#kawasaki z1

[junglestrut]

[neutron669]

Kawasaki Z1a Rickman

Photographer and model unknown

[hellkustom]

More pics here:

http://www.hellkustom.com/2022/11/kawasaki-z1-by-bull-dock.html

[heretoday-73kk]

[boanerges20]

Kawasaki Z1-R "1230GTM" by Nitron+Bull Dock.

[jyankun]

カワサキ Z 1 z2

[a-hosomi]

Z1-Rというバイクに乗っています。

1978年製ですから自分と同じ歳です、もうそれだけで汚れや傷、切った貼った塗った取り付けたを繰り返した車体が自分の人生と重なります。

いい歳だしナと手を出したハーレーでリターンライダーと化した自分でしたが走りが自分的には全く楽しめない事がわかりやはりアレに乗るべきだったのか…とZ1-R に。

完璧なバイクだと乗りてが思うのは想いや色々な考えが乗っかっての事、だからバイク乗り皆が最高なわけです。

[frenchcurious]

La production de la Kawasaki Z1 a débuté en 1972 en tant que 4 cylindres 4 temps japonais le plus puissant jamais commercialisé. - source Cars & Motorbikes Stars of the Golden era.

[cruisenippon]

今日は朝からKawasaki Z1の車検です♪

車検に困っている方も一度ご相談ください🫡

[bondshotel]

Niki Lauda on Kawasaki Z1 900 1973

[bikebound]

Monster Zed: Kawasaki Z1-R RCM (Radical Construction Manufacture) by AC Sanctuary. Rocking Öhlins front and rear suspension, Brembo brakes, Sculpture braced swingarm, 17” ZRX1200 @ozracingwheels, Pirelli Diablo rubber, and much more. Full story today on BikeBound.com! ⚡️Link in Bio⚡️ https://instagr.am/p/CmEdYrVuX6Z/

[wytfut]

In honor of "Turk"

Found out this morning, a huge jolt to my realm, my old roommate and best man in my wedding has stage 4 inoperable/untreatable brain cancer. This isn't about me, but I'm still a student of life, and trying wrap my head around this piece of information.

Some folks may read this and become very uncomfortable. As I'm not following "normal" trends with this type of situation. I mean no harm, and actually don't believe many will actually see/read this installment, including Tom. And thats ok... Nothing wrong is being printed here.

In my opinion, tributes to the "gone/lost" are fine. But the person that is being spoken about, doesn't get to hear it, let alone in person..... maybe we should change our trendy ways and speak up while everyone is still around?

He is alive and getting therapy to learn how to get his balance back as of this writing.

And as it is.....

Tom "turk" "turkey" Kohn. His name came about due to a character on TV then who used the term Turkey a lot in his vocabulary. How ever that came about, the name stuck for years. Maybe not so much now... I've heard him called Professor recently, by others who worked with him before retirement. Later in his career, he got a job in another department.

Tom and I shared an apartment at 33rd and Vine I think for 2 and half years.

Tom started at Lincoln Hoot and Hollar construction department about 6 months after me. Fresh out of the "seabees"..

Our boss (who was terrified of climbing poles) attempted to teach Tom and another new guy how to climb .... on the job.

Couldn't keep Tom off the poles, and the other new guy, we couldn't keep on the poles. Tom was probably one of the best lines men I ever knew, and the best bucket truck operator.... nothing he couldn't do phone work wise, and do very well.

From what I remember we hit it off very well. His sense of humor just fit me. Within a few months, we got an apartment.

Tom is a Crete guy. Went to high school there. And then joined the Navy. This was back at the tail end of Viet nam... and was stationed in Thailand.

When he got out, bought a brand new 73 custard colored blazer. A very proud owner he was.

He also owned a Honda 100, and I owned a 73 Norton 850. When we'd ride together, it was sort of a Mutt and Jeff affair. He later bought a very nice, fast 74 Kawasaki Z1 900. He made up for the years lost on his toy bike.

We shared tons of info between ourselves, including beliefs, and ideas.

Probably one of the most honorable people I know. There is no way I can put myself on that same shelf.

Lots of humorous stories come to mind.

We were both pranksters. I'd throw a cold cold water surprise on him when he was in the tub. And he'd get me back. We both loved the scream of shock.

Somewhere there was Vaseline on a toilet seat.... can't seem to remember that story clearly.

Borrowed his blazer during a blizzard (1974?). I buried it in a snow bank and hand dug it out. Returned it home, and never told him. He got in a day or so later, and noted the alternator wasn't charging. Popped the hood, and the whole engine compartment was stuffed with snow and Ice..... all to ..."what the hell?...." Honestly, although very funny, I had no idea that actually happened.

Tom being shorter, I just couldn't help myself. Could be considered mean. He used to drive our boss around in a pickup. Toms job was to get the pickup and warm it up. I took blocks of wood and tapped them to the peddles, to help him reach the peddles (same thing done for little kids to reach the peddles when learning to ride a bike). Just trying to help out. He didn't really need them.... lots of laughs, and he took it in stride.

He was frequent at "lil Bo's" with his hi school buddy Dave who also was fresh out of the military. Those 2 could drink hard in those days being fresh out of the military.

One night I decided to hang out with them at Bo's, which is a scary thought, as I've always been a fly weight for drinking.... and tried to match drink for drink with them. By the time I got into the car to go home, I was blotto. Dave had drove, and it was a itty bitty Fiat, that I folded myself up to fit in the back (no seat).

We got home and Tom decides he's hungry and grabs a frying pan and what appeared to be a full bottle of oil to cook something up. By this time, I'm dizzy and wondering what I've gotten myself into. I walk by the stove looking at the bubbling smoking heated oil..... and I run for the toilet.

I was dating my Wife in this piece of time.... and eventually got engaged. Tom and I parted ways, and he moved in with Dave.... in the Meadowlane/Bethany area.

Tom was my best man, and tormented me throughout the ceremony, under his breath. I still giggle.

Tom started dating a wonderful girl from his past.... Pam, and they married. Although Toms bachelor party wasn't anything extra abnormal, I remember it well.

I can still remember bits of their wedding at the Havelock Methodist church.

From this point on to the past couple of years, we didn't stay in touch much. But would see each other at work. And everything was cool. Our paths had just separated... life moves on.

During this "vacant" period of separation, Tom got married to Pam. Bought a nice acreage south of Lincoln in the Norris school district. Raised a Son and a Daughter. Was a boy scout leader, and was on the Norris school board. He was a busy man.

Now that we are both retired, we see each other more than the past 30 years. 2 Winters ago he entrusted me to restore his old Z1, which he had kept all these years.

I was very surprised on both counts. I enjoyed the project.

He's a member of the geezers club, so we see each other fairly frequent now.

This entry is obviously missing huge chunks of a long period of time. But I feel justice, as these are hi lites remembered. I know everyone that knew Tom has their own stories, that more than likely bring a smile to their faces...

This is my Friend Tom. A best friend from years ago.

[wetsteve3]

1973 Kawasaki Z1

[themotorbikechannel]

1972 Kawasaki Z1 (900) https://themotorbikechannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1730811624_maxresdefault.jpg Source: 1972 Kawasaki Z1 (900) by Bikes I Like. Please don’t forget to give the Video a “Like” on Youtube and subscribe to the channel! SUPPORT BIL via a Super Thanks or PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XVHJL85LXZ8N6 Do I Fit Playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJgSla8UdWy0NdhgaMK7G5m7T0xvGgtjE 00:00 – 5’0″ Feet Down 00:06 – 5’3″ Feet Down 00:14 – 5’6″ Feet Down 00:21 […] https://themotorbikechannel.com/1972-kawasaki-z1-900/?feed_id=18631&_unique_id=672a1738ca969

[boanerges20]

Kawasaki Z1-R '1230GTM' by Nitron+Bull Dock.

[wheelscomedyandmore]

Kawasaki Z1 production began in 1972 as the most powerful Japanese 4-cylinder 4-stroke ever marketed.

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, a format that became known as the Universal Japanese Motorcycle or UJM.

ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.Also calledKawasaki 900 Super Four Production1972–1975; 85,000 units. Marketed variously as the Z1-900, 900 Z1 or 900 S4 ("Super Four"), the Z1 was the first of Kawasaki's Z models.

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 the price.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 was succeeded by the 1977 Kawasaki Kz1000 ("Z1000") and Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R, and in 1984 by the Kawasaki Z1100R. See less

Comments

Marnic Bert

Had one.

10w

Reply

John Wharton

One of the best looking bikes ever built. Still looks beautiful today.