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23-514: The 908 cc four-cylinder engine delivered 115 bhp (86 kW), allowing the bike to reach speeds of 151 mph (243 km/h), making it the first stock road bike to exceed 150 mph (240 km/h). Prior to its design, Kawasaki envisioned producing a sub-liter engine that would be the successor to the Z1 . Although its steel frame, 16-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, air suspension , and anti-dive forks were fairly standard at that time,

46-603: A format that became known as the Universal Japanese Motorcycle or UJM. 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 MV Agusta 750 S used this system; it was a very expensive limited-production machine, as opposed to the Kawasaki which was less than half

69-536: 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. 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 fitted), straight-line stability and linear acceleration. Steering

92-616: A team that averaged 113.8 km/h (70.7 mph) for 8,047 km (5,000 miles) driving an Invicta , and became the first woman to be awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club . The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927. In 1929, Hellé Nice drove an Oméga-Six to victory in the all-female Grand Prix of the third Journée Feminine at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry. The Grand Prix revisited

115-482: Is a motor racing circuit, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry , owned by Utac , located south-west of the small town of Montlhéry about 30 km (19 mi) south of Paris. Industrialist Alexandre Lamblin hired René Jamin to design the 2.548 km (1.583 mi) oval shaped track for up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) vehicles at 220 km/h (140 mph). It was initially called Autodrome Parisien , and had especially high banking. A road circuit

138-519: Is always the record holder with 7 victories despite riding alone during 24 hours : his average speed was 107 kilometres per hour (66 mph) in 1953. The year after, two riders were allowed. In 1969, a Japanese bike, Honda Four, wins for the first time. In 1970, a British one, Triumph Trident, wins for the last time. Another race open the year in France, the Côte Lapize , climbing around

161-555: The US and until 2003 in Japan. The GPZ900R was featured in the movie Top Gun , becoming a cultural icon. Kawasaki Z1 The Kawasaki Z1 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, double-overhead camshaft, carbureted, chain-drive motorcycle introduced in 1972 by Kawasaki . Following the introduction of Honda's CB750 in 1968, the Z1 helped popularize the in-line, across-the-frame four-cylinder,

184-492: 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 side-panel nomenclature – and the braking was improved. In 1976 the Z1 was replaced by the Kawasaki KZ900 in the U.S. and Z900 in other markets. This

207-400: The banked Daytona racetrack , recording 2,631 miles at an average speed of 109.64 mph. Writing in 1976, LJK Setright commented that this record was only 0.36% faster than the previous figure set in 1961 at Montlhéry , France, by a team using a modified BMW R69S , particularly the engine. Also at this time at Daytona a one-off Z1 ridden by Yvon Duhamel that was tuned by Yoshimura set

230-696: The best French and British racers. The Bol d'or , the well-known French motorcycle endurance race of 24 hours, was held in Linas-Montlhéry before the Second War from 1937 to 1939, and after the Second War in 1949, in 1950, from 1952 to 1960, in 1969 and in 1970. British motorcycles were victorious usually from 1931 to 1959, ( Velocette , Norton or Triumph ); American Harley-Davidson , French Motobécane , German BMW , Italian Moto Guzzi , Austrian Puch and Czechoslovakian Jawa won only once. A legendary French racer, Gustave Lefèvre ( Norton Manx)

253-456: The bike's overall appearance. When Honda introduced the CB750 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. Z1 production began in 1972 as the most powerful Japanese 4-cylinder 4-stroke ever marketed. In 1972, the Z1 set the world FIM and AMA record for 24-hour endurance on

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276-416: The engine as a stressed member for improved handling and reduced weight, as a result of testing that showed that the standard downtubes carried virtually no weight and could be eliminated. Its top speed gave it the title of the fastest production bike at the time, and standing quarter mile times of 10.976 seconds, or 10.55 seconds recorded by specialist rider Jay "Pee Wee" Gleason. The 1984 GPZ900R

299-573: The first naked Z1, as did the Z1000 in 2003. It received updates in 2007 and a major redesign in 2010. 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. Autodrome de Linas-Montlh%C3%A9ry Autodrome de Montlhéry (established 4 October 1924)

322-599: The hill of Saint-Eutrope : the new engines confidentially prepared during the winter months were shown. In early 1950s, Pierre Monneret riding the famous Gilera Four, 500 cc, sent by the official Italian team, was one of them. Some races were open to production motorcycles like the Coupe du Salon (morning for motorcycles, afternoon for motorcars) or the Coupes Eugène Mauve . Fatal accidents at Autodrome de Montlhéry include Benoît Nicolas Musy (1956), and

345-521: The narrow, compact engine was mounted lower in the frame, allowing it to take Japanese superbike performance to a new level. Six months after being unveiled to the press in December 1983, dealers entered three works GPZ900R bikes in the Isle of Man Production TT finishing in first and second places. Technical advances included water cooling and 16 valves, allowing additional power, and a frame that used

368-487: The price. Marketed variously as the Z1-900 , 900 Z1 or 900 S4 ("Super Four"), the Z1 was the first of Kawasaki's Z models . The Kawasaki Z1 was developed under the project name "New York Steak". In the late 1960s Kawasaki, already an established manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles, had begun prototyping a 750 cc four-cylinder four-stroke sports motorcycle working with McFarlane Design in 1969 to develop

391-437: The track each year between 1931 and 1937. The "Coupe du Salon", "Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or" and the "1000 km" were arranged irregularly since then, as the track has had several high-speed problems. The Grand Prix de France (UMF French Federation) was organized in Linas-Montlhéry in 1925, 1931, 1935 and 1937 with the best worldwide racers. A competitor Grand Prix de France (MCF Club) was also organized from 1924 to 1937 with

414-480: The war. In December 1946, it was again sold to Union technique de l’automobile et du cycle (UTAC). The last certification for racing was gained in 2001. The first race, the 1925 French Grand Prix , was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by the Automobile Club de France . Robert Benoist in a Delage won; but Antonio Ascari died in a crash of his Alfa Romeo P2 . In July 1926 Violette Cordery lead

437-635: Was accurate and the bike handled well, but testers said the rear tire, chain and rear shocks all wore out quickly. 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 Motorcycle News ) The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (in Japanese) includes the 1972 Z1 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology . The basic design of

460-417: Was added in 1925. The first race there, the 1925 French Grand Prix , was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by The Automobile Club de France. It was a race in which Robert Benoist in a Delage won; Antonio Ascari died in an Alfa Romeo P2 . The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927 and each year between 1931 and 1937. In 1939 the track was sold to the government, which deprived it of maintenance during

483-534: Was succeeded by the 1977 Kawasaki Kz1000 ("Z1000") and Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R , and in 1984 by the Kawasaki Z1100R . In 1983, Kawasaki won back the crown of the fastest production bike with the Kawasaki GPZ900R which had some other references to its predecessor like the model designation code ZX900 , four cylinders and 900 ccm. The 1991 Kawasaki Zephyr series copied a lot of the design of

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506-586: Was the first Kawasaki bike to be officially marketed (in North America) under the Ninja brand name. In spite of its performance, the GPZ900R was smooth and rideable in urban traffic, owing to the new suspension and a crankshaft counter-balancer that nearly eliminated secondary vibration. The fairing's aerodynamics combined with good overall ergonomics enabled comfortable long-distance riding. The GPZ1000RX

529-661: Was to be the replacement for the GPZ900R in 1986, but the Ninja 900 continued alongside the GPZ 1000RX. In 1988 the GPZ 1000RX was replaced by the ZX-10 , yet still the GPZ900R remained. With the release of the ZZ-R1100 in 1990, the GPZ900R lost its status as Kawasaki's flagship model, but continued, with some revisions of the fork, wheels, brakes and airbox, until 1993 in Europe, until 1986 in

#992007