1976 Kawasaki Z1B 900

Description

• UNSOLD at auction December 2023
• Please contact Evoke for more information / to arrange a viewing : team@evoke-classics.com
• Candy Maroon
• 24 year ownership
• Stunning condition
• From a private collection

The Kawasaki Z1. It was the world’s first superbike. The Z1 broke the mould and then formed a new one. Today they are not just desirable, they are positively coveted. The Z1 was ‘the’ one.

This is one of two Z1s from a private collection that we have at auction. Our vendor is an engineer by profession and owned his own business until he retired 2 years ago. He has worked carefully to get these two superb Z1s to where you see them today. He has tried to keep as much originality as possible. Both are described as being 85-90% original. Where items have been sought, the supplier has been the famous Z Power in Manchester; who better? The pictures tell the story much better than we can.

Background

• This Z1 has been owned for 24 years. When our vendor acquired it, it wasn’t in a good way
• Frame changed for an original, used Z1-B frame
• The rebuild took round 18 months
• Since then, he has continued to work on and improve the bike
• A UK spec bike

Classic bikes and cars are like painting the Forth Road bridge – as soon as you get to the end, you go back to the beginning. It isn’t quite like that, or course. But on-going work on the bike has been needed to keep it in the condition you see today.

Exterior

Whilst visibly stunning, the Z1 is simple, elegant and sophisticated, all at once.

Customers couldn’t get enough of the big Z. The initial design was so good that Kawasaki HQ didn’t make any major changes until 1975 when the Z1-B came along. Even then you’d have to be a real aficionado to be able to separate the two.

The chassis was a full-duplex cradle frame constructed from steel tubes. Twin shocks at the rear, chrome wire wheels, proper stainless-steel mudguards front and rear and a newly introduced front disc brake. The masterstroke was the bodywork. The sculptured tank and side panels flow seamlessly into that rear tailpiece. The whole package is brought into poetry in motion with that colour scheme. Then there are those four-into-four pipes.

The panels have clearly been restored to a high standard, along with the other cosmetic items, as you can see. The rims and spokes have been replaced by stainless steel items from Z-Power. The reason? Our vendor described the originals as ‘slightly pitted’. We guess on a bike of this quality, minor imperfections can be amplified. Crossed stitched seat with centre strap and front fork gaiters are fitted to this UK spec Z1.

Mechanicals

It is of course the engine that drove the success of the Z1. Kawasaki originally planned a 750cc engine for the Z1. But Honda launched the CB750. It was a decent bike, but Kawasaki wanted to build a ‘great’ bike. The engineers wanted not just to match Honda but eclipse them. They succeeded.

Released in 1972, the Z1 was now 903 cc four-cylinder DOHC inline engine.

The Z1 was the first mass-production sports bike to feature a DOHC, four-cylinder engine. This mind-blowing tech was only found on factory racing machines. The 900cc Z1 was not only the fastest production motorcycle of its era, its dependability and durability were equally impressive. The first ‘superbike’ was born.

• 903cc air-cooled, DOHC 8-valve four-cylinder engine
• Mikuni VM28SC carbs
• 82HP @ 8,500 rpm
• 54.3ft-lbs @ 7,000rpm
• Five speed gearbox
• 12v alternator
• Tubular, double-cradle frame
• Wheelbase 58.7”
• Length 86.6”
• 4.2 gallon tank
• Top speed 130mph (don’t test it though)

The Z1B was updated for 1975. Frame number Z1F-047500 started in June 1974. Similar style, striking “Candy Super” remained. Other subtle upgrades were made. The Z1B now had a Kawasaki “special chain with sealed-in grease” amongst other things. Minor detail changes such as the speedo switching to increments of 10mph instead of 20mph were also included.

Our vendor tells us this one runs fine, the engine, clutch, transmission are all fine and the engine fires first time. There is a recently fitted front brake caliper. If he was keeping it, he says as a mere precaution, he may consider replacing the valve stem oil seals, just because they harden with age. He’s keen to stress it doesn’t smoke, just a precaution. A rare treat is that the original exhausts are in place. If he hadn’t had mentioned, we doubt you’ll notice, but he describes a very slight “blow on the inside of the right lower silencer, a pinhole about 4-5mm in size”. We all know the difficulty of finding original silencers and it isn’t causing a problem. The original four Mikuni carburettors are in place, and these have been balanced

In 1974, Motorcycle Mechanics tested a Z1B. They recorded a top speed of over 130mph with a standing quarter under 12.5 seconds. The MM journalist described the Z1B as “One of the three best bikes I have ever ridden”

There is a lot of debate about which Z is ‘better’; the Z1A or B. No-one knows. But it is universally accepted, having gained from continual production line development learned from the early models, the Z1B is the preferred option by most, if you can find one.

Summary

The Z1 set the standard for every other bike that was to follow. Performance, passion, panache. It isn’t an overstatement to say the Z1 set a template for a new era of big Japanese multis and influenced every other manufacturer of motorcycles. It was such a leap that the mighty Honda Motorcycle Corporation didn’t build a DOHC until nearly a decade later.

The fabulous Big Zed was not just a defining moment for many bike enthusiasts like us, it was so deeply ingrained into Kawasaki’s consciousness, so much so in 2018 Kawasaki brought their own homage to the mass market in the shape of the Z900RS.

That boosted the appeal, as if it were needed, of the 1970s Z1. You don’t need us to tell what an opportunity this is. Good luck bidding.

Vehicle Location: Liverpool, Merseyside L17 – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Would like to arrange a viewing or have a question about this Kawasaki Z1B? Please contact us at team@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.