Always loved the completely exposed beautiful engines on these bikes and the size of the bike. Ashamed those good old days went by so fast. Glad to see them being restored and appreciated.
I actually owned a Ducati 750S back in 1974, but had a ride on a friend’s Z1 and was impressed with the power but not the handling and brakes. Now I’ve got a 2018 Z900RS Jaffa I bought new, and I’d have to say it is so much better in power (110 HP), handling and brakes. You’re expect that after 50 years though. The looks of the Z900RS have grown on me too, it is superbly made. However with all the electronics and wiring, I wonder if it will last as long as the original, simpler Z1.
The 1974 Z1 only had one front disc brake. I bought new in 1974 a Z1, cost, $2100, $2400 out the door. The Z1 was the fastest street bike in the world in 1974. Kept till appx. 2010 sold it for $8200. Road it back from Florida to Northern Kentucky in 1975, 95 to 105 mph while on the express way. It was getting less than 30 mpg, at those speeds, had to get fuel every hour.
I own a '76 KZ900LTD. I couldn't stand the styling so I modified it. Looks more like the Pentall Moriwaki Kawasaki ridden by Graeme Crosby back in those early U.S. superbike days!
As a young boy the Z was the bike that attracted me to motorcycles. Years later I would be the proud owner of a ZR 1100 R (Zephyr) I consider it the grandchild of the original Z. 😊
I started riding bikes in the 70s and this Kawasaki was King of the road . My battle was was, do l buy a Kawasaki or a Fender Stratocaster, l could afford neither , so l bought a Suzuki TS 100 and a Yamaha guitar 🎸 😆 Love Japanese ❤️
Fantastic bike and great to hear both your and Dave's opinions. The torque comparison of the 4 cylinder bike to the twins and triples is spot on. The riding experience between them is quite different and I noticed it too when I moved from a Sportster to my 1971 CB750K1. I found little to no need for a tach when riding the Sportster whereas I've come to keep an eye on the revs when I happen to be riding the CB750 in traffic in order to keep it near the powerband. The smoothness of the 4 cylinder is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for presenting this video. I look forward to seeing more like it!
Beautiful Z1. First of the Super Bikes of the 1970s. If I could own one vintage bike from this era, it would be the Kawasaki Z1 900 or the Honda CB750. Cheers.
I have owned a 75’ Z1B for 34 years now. 14000+ on the clock. The seller had no idea of the value of the bike. I literally stole it for $50. New tires, chain and sprockets, new intake manifold boots lots of cleaning and polishing. It still turns head everywhere I go.
The 1976 Z900 had two teeth less on the rear sprocket for a slightly less busy feel in top gear. Mine was written off and rebuilt as a Rickman cafe racer.
Great review, I remember the Z1 when they first came out in the 1970s. I love your channel and I also would like to see more 70s 80s and 90s bikes featured along side the older bikes, plus the retro classic bikes. I own a 1978 Honda CX500 which I have restored, a 2012 Triumph Bonneville T100 and a modern 2012 Suzuki DL650 VStrom. Keep up the great work.
The green and yellow Z1A has one of my all time favourite paint jobs. Originally, the Z1A had a single front disc whereas the one in your video obviously has twin discs. Like Dave, I too prefer the low down torque of a twin (Speed Twin in my case), especially now that I’m getting older.
All I can say is I bought my Z1A (green and yellow as in video) brand new in September 1974 from Pegasus Kawasaki Reading. It most definitely had a single front disc. Loved it and kept it for around 13 years after too many British disappointments.
You’re a lucky man Steve. I rode an air cooled RD350 back then and although it wasn’t a Z1 I loved thrashing that bike up and down the local mountain range near Cairns in the north of Australia.
I had a restored 78 KZ 1000 in 2006-07. It was a wicked thing waiting to hurt me, and it did. Not enough to go to hospital fortunately. The handling was awful compared to a 1983 CB1100f I had a few years earlier, or even my 76 CB750 supersport. The Kaw felt like it had a lot of flex in the frame on big fast curves. Fine in a straight line. Otherwise I loved the sound of the Kerker that was on it.
I rode a 73 Z1. Decades ago... I now have a 23 Z900 Retro. I believe the 73 would almost run the pants off my 23 model except the 23 has much better handling and brakes.
Never, ever did a Z1 wear a black and silver number plate. These bikes were super modern and no one would have dreamt of such a thing. This of course applies to all new vehicles registered once the new reflective plates were launched in the 1960s. Where on earth has this craze amongst classic bike owners come from. I expect that they are often owned by people too young to have been there in the day. Beautiful bike by the way. 😊
I agree with your comment about the number plate issue and would take this thought further. As an owner of one of these machines back in the seventies and eighties I cannot remember ever seeing one on the roads back then in standard trim unless it was being ridden home from the dealers for the first time. As a minimum the 4 in to 4 exhaust would be long gone, the lower clock housings would be chromed, a second front disc would be added and the long rear mudguard would have been converted in to what is now considered as a tail tidy. I find this a very strange phenomenon that these bikes are restored back to almost factory standard as that is not how they were used in everyday life. By the way I covered over 100k miles on mine including towing a trailer and all it had was regular servicing. Do I miss it? Not at all.
@@RodgerRamjet-s8g you're right ,i bought my 76 plate znine second hand it already had a kerker on it .i took the indicators ,crash bars,grab rail and back mudguard off put some rearsets on and i was away,those were the days back in 1978. ..
Great Bike i love it! Be great to see a Kawasaki Ballington 250. I'm sure you would like that bike. Got my ticket and fingers crossed for the draw. Great content thanks.
Maybe one of the best looking bikes ever, and a quick bike with a beautiful sound 👌
Always loved the completely exposed beautiful engines on these bikes and the size of the bike. Ashamed those good old days went by so fast. Glad to see them being restored and appreciated.
Love the Z1, in fact I love most Kwaka’s from that era. Nice video, the paint on that bike certainly is gorgeous
Right on Ross, yeah, they're lovely eh! We shared your video on our community by the way, Alex
What a great bike, I had a z650, and loved it!
I actually owned a Ducati 750S back in 1974, but had a ride on a friend’s Z1 and was impressed with the power but not the handling and brakes. Now I’ve got a 2018 Z900RS Jaffa I bought new, and I’d have to say it is so much better in power (110 HP), handling and brakes. You’re expect that after 50 years though. The looks of the Z900RS have grown on me too, it is superbly made. However with all the electronics and wiring, I wonder if it will last as long as the original, simpler Z1.
The 1974 Z1 only had one front disc brake. I bought new in 1974 a Z1, cost, $2100, $2400 out the door. The Z1 was the fastest street bike in the world in 1974. Kept till appx. 2010 sold it for $8200. Road it back from Florida to Northern Kentucky in 1975, 95 to 105 mph while on the express way. It was getting less than 30 mpg, at those speeds, had to get fuel every hour.
Sure brings back memories. Blasting around town on my 76 KZ900 LTD in 1978.
I own a '76 KZ900LTD. I couldn't stand the styling so I modified it. Looks more like the Pentall Moriwaki Kawasaki ridden by Graeme Crosby back in those early U.S. superbike days!
@@johnnyrvf Wow thats great. Mine was built like a drag racer. Straight bars whit lettered tires and lowered.
I've had my z1b for nearly 40 years and still love it
Beautiful 1970’s Kawasaki’s. No need to go like a looney through the bends when you can make pace on the straight. I love these old bruisers.
As a young boy the Z was the bike that attracted me to motorcycles. Years later I would be the proud owner of a ZR 1100 R (Zephyr) I consider it the grandchild of the original Z. 😊
US Spec Bikes had short rear mudguard, side reflectors on forks and rear shocks and no passenger grab strap etc.
I started riding bikes in the 70s and this Kawasaki was King of the road .
My battle was was, do l buy a Kawasaki or a Fender Stratocaster, l could afford neither , so l bought a Suzuki TS 100 and a Yamaha guitar 🎸 😆
Love Japanese ❤️
Fantastic bike and great to hear both your and Dave's opinions. The torque comparison of the 4 cylinder bike to the twins and triples is spot on. The riding experience between them is quite different and I noticed it too when I moved from a Sportster to my 1971 CB750K1. I found little to no need for a tach when riding the Sportster whereas I've come to keep an eye on the revs when I happen to be riding the CB750 in traffic in order to keep it near the powerband. The smoothness of the 4 cylinder is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for presenting this video. I look forward to seeing more like it!
Beautiful Z1. First of the Super Bikes of the 1970s. If I could own one vintage bike from this era, it would be the Kawasaki Z1 900 or the Honda CB750. Cheers.
the styling is one of the best ;;
I have owned a 75’ Z1B for 34 years now. 14000+ on the clock. The seller had no idea of the value of the bike. I literally stole it for $50. New tires, chain and sprockets, new intake manifold boots lots of cleaning and polishing. It still turns head everywhere I go.
The 1976 Z900 had two teeth less on the rear sprocket for a slightly less busy feel in top gear. Mine was written off and rebuilt as a Rickman cafe racer.
Great review, I remember the Z1 when they first came out in the 1970s. I love your channel and I also would like to see more 70s 80s and 90s bikes featured along side the older bikes, plus the retro classic bikes. I own a 1978 Honda CX500 which I have restored, a 2012 Triumph Bonneville T100 and a modern 2012 Suzuki DL650 VStrom. Keep up the great work.
Hey Paul, thanks for your nice comments, yeah, we're looking to feature more of what you want in the channel this year! Alex
Looks gorgeous and sounds great too. Thanks for the video.
The green and yellow Z1A has one of my all time favourite paint jobs. Originally, the Z1A had a single front disc whereas the one in your video obviously has twin discs. Like Dave, I too prefer the low down torque of a twin (Speed Twin in my case), especially now that I’m getting older.
From my research the UK spec ones had a twin disc but not every market got those Bruce, Alex
Right, Australian Z1s left the showroom with a single disc but some owners did a twin disc upgrade. Thanks for another lovely video Alex.
All I can say is I bought my Z1A (green and yellow as in video) brand new in September 1974 from Pegasus Kawasaki Reading. It most definitely had a single front disc. Loved it and kept it for around 13 years after too many British disappointments.
You’re a lucky man Steve. I rode an air cooled RD350 back then and although it wasn’t a Z1 I loved thrashing that bike up and down the local mountain range near Cairns in the north of Australia.
I had a restored 78 KZ 1000 in 2006-07. It was a wicked thing waiting to hurt me, and it did. Not enough to go to hospital fortunately. The handling was awful compared to a 1983 CB1100f I had a few years earlier, or even my 76 CB750 supersport. The Kaw felt like it had a lot of flex in the frame on big fast curves. Fine in a straight line. Otherwise I loved the sound of the Kerker that was on it.
Neighbour owned a z1000h fuel injected in black.,that was an amazing machine,maybe a zephyr is the closest affordable way of getting the z look now
Very nice, but the GPZ750 turbo was also something special, had one for two years.
I rode a 73 Z1. Decades ago... I now have a 23 Z900 Retro. I believe the 73 would almost run the pants off my 23 model except the 23 has much better handling and brakes.
I had a 1975 Z900 for a year. 600 quid from Doug Hacking's store in Bolton.
Never, ever did a Z1 wear a black and silver number plate. These bikes were super modern and no one would have dreamt of such a thing. This of course applies to all new vehicles registered once the new reflective plates were launched in the 1960s. Where on earth has this craze amongst classic bike owners come from. I expect that they are often owned by people too young to have been there in the day. Beautiful bike by the way. 😊
I agree with your comment about the number plate issue and would take this thought further. As an owner of one of these machines back in the seventies and eighties I cannot remember ever seeing one on the roads back then in standard trim unless it was being ridden home from the dealers for the first time. As a minimum the 4 in to 4 exhaust would be long gone, the lower clock housings would be chromed, a second front disc would be added and the long rear mudguard would have been converted in to what is now considered as a tail tidy. I find this a very strange phenomenon that these bikes are restored back to almost factory standard as that is not how they were used in everyday life. By the way I covered over 100k miles on mine including towing a trailer and all it had was regular servicing. Do I miss it? Not at all.
I’ve got a black number on mine, it’s to let prick Audi drivers know it’s a classic bike. They see the four exhaust pipes and want a piece of you
@@RodgerRamjet-s8g you're right ,i bought my 76 plate znine second hand it already had a kerker on it .i took the indicators ,crash bars,grab rail and back mudguard off put some rearsets on and i was away,those were the days back in 1978.
..
La plus belle des Z1🥰🥰🧡👍👍👍
I’d don’t think I could express how much I love these bikes. I’d probably have a heart attack if I won it.
Haha, fingers cross (you win in, not the other thing), Alex
Had a '70s, KZ1000. Great bike - always started, ran well, went too fast & stopped, um, adequately....
Good review James, Alex
Great Bike i love it! Be great to see a Kawasaki Ballington 250. I'm sure you would like that bike. Got my ticket and fingers crossed for the draw. Great content thanks.
How can we get one of those Ballingtons I wonder! Alex
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel ill keep my eye out for you guys.
Great video, you should also try the z650, little brother to the z900, another brilliant Kawasaki.
Good shout. I'll keep my eye out for one I can 'borrow' :) Alex
Nice work ,Nice video, Nearly as nice as my Z1A 🤪🤪🤪
Sooo beautiful bike ❤️❤️❤️❤️
TRANSVERSE four, mate; not an in-line. The crankshaft would have to be in line with the frame to be an "in line" & it's not, is it?
Best regards
So muss ein Motorrad aussehen.
Your voice is half Australian…and bit southern-English.
Yeah, I'm Aussie but have lived in the UK for about 20 years.