1979 Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R

Frame no. KZT00D015614 Engine no. KZT00DE015624

The first major revision of Kawasaki's trend-setting Z1/Z900 arrived in 1977 in the form of the Z1000, which, as its name suggests, was a bored-out version of the original double-overhead-cam four. Power went up - marginally - to 83bhp, while there was more torque delivered further down the rev range than before. Testing the new Z1000 in February 1977, Bike magazine had to contend with a wet track but nevertheless recorded a 12.76-second standing quarter-mile time, despite an enforced half-throttle take-off, and a staggering terminal velocity of 117mph with rider normally seated! A much-revised frame meant that the Z1000 had lost some of its predecessors' wayward handling while remaining every bit as refined. Introduced soon afterwards and intended to appeal to European tastes, the more expensive Z1-R version featured a cockpit fairing, lower 'bars and a coffin-shaped fuel tank, while the more obvious mechanical changes amounted to cast wheels, drilled brake discs and callipers mounted behind the fork legs. The chassis was mildly revised (again) and power went up to 90bhp, which was good enough for a top speed of 133mph. We are advised that this un-restored Z1-R was in generally very good, running condition when last used 2 years ago, since when it has been on display as part of a private collection. The machine is offered with Italian export document copy. After-market silencers are the only notified deviation from factory specification.