Memorable Motorcycles - Kawasaki Z1 Photo Gallery

Memorable Motorcycles - Kawasaki Z1 - American riders were treated to one of the greatest motorcycles ever produced when the four-cylinder Kawasaki Z1 hit showrooms in the early 70s. Check out the full story in Memorable Motorcycles: Kawasaki Z1.

On a Z1 you were top of the gas-powered tree – on two or four wheels.

Classic lines are exhibited throughout the Kawasaki Z1.

The Kawasaki Z1.

The four-cylinder Kawasaki Z1 was a DOHC design.

Although there were two disc stoppers up front, the braking on the old Kaw was nothing to write home about.

Even after all these years, the Z1 still looks sharp.

Along with its Honda competitor, the Kawasaki Z1 helped redefine motorcycling with its Inline-Four.

To test the new design the engine was ridden 8,000 miles from LA to Daytona. Drive chains lasted only 3,000 miles and tires only twice this distance but the all new engine was bomb-proof.

So what made the Kawasaki such a great motorcycle? First and foremost it was, and is, utterly, lust-inducingly gorgeous.

The fit and finish was exemplary and the styling breathtaking. Instead of the big, fat, middle-aged car driver’s gas tank and saddle of the Honda, the Kwack looked light and slim.

The kicked up rear seat fairing, slim saddle and aggressive exhaust pipes looked like a motorcyclist’s bike - a machine that you rushed home from work and just rode and rode and rode simply because it was king of all it surveyed.

The Kawasaki was far more than just a pretty face. The engineering was exemplary and clever too.

Kawasaki cut no corners in terms of the engine. The all roller bearing crankshaft was made up of nine individual components and was over-engineered even for racing.

Riding a Z1 today is still a wonderful experience - right at the top of the classic bike tree.

With modern tires and decent rear dampers, the bike’s handling is transformed and the big Kwack will waft effortlessly up to 80 mph on a whiff of throttle and cruise there all day long.