Z1
101:inline-four
55:Also called
30:Kawasaki Z1
1026:Categories
1005:1973–1975
944:2013-04-06
850:6 November
815:6 November
779:6 November
746:6 November
625:6 November
583:6 November
505:6 November
474:References
331:two-stroke
276:motorcycle
221:Dimensions
180:Suspension
170:Frame type
63:Production
786:arrival.'
441:The 1991
361:Yoshimura
353:Montlhéry
212:Wheelbase
121:Top speed
71:Successor
986:Records
619:Archived
577:Archived
512:release.
457:See also
357:BMW R69S
319:Z models
280:Kawasaki
85:standard
923:June 1,
325:History
164:5-speed
154:Battery
1011:Ducati
681:
656:
376:) The
315:900 S4
311:900 Z1
307:Z1-900
243:Weight
190:Brakes
140:Torque
112:stroke
92:Engine
1014:900SS
447:Z1000
436:ZX900
335:CB750
284:CB750
202:Tires
130:Power
80:Class
925:2016
883:2012
852:2013
817:2013
781:2013
748:2013
716:2012
679:ISBN
654:ISBN
627:2013
585:2013
549:2012
507:2013
294:UJM.
270:The
108:Bore
97:DOHC
387:.
313:or
292:or
254:wet
248:dry
1028::
916:.
891:^
871:.
854:.
842:.
829:^
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482:^
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321:.
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110:/
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965:.
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885:.
718:.
662:.
551:.
256:)
250:)
235:H
230:W
225:L
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
