The Kawasaki Z1 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted, chain-drive, two
passenger motorcycle introduced in 1972 by Kawasaki. Following Honda's 1969
CB750, the Z1 helped popularize the in-line, cross-frame four-cylinder a
format that became well known as the Universal Japanese Motorcycle or UJM.
The Z1 was noted for combining elements available previously on numerous
motorcycles, into a single motorcycle. Marketed variously as the Z900, 900 Z1
or 900 S4. the Z1 was the first Kawasaki's Z models.
History 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 the bikes 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.
The Z1 featured full instrumentation and an electric start, produced 82 bhp and
had a maximum speed of 130 mph. It met with positive reviews from the
motorcycle press, who praised its smoothness, damped vibration,
easy-starting, 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 was awarded the MCN 'Machine of
the Year' accolade each year from 1973 to 1976 The Society of Automotive
Engineers of Japan includes the 1972 Z1 as one of their 240 Landmarks of
Japanese Automotive Technology. = Design changes =
The basic design of the Z1 remained relatively unchanged until 1975, when
the 903 cc "Z1-B" was introduced, with changes including power output, improved
suspension, a stiffer frame, deleted automatic chain oiler, revised styling,
and improved braking. = Follow-up series =
In 1976 the Z1 was replaced by the Kawasaki KZ900, called Z900 in some
countries. This was succeeded by the 1977 Kawasaki Kz1000 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 the first naked Z1,
as did the Z1000 in 2003. It received updates in 2007 and a major redesign in
2010. See also
Kawasaki Z References
= Additional Resources = Wagar, Ivan. Kawasaki's 900cc New York
Steak, Cycle World October 1972. Kawasaki 900 Z-1 Road Test, Cycle World
March 1973. David Marsden Original Kawasaki Z1, Z900
and KZ900: The Restorer's Guide to All Aircooled 900cc Models 1972-1976
Hardcover 1 Jun 2011.