The Kawasaki Kz1000 or Z1000 is a motorcycle made in Japan by Kawasaki , manufacturing commenced in September 1976 for the 1977 model year. The Z1000A1 was an upgraded model to replace the 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 (Z900), which in turn replaced the Z1 launched in 1972 in the Z series . It has an inline-four cylinder engine and a 5-speed transmission, in a 'one down and four up' configuration. Producing about 90 hp, it was one of the fastest production motorcycles of the era. The police model continued in production until 2005.
38-548: Some of the significant differences between the KZ900 and the KZ1000 include that the 1000 has a heavier crankshaft for less engine vibration, smoother acceleration and a larger displacement as a result of increasing the cylinder bore from 66mm to 70mm. The 1000 received a rear disc brake. There were various configurations of specifications and assembly, such as having the choice between chain-drive and shaft-drive. The cruiser version LTD
76-413: A bike to be eligible, the manufacturer must first homologate the model and manufacture the required number of roadgoing machines. While rules vary from series to series, in general the motorcycles must maintain the same profile as their roadgoing counterparts, with the same overall appearance as seen from the front, rear and sides. In addition, the frame cannot be modified. Teams may modify some elements of
114-409: 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 was accurate and the bike handled well, but testers said the rear tire, chain and rear shocks all wore out quickly. The Z1
152-575: A metallic stardust silver paint. Although the design was well received from the potential buyers, sales remained unsatisfactory after tests in motorcycle magazines. They criticized the poor engine performance and the small fuel tank. Readers of the German Motorrad magazine selected the Z1-R as their Motorcycle of the Year for 1977. The Z1-R was introduced for the 1978 model year, the same year as
190-411: Is a Japanese motorcycle from Kawasaki Heavy Industries . Styling characteristics are the front fairing, black engine finish, the 4-into-1 factory exhaust system and cast wheels. Following the success of the original Z1000, Kawasaki developed the "Z1-R" as a new top model that would set standards in design and performance. This emphasized motorcycle with a fixed half-shell fairing was only available with
228-558: 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, 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
266-1029: Is held annually on the last weekend in November, in Edo State, Nigeria. It is the premier motorcycling sports event in Nigeria and West Africa with participants and spectators from all over the World. Modelled after the Isle of Man TT races, The Bikers Trophy (The BT) races take place in a time trial format over a 32 km street circuits which traverse the 8 communities of Urhonigbe, Urohmehe, Umughun, Ogba, Evbonogbon, Ugo, Ekpokor, and Ugbokirima in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State. The 2014 event saw podium places go to Jack Affara (Champion), Armstrong Ngugu (2nd Position) and Ikhide Izokpu (3rd Position). Other countries with road races are
304-619: Is somewhat similar to the distinction in car racing between sports cars and Formula One cars, though the performance gap between Superbike and MotoGP racing is much smaller. The world's first 'Superbike' was built by brothers Ross and Ralph Hannan in the mid/late 1970s. First ridden successfully in Australia and overseas, including the Suzuka 8 hour and the Bol d'Or 24-hour endurance races, by Graeme Crosby who went on to international success and
342-524: Is the leading motorcycle racing championship in the United Kingdom. It is managed and organised by MCRCB-Events. The commercial and television rights have been delegated to MotorSport Vision. Ducati , Kawasaki , Suzuki and Yamaha all have well supported teams, while Honda has the only HRC supported superbike team outside Japan. Japanese rider Ryuichi Kiyonari won the 2006, 2007 and 2010 titles riding for HM Plant Honda. Beginning in 2015
380-570: Is the official world championship series, though national Superbike championships are held in many countries, including the United Kingdom , the United States , Japan , Australia and Canada . Superbike racing is generally popular with manufacturers, since it helps promote and sell their product, as captured by the slogan "Win on Sunday; Sell on Monday". Superbike racing motorcycles are derived from standard production models, so for
418-713: Is to reinvigorate motorcycle road racing in North America and ultimately send its riders to the top-level international championships - MotoGP and World Superbike . The AMA Superbike was the premier superbike racing series in the United States . It was part of the AMA Pro Racing series, and was managed by the AMA until 2009 when the AMA sold the series to the Daytona MotorSports Group. The series
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#1732797504217456-623: 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 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
494-655: The Yamaha XS11 , the Suzuki GS1000 , and the Honda CBX . Magazine tests showed all three competing bikes to be quicker in the [|quarter mile] performance test. In response, the company quickly introduced the semi-production, turbocharged Z1R-TC. The KZ1000C and KZ1000P were police sub-models. The KZ1000C was based on the 1977-1980 KZ1000 (KZ1000 C1-C4 from 1978-1981) while the KZ1000P (KZ1000P1-P24 from 1982-2005)
532-585: The 1982-2005 KZ1000P Police motorcycle, the model was discontinued in 1984, in favor of Kawasaki's liquid-cooled bike, the Ninja GPZ900R . The Kz1000P (police) has 18 inch cast wheels with Dunlop run-flat tires . The front tire is size MN90-18, and the back tire is size MR90-18. The KZ1000 had optional dealer installed Windjammer brand fairing, saddle bags, sissy bar and highway bars. Highway bars were also used for comfort on long trips and sometimes held additional lighting. The Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R
570-572: The 2006 and 2008 titles riding for Xerox Ducati and James Toseland , from the UK, was the winner of the 2007 championship riding for Hannspree Ten Kate Honda . National Superbike series vary greatly in challenge and popularity, the most popular being in Britain and North America. Both Japan and Australia have well supported national superbikes series, though they only run for short, 10-race seasons. The British Superbike championship (known to most as "BSB")
608-583: The 2007 championship riding a Yoshimura Suzuki . The Australian Superbike Championship, the premier national Superbike series, is run by Motorcycling Australia . The series runs from February to December and consists of seven rounds per season. Many notable riders have been successful on the world stage, such as Troy Corser , Steve Martin , Rob Phillis , Peter Goddard , Josh Brookes , Troy Bayliss , Anthony Gobert , Matthew Mladin , Aaron Slight , Bryan Staring , Josh Waters , and Mike Jones . The Nigeria Superbike Road Race , The Bikers Trophy (The BT)
646-535: 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 was succeeded by the 1977 Kawasaki Kz1000 ("Z1000") and Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R , and in 1984 by
684-607: The Australian Superbike championships in the late 1970s by New Zealander Graeme Crosby . John Cowie riding a Z1000 for the Pecket & McNab team, won the 1978 British ACU Formula One championship for production bikes. Freddie Spencer rode a KZ1000 during the 1979 AMA Superbike Championship, winning two races and finishing third in the final championship points standings. Wayne Gardner and co-rider John Pace qualified their Moriwaki-Kawasaki Z1000 on pole position at
722-489: The KZ1000 was a conventional featherbed (duplex cradle) design, but was not significantly changed in over 30 years of production in terms of basic geometry. There were changes to frame construction with the use of thicker frame tubes in the MkII models (1979/80) to improve frame rigidity. The 1980 Kawasaki Z1000H was the first mass-produced fuel-injected motorcycle in the world and also Kawasaki's first fuel injected motorcycle. It
760-615: The KZ1000R1 Eddie Lawson Replica (ELR); based on the KZ1000J2. The 1983 model was designated KZ1000R2 with cams and a cylinder head from the 1982 GPz1100B2, boosted power from 102 to 104 at 8500 rpm. The bike had a limited run of 750, and was named after the Eddie Lawson 1981-1982 Superbike. It had a claimed 59 kW (79 hp) rear wheel HP @ 8,500rpm and 246.5 kg (543.5 lb) dry . Aside from
798-515: The LTD frame and body work, also featured the same fuel injection system used on the Z1000H. The 1981 Kawasaki Z1000J debuted with Kawasaki's new "J" motor with displacement down to 998 cc (60.9 cu in) the drop in displacement from 1015cc to 998cc was in order to comply with the new rule for superbike racing-which stipulated a maximum of 1000cc.. For the 1982 model year, Kawasaki introduced
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#1732797504217836-573: The US National Superbike championship moved to a new organization, MotoAmerica, after several years of decline. The new championship is known as the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, and incorporates classes similar to those operating at world championship level, and other national series, i.e. Superbike, Supersport, Superstock 1000, Superstock and KTM Junior cup. . The aim of the new championship
874-524: 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. Superbike racing Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle racing that employs highly modified production motorcycles, as opposed to MotoGP in which purpose-built motorcycles are used. The Superbike World Championship
912-462: The bike, including the suspensions, brakes, swingarm, and the diameter and size of the wheels. Superbike racing motorcycles must have four-stroke engines of between 850 cc and 1200 cc for twins , and between 750 cc and 1000 cc for four cylinder machines. The restriction to production models distinguishes Superbike racing from MotoGP racing, which uses prototype machines that bear little resemblance to production machines. This
950-576: 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 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
988-692: The film Chain Reaction . Fourteen of the motorcycles in Mad Max (1979) were Z1000s. The bikes were donated by a local Kawasaki dealer and modified in appearance by Melbourne business La Parisienne; one as a police bike ridden by 'The Goose', and thirteen for members of the Toecutter's gang, played by a real motorcycle club called the Vigilantes. The KZ1000P appeared in the 1991 movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day . Kawasaki Z1 The Kawasaki Z1
1026-407: 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 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
1064-667: The police market that it remained in production until 2005. The Z1000 was successfully raced in European, Australian, American and British Superbike racing . A KZ1000 ridden by Reg Pridmore won the AMA Superbike Championship in 1977 and 1978. Pops Yoshimura first began to make his reputation in the mid-1970s by fielding fast, reliable Kawasaki KZ1000s in the AMA Superbike championships. Kawasaki Z1000s tuned by Mamoru Moriwaki were successfully raced in
1102-491: The prestigious 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours , ahead of all the major factory racing teams. Also in 1981 , Eddie Lawson won the AMA Superbike Championship for Kawasaki on a factory-backed KZ1000S1. The KZ1000C was ridden by California Highway Patrol officers Ponch and Jon of the 1977–1984 TV show CHiPs . It was also in the anime television series Great Teacher Onizuka , and ridden by Keanu Reeves in
1140-472: 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 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
1178-489: 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 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
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1216-521: The riders that competed in SBK over the years are household names among motorcycle racing fans. The most successful rider thus far has been Northern Irelands Jonathan Rea , who won the championship six times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). Ducati has been the most successful manufacturer in the series over the years, accumulating 15 manufacturer championships. Honda has won it 6 times, with Suzuki claiming one championship. Australia's Troy Bayliss won
1254-614: Was assembled in Nebraska and sold in the United States and Canada. Kawasaki swapped the traditional 4-4 exhaust (available on Z1 and KZ900) for the 4-2 Jardine exhaust (which came standard on the KZ900B) on the LTD and quiet and restrictive muffler on the 1000 A1 and A2 as shown in the top photo in this article. The KZ1000 came with either a chain drive or shaft drive in 1979 and 1980 named ST and SHAFT, KZ1000E1 and E2. The frame on
1292-512: 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 the Z1 remained relatively unchanged until 1975, when
1330-475: Was based on the "J" model. They had a number of technical problems, including electromagnetic interference between some radios that caused problems for the ignition system. In addition, the combined set of equipment mounted at the rear (and particularly the placement of the radio on the rear rack) caused high-speed handling difficulties.. That said, with a relatively light weight, comfortable seat, good cornering clearance and powerful engine, it remained so popular for
1368-631: Was based on the KZ1000A3/A4 Mk.II frame and body work, with a unique black/gold/white colour scheme and gold mag wheels . There were only 1000 examples of the Z1000H made for the global market. The Z1000H was manufactured for 3 months only, during March/April/May of 1980 and was a test-bed for the incoming new 1981 fuel-injected model, the GPz1100B1. In the US market, the Z1000G "Z-1 Classic", based on
1406-623: Was eventually inducted into the NZ sports "Hall of Fame". Superbike World Championship (also known as SBK) is the premier international superbike Championship. The championship was founded in 1988. It is regulated by the FIM and managed and promoted by FGSport. Once regarded as the poor cousin to the more glamorous MotoGP championship, the Superbike World Championship has grown into a world-class professional racing series. Many of
1444-537: Was replaced in 2015 by the MotoAmerica Superbike championship. The All Japan Road Race Championship, also known as MFJ Superbike is the premiere motorcycle road racing championship in Japan and is run by MFJ . The championship started in 1967 and has been running a superbike class since 1994. The series runs a small 7 round schedule but has a large field of Japanese riders and bikes. Atsushi Watanabe won
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