Z1 900 sells for WHAT?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ม.ค. 2023
- We take you inside the Mecum Motorcycle Auction with us as we witness a new world record as the market is totally reset for the legendary 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900! We catch up with motorcycle drag racing great and restoration pro Mike Konopacki who traveled from Canada to put what may be this nicest Z1 900 in the world up for bid, along with his 1974 Kawasaki Z1-B, his pair of 1975 Z1-Bs, his 1976 KZ 900 and his 1978 Z1R 1000. We also catch up with expert John Kraman to get his take on where this market is headed.
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I had a 1975 Z900, was a fun bike to ride in high-school, and the sound of a 4 into 1 Kerker pipe, is music to my 👂 ears!!..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
Kerker 👍
I had a Kerker 4 into 1 on my Honda Magna V65👊
Yes, lots of fun. Had a 78 GS1000. I can still feel the buzz between my legs LoL
@@homeagain9692 a twist of the throttle 👍
Me too!
When I first started riding on the street, these were the bikes everyone wanted!! So cool! 😎
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
I bought the first 73 Z1 in my state in 1973. It was $1,999.00 off the showroom floor. Kept it 6 years and rode it 60,000 trouble free miles.
In the UK back then this bike was the ultimate.The sound of that engine it made a whistling sound so unique. I was a teen and we called them the "quack 9". Still one of the best looking bikes ever made in my opinion. It's just timeless.
That sound was the double overhead cams. I had an 82 Yamaha Seca 650 that sounded very similar to that. If that's what a 73 Kawasaki Z1 900 brings at auction I'd sure like to see what a 1979 Honda CBX brings.
I bought an 80 CBX1000 new. My preference but no way a CBX would sell for near $50000 US. They came and went with not much impact. The Kwack has provenance the CBX has 6 cylinders that's it.@@Cartier_specialist
I had the KZ 1000 when I was in high school. My buddy had the 900. My bike felt so much more alive. I definitely loved those early 1,000's. Lots of nostalgia seeing this 900 for sure.
In the early 80's I bought at least a dozen of these in poor condition (faded paint, wouldn't start) I got at least one for free, most were around 4-500 bucks. They always responded well to simple tune-ups. I'd put on a Kerker pipe and low bars and they'd sell for 1000 bucks or so--those were the good ol' days!
My brother has a Z-1, bought it second hand in the early 80's and never parted with it. I'm pretty sure it has the lighter orange paint scheme of the '73 here but might be a '74, he knew it would become a collector's item, just had to wait a while lol, dang 50 years since they came out, what a motorcycle!
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Finally, the stunningly beautiful Kawasaki Z900 of 1973 and her gorgeous little sister the Z1A900 of 1974 both take their rightful places as easily the most proportionate, most alluring, most attractive, most prized, most valuable, most admired & most worthy of all the inline four cylinder bikes to ever see mass production.
They just look so good!
They sound absolutely amazing!
They command attention like the "SUPERMODELS" they really are & they can still be ridden as reliable bikes.
It's great to see there are some among us who truly appreciate beautifully crafted & functional machinery and they're prepared to pay for all that classic beauty.
Long live the Kawasaki Z9. A genuine engineering work of art.
Can't disagree with any of that john!
The next most collectable Kwacker - the GPz900.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp
Technically, the GPZ is the more refined, better equipped, more tractable & much more capable machine. But looking at the Z9 & the GPZ side by side is like looking at a virgin in her underwear compared to an Olympian Wrestler in a potato sack.
Both share similar mechanicals. Both share that notorious howling Kwakka spinetingling growl & both sound like a whole nest of hornets trying to escape a coffee can on idle.
The DNA is largely the same & both bikes deliver, but the Z9 just has a fabulous stance, bare bones hot looks & from any angle, that Z9 just piles on the sex appeal.
As we all know, plenty of early Nines ended up repowered & re-engineered with most of the goodies from the later bikes as they got bent & trashed. That, drammaticly improved punch, poise & braking & a few neatly added gussets and a longer swing arm soon made the Nine a genuine force to be reconned with. It's the Nine's stunning good looks that blows my mind still.
I had a modified '74 Z1A. Gussetted, with a Thousand Kit, Aluminium Sprayed Four Into One, Hot Cams, Drag Clutch, Lowered with Short Rear Shocks & a 16 Inch Fat Wire Back Wheel, Tiny Pull Backs and an Open Exhaust...
It was the love of my life. My mate had a jet black KZ1000 & another mate had a Z1R in the original frosty silver/light blue. Everywhere we went, crowds of admirers would gather & drool. It was always the Jaffa (striped) '74 Z1A that pulled the "crowds". It just looked so good! I couldn't keep up with the other two bikes & I didn't care. Hotted up old Honda B'Oldors and Katanas could blow me away all day. But... Every time we stopped for fuel of a toasted sandwich or to look at a map, people would stop, abandon what they were doing & zoom in on the Nine for a closer look. My bike was superlow! Even the seat was cut down. It just had a killer look about it & it was loved everywhere we went.
I knew, even as a kid in 1973 that the then brand new Kawasaki Z900 had a presence you simply could not deny. I lived on the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia as a kid & there was always a bit of money around. Bonnyvilles and 750 Commandos were the gun bikes to own. Many were tweaked & they went hard. Occasionally you'd see a Guzzi that could really move when the lights changed to green... THEN THE Z9s HIT THE STREETS LIKE A RANDOM BUNCH OF JET FIGHTERS! All those geezers who'd gone nuts hotting up Pommy & Euro bikes soon found themselves struggling to keep up. WW11 had reignited in suburbia & it was on for young & old! Those who rode the "traditional" bikes had to learn to cope with a genuine JAPANESE INVASION that exploded right there in their own neighbourhoods. Anyone could step inside a dealership & BLAST out of the place on a two wheeled rocketship that could easily incinerate a back tyre or wheelstand for miles at 60 MPH in SECOND GEAR!
I was only eleven years old in 1973 when the same mob who'd built stinging ZERO FIGHTER PLANES to attack Pearl harbour started churning out & unleashing "STREET FIGHTER" bikes that went like shit off a shovel and they dropped them like "bombs" all over Australia! This madness caused all manner of conflict. Many diehard bikers took offense & HATED these JAP bikes. The fact they went so hard just rubbed salt into wounds.
I always loved Z9s. I was too young to care about the war & any of that horrid history. Movie Makers like Sandy Harbutt made fabulous movies like STONE (which was filmed about 2 miles from OUR HOUSE!) and MAD MAX & the stars of those movies were the SCREAMING HOT KAWASAKI Z900s! They didn't just look good & go good.... they sounded AWESOMELY good as well! The package was complete. The first generation early Z9s just ticked all the boxes & they did it with functionality, high performance, jaw dropping good looks, reliability, low maintenance AND AFFORDABILITY!
I've met plenty of goobers who find fault with the wonderful Z9. It's true... Faster, safer & more advanced bikes have since been & gone. Like, seriously... When was the last time a 1982 Katana flew past you on a country highway, like they did 40 odd years ago? They came, they saw, they concquered and they flew to bits & went to scrap & the bulletproof old Nines just kept on going. As far as I'm concerned, the Nine is the duck's guts & any dimwit who thinks otherwise aint up to speed. All up, the old Nine is easily the best overall package & Kawasaki should be praised eternally for doing such a great job right from the word go.
Nothing compares to the Nine. She's the real stunner in every crowd & it's great to see her getting the sort of money, admiration & attention she rightly deserves.
I'm too old & too smashed up to climb aboard another Nine. Impact injuries have ruined my "frame". I'd buy another one in an instant, but she'd probably kill me. I'd happily just sit back & stare at her because she's simply drop dead gorgeous & those prices at auction prove my point. What else ever looked that good?
@@johnbrooks9523 And in their first appearance in proddy racing here in the USA at Daytona - they got their lunch handed to them by the BMWR90's. Thrashed by an old Kraut boxer with a cool orange paint job!
But I agree with your rants (!) - the yanks were welding up their cranks, and boring them out to God only knows what, 1,700cc, and a big load of nitro for the drags! And they never blew up! Great motor!
And George KERKER got rich with his 4-1's Kawi pipes before he blew his own brains out! Take care mate. No worries.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp
Am curious to find out which standard production Jap bike has made the most money at auction?
Surely $50,000.oo US is the winner?
Bikes with fine race histories & accompanying boxes of trophies that sit in museums are no doubt worth $Millions. I've never heard of a "common" street bike with no special credentials pulling $50K US... THAT HAS TO BE A RECORD PRICE?
It makes my day that the dear ol' Nine is still so loved & admired by those who recognise a good thing... I was obviously "not alone".
@@johnbrooks9523 I think this is a record. I doubt it will be broken soon. You have got to remember that a lot of these Yanks that work for Apple, or Google, or Microsoft, or Tesla have money coming out their ears!
Awesome restorations - awesome bikes....
Back in 1973, I attended a motorcycle show here in Australia. The feature bike of the show was the Z-1. They had a "try before you buy" demo Z-1 there. Unfortunately, at the time, my left arm was in a cast from my shoulder to the wrist (workplace accident), so I could not take the Z-1 for a ride.
A rider friend of mine offered to take me for a ride on it, as a pillion passenger.
All was well, until we hit the highway, where he yelled back to me and said..
"Hang on and we'll see what this baby will do!"
I cannot express just how terrifying that ride was from there. I had only one free hand to grab the bar at the back of the seat.
I had legs of jello when we got back to the show.
The Kawasaki representative asked us what we thought of it....
My crazy friend casually replied...."Oh, it was OK, I guess... give it a decent tune up and it might be worth it's salt!"
As a footnote, I have never rode pillion since...and I never will again!
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
my gym buddy was selling his 73 so I said take me for a ride! He did........90 mph in a twenty five mph neighborhood and thats the last time I ever ride as passenger.!Bought her For $1,200 with 34 k miles sold her 34 yrs later later with about 37 k
one fun bike ! and great investment
In the 70s, I remember my buddy giving me a ride on the 900. Even with 2 people, the bike was fast.
Yeah - didn't the early ones have "outragous" 81 hp or something like that? Things change.. :S
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
@BØRGE ODK I can't remember it wasn't much. I remember that in order to maintain high speed riding and torque we chose displacement. Even my zx750 turbo wasn't much hp but it was a blast to ride and fast.
@CycleDrag If I had the money I would bid around 25k at the max even though it is a first year bike. When i ride an older bike I always think about what I'm missing in New tech. That's my flaw. I sold my zx750 turbo many years ago because of my flaw. The mileage was I think 3400 miles. My first year R6 only had 350 miles when I sold that bike.
@@cycledrag I'm a fan of the v4! All brands
I read years ago in a Classic Motorcycle magazine that Kawasaki forgot to keep one for there museum and a bloke in England who worked for Kawasaki dealer had put one together out of parts and it was the most perfect one that Japan could find.
Mike, Doug here, your restorations are beautiful. You deserve this👍
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Bought a new '74 Z1 900 green and yellow right out of high school. Put a flat black Yoshimura 4 into 1 header on it, re-jetted the carbs, added a Quick Throttle (shorter turning distance to full throttle) put on a small custom step seat, took off the center stand, mirrors and turn signals. It had a little of that cafe racer look to it. Wheelies from 1st to 2nd gear. Wicked bike for it's time. All I have now is pictures :(
I can relate to your story. Mine was a 1975, Denco extractor header. Different carb jets for racing at different altitudes, as I traveled on the Kawasaki cross country and drag raced for fun and money on Saturday nite. I was a crew chief on F 4s in USAF, and traveled on leave time. Pictures of my Z 1 I have, and now retired, I still own...a 1982 LTD 1000KZ. Happy trails.
A motorcycle club in Newark NJ used to race these babies on Jones Street where the clubhouse was. They ran hopped up CB 750's and Z1 900's. Hearing these running with headers and open exhaust was music to my ears.
Was there at the auction, they were stunning in person! Drop dead gorgeous bikes.
The Z900 engine was a turning point for motorcycles. It raised the bar. Only problem/weaknesses were the clutch basket and frame. Suzuki a few years later would build the frame, transmission and clutch basket the Z900 needed. I bought a 75 used in 1977 then in 1978 I bought the new 1978 Suzuki GS1000E. Eventually I sold both to get the 1981 Suzuki 1100. I loved those early bikes.
I had a 95 Z900 until 1980. I to sold it to buy an 80 Suzi GS1100E, I think that was the most fun bike I ever had! fast and easy wheelies. Sold that in 86, moved to abother state ans in 91 I got a KAW ZX-1100, which is a very close 2nd to being the most fun! Both the GS and ZX were fast (ZX almost scary fast!) cornering and braking excellent!
What a blessing for this guy.
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
I have a 1974 Z1 I'm re-restoring the second time since I bought it 38 years ago. I paid 200 dollars for it with an exploded transmission and crankcase. I'm stunned at the value of an all original one. Mine now has 1976 kz900 engine in it with 1105cc, andrews 3x bump sticks, 33 smooth bores, stage 3 Yoshimura pipe, parts passed down to me from my dad's crazy friends. I hope it's worth at least 10 grand when I retire soon. Not all original.
Love that color combination on that 73' Kawasaki Z1 900. DIG IT!!!
Freakin insane would never have dreamed this 10 years ago.Heading out in my 71 CB 350 now
old timers like me spending their money while they can. You can sit and look at it and feel young again, many good memories of these, my buddy had one and he was afraid of one thing, my 78 GS 1000. both great bikes.
Loved my 1976 Z900 Metallic green
My ‘76 KZ-900 is a metallic brown/orange with red & gold pin stripe
Amazing!!! So cool to see these vintage motorcycles going for some big $$$$. Love it!!! 🏍 👍 😊
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Hi Tom how are you doing 😊
My 1st Motorcycle was a 1976 KZ 900
They sure are Beautiful Bikes to look at...I have an Autoart 1/6 Scale Kawasaki Z900 1973 Jaffa Color No 0861 on display in my home to admire & show visitors along with many others in my Collection..I get many comments about the Kawasaki Z900...wished I could have afforded one back in the Day..😁
Hi Roadman how are you doing 😊
Bought my 73 Z1 back in 1976 still ride it every summer put it in the house every winter.
I wish I had one to ride. Just bought a :980 cb900c , 10speed. My Son has been restoring it for me to ride. It runs great. I can’t believe those numbers ! Crazy money !
These 900's were my middle school dream bike. Back in 73 and 74 they came on strong in Geneva. You saw them on every street corner. My buddy had one and we ride it through town in 78. He scared the crap out of me!
I still have one. Timeless beauty.
The Mighty Jaffa. Here in the Land of Oz the Z-1 carries the nickname of a lolly, or as the Americans term them, ‘Candy’.
Jaffas were a very popular, marble sized chocolate ball, coated in an orange coloured and flavoured crunchy coating. Hence the nickname of the Z-1 in Oz. Australian motorcycle enthusiasts mention a ‘Jaffa’ and everybody knows the exact bike they are referring to. Here in Oz a really nice example (certainly not this level) will sell for around AUS 25K to Aus 35K. The Bs and later models about AUS 20K..
Personally, I prefer the Honda 4s but the Jaffa and later models are beautiful bikes and I’d happily have one in a heartbeat.
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
I'll sell you my restored 71 Honda 4 K1, almost as good as these Kwakas, for 30K, if you want. Just hop on and ride....takes you right back to 1971 again.👍
The kwakas are about 10 K more now
1976, I bought a 1975 Z 1 900. Traded my 360 Honda and $2000 for it. Road it cross country, and drag racing for 5 years. One crash at El Paso drag strip @ 100 mph crossing finish line. Popped a wheely shifting into 4th gear, I came off the back. Bike went through trap @ 100 mph, I went through @ 95 mph. Sure I was going to dye, banged up in sand, I got up and asked if my bike was ok? It was, like me, it fell over...in the sand! Road it home to Alamagordo NM.
Yes this happened. Me and my Z 1. Man what a ride!
Was a Honda kid growing up, but that first year Z-1 blew my mind.
I later quelched that thirst by buying a brand new silver '79 CBX.
I had a 75 Z1 in 78 .The bike came with some special tuning and a loud ass. header. Went through 4 back tires in the year I owned it. This beast was capable of doing a 1/4 mile burn out through 1st & 2nd gear ! as well as easy 11 sec 1320 passes . Never should have sold it. Although I might not still be alive today !?
Ive owned zeds all my life and still own today so its good to see them going up in value as i use to tell my mates
Much Better i enjoyed watching every bit of the video, keep them coming 🙂👍
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
You got it Raven. Much more coming from Mecum!
@@cycledrag bunch of crackheads with money
I had a 78 KZ 1000 LTD and sold it for $700
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Can't believe how much z9 and Suzuki Gs1000s are going for. Even with Yoshi pipes or Marshall 4 into 1 exhausts and other aftermarket mods they're going for big money. Suzuki Katana and honda CBX 1000 too.
Great job!!! Thankfully my friend stored mine for 16 years in his shed or it would have never been in my possession today.
Amazing!! Now I don't feel bad that I bought my 2022 Z900 RS and dolled it up with every OEM accessory in the dealer catalog. Zee of all years are awesome.
I had a 75 Z1. So sorry I had to sell it. Now at these prices I'm sure I'll never own another one. The thing was IT back in 75. Ate Honda 750-4's for lunch. It sounded like a jet plane when you took off. What a bike.
Great in-depth coverage! Thanks
One restored by GP racer Kiwi Graham Crosby just sold here in New Zealand for NZ$50,000,
Easily as nice as this one!
This and the Vincent Black Shadow proving to be the best collector bike.
Working at my local Kaw dealer in 73 assembled and setup these bikes , looked good then and now. Sold for $1595 plus tax back then.
76 KZ 900 . Had it forever. Good motorcycle .
My uncle back in the late 70's use to get one of these bikes every year...with a different 900 he picked up used.I remember as a kid knowing the 900 was the fastest bike with how my uncle would rant and rave about it.I can only imagine how he would feel today getting one of these bikes.
In Australia bought my brand new Z1A 1974 for $2000 at 17 years of age. Jumped on straight from my SL175 Honda WOW!! What a time to live!!
Wow. Glade to see these bikes coming around now. Mecum always does a great job with bike also.
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
I would love to have a stock kz turbo. Black with the orange decals.
Had a Z1000 with kerker 4 into 1 with an oil cooler and my buddy had a Z900 with a kerker as well man those were nice and fast bikes and the sound they made was awesome ! Ah the good old days.
Good thing you got a stabilizer bar on it I used to get a high-speed wobble between 115 and 125 on those bikes
A friend of mine bought a 73 brand new back then. I remember the first thing he did was take the stock exhaust off and put the 4 into 1 header on it man that was music to my ears with or without the baffle in lol
Always a Honda man, I remember seeing the Z1 in Bike magazine and thinking how beautiful it was. I still think that after all these years (70 this week)
I had a 73. Took two trips out west from Michigan. Rode thru Zion, Bryce, Arches, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon. I was 30 and 32. I figured I didn't want to turn 50 and wish I'd done that 20 years ago. Sold it in 83 when I bought a 81 CBX. Wish I still had them. Now I ride an old man's bike..a Goldwing. I'm 75 now
50K for a 1973 Z1!!!! Congratulations Pak Man! I was 17 and my first street bike was a 74 Z1B exactly like the second one sold here. I regretfully sold it to a friend when I went in the Army in 1980. I currently ride a a 2014 CB1100 Honda. That first Kawasaki developed a love affair with inline 4 cylinders that is still going!
Jack; I’m rubbing hands together in glee. Just a few years back they were $12k, 15k then 18k. Back to present day, $21k, 23k and 25k. This $50k is definitely a new high mark.
I own a 75’ Z1b and to know my bike is in good condition, 8/10 is now $15k is music to my ears. With a full resto I could possibly get to that $20+k mark myself. What’s even sweeter, I bought it for $50, And spent maybe $500 to get new sprockets, chain and tires and a few maintenance parts and filters. Time to take a numbers matching unmolested Z1b to the next level. 😎
Got to make one more comment, Jack I love your channel! Because I love FAST MOTORCYCLES!! 🤪
Thank you! Please share with some friends!
Worth every penny.
A very nice design to say the least. They look great.
Wow, looks like there is some hope for my 1979 mint condition Wes Cooley GS1000S.
I was at college in 73 aged seventeen when the local dealers son turned up in the faculty car park on a Z900. I will never forget the size of the crowd it dew.. I had a BSA 750cc Thunderbolt. Oddly I saw a Z900 earlier this week while out .
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
@@cycledrag I would never buy a Z1 and not ride it, last big bike I owned was a Ducati Monster 750cc with straight through pipes.. A Honda C90.
With a restoration like that I'm not surprised
Hi Jack ,hope your well as you look brother,Investment in classic perfection and motorcycle history is golden,fill ya boots people, its all gravy baby 😎
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Owned a Z1B in 78 and trust me, if money was no object there's no way I would have left that auction without one, however much it cost.
My bike was exactly the same as the 3rd bike for sale except it had 4 into 2 Dunstall exhausts and didn't have the stupid reflectors on the forks and shocks.
Thank you Jack for all the coverage of all the events you do !!! I think the seller had more than one bike there . Was this one that much nicer than the other 900 Kawasaki bikes to demand almost twice the money?
It was the rare original black engine Z1. Extremely rare.
The best bike I ever owned,
Kicking myself now for selling mine. I had a very low VIN, 1972 manufactured Z1 complete basket case that needed restoration. It was in great condition. Darn!
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
The Movie Mad max made those really popular down here in Australia.
Amazing restorations best looking bike ever all i need now is the cash would have one ! I live in the UK and would never take one out in the winters here
I had a Z1R loved that bike wish I could get it back.
One of those Zeds was a Z1A, not B.
You can tell by the 900 insignia design on the side panniers.
Correct!
I had a "Tomato Tank" Kaw. Fastest bike at the time . The Kaw 750,500 two strokes were wicked quick too
WoW!!! That's cool. I'm still riding my '76 1000 cc. Great bike. Fast.
The ‘76 was called KZ900 the 1000 came out in ‘77
@@stepside2839 That's right. My bike was made 8/76, came out '77. Still fast as shit.
@@wayneneeley2404 Absolutely Fast
Suzuki, Yamaha, & Honda had to play
catchup to to us during those years.
The Japanese dominated the motorcycle market at that time. Same for their stereo systems.
There's a lot of wealthy business men out there who will like most of us pay what ever it takes to relive their past on this iconic bike.
You're saying they are idiots with too much money? Agreed!
The OG crotch rocket a guy that played softball with my dad had one when I was a kid Kerker 4 into 1 header I can still hear it almost 50 years later! Even though I was a Honda dirt bike guy and got my first street bike at age 21 a Harley and I’ve always been a HD guy. I’m not a snob I love all Motorcycles ! I would love to have a KZ 900 lol
🤔 I wonder what my ‘76 KZ-900 is worth.
The only thing that’s not original is the tires & rear shocks.
Has not been used in 25 years👀
Looks like I should have kept my '74 Z-1B. I had one from 1978-1985, same paint job as the auction bike and it looked just as good when I sold it and bought a 1985 900 Ninja. I put over 60K on each bike, some fun-filled riding.
Hey brother good shit Johnny I didnt even relize it was you till I seen the braids in the back.Another one for the collection,You gunna put a turbo on it?HahahaLoL yaaa.
My top number was $50K! Believe me it is worth every penny!!! 😎
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
That '73 Z1 selling for $50K was a clear outlier - but if you arguably want the nicest one in the world, then time to pay up! Will there be more outliers like this in the future? Sure. That Z1 is a Condition #1 bike, and if you're hoping for a higher future return you better park it and cover it in climate control! Each mile you ride it is like lighting up a $100 bill. I'm borrowing that "saying" from Sports Car Market publisher Keith Martin.
I'm currently rebuilding my Dads '74 Z1A. It will never be for sale but this video is going to my insurance guy haha
I had a 73 z900 that had rear ended a car and i got it cheap back in 89 or 90. Should've held on to that one!
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
The real deal in this video is the Suzuki GS 750 ES. I had one of the first ones in '83. It was the same year that Honda brought out the VFR 750 Interceptor. Both of these bikes were the fastest 750's in that year. Jay Gleason rode both of them to an 11.98 quarter mile. That was fast back then. Smaller diameter front wheel and tire made turning quick. The bike in the auction went for $1,700. That's a deal! It can be a ten second bike without much effort. I came home on leave from the Army in July of '87, and me and my buddies rode to Mid Ohio for the Superbike races. Three of my buddies had the same bike as me. One was a GS 750 E. Anyway, we rode them onto the infield, and rode all around the track watching the racing. We had the only GS 750 ES's in the place! There were well over 20,000 motorcycles at the race. We rode out of there, after the races were over. We left like mad men with our hair on fire. 100+ mph all the way home. We passed everyone on the way out. Young, dumb and afraid of nothing. The world was different back then. It was awesome!
Well, they got the top speed right. My 74 Z1 900 would do exactly 132 mph. However, it was dangerous at that speed, it would actually start lifting off the road.
The 1974 was the best Z1 900, it had 28mm carbs, bigger valves, and the transmission problems were taken care of. They were $1,860 brand new.
It is very simple to weld a few extra pieces in critical locations to stop that uneasyness at high speed. We have learned a few tricks over the years. I have one now, heavily modded, that I took to 180 on the GPS, completely smooth, no wobbles.
@@leesutterlin1757 I totally agree. The first thing I done was put a steering stabilizer on my bike. The Z1 900 was nicknamed the "Wobbly Goblin." Because it would tank slap.
I'm a certified Kawasaki mechanic. The 73 and 75 -77 had 26mm carbs. Those years had transmission problems, if you were turning over 9000 rpm, you'd miss second gear.
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
@@ricktaylor3748 Hey brother, what's the fix for that second gear problem? Tearing it down for an 1135 kit, so I might as well address that issue now. Thanks.
I had a mate that bought a Vincent. As a basket case. The engine was totally rebuilt modern engineering. Usd forks re-engineered rear . It handled like it was on rails and for an old bike went as faf. Seen guys do the same with the z 900 s what a difference some tweaking does
I had a couple of these during the 80s.. wow if I knew then what I know now lol 😆 😅. Fairplay to te owner
Works of Art
Truly spoken that was the fastest production motorcycle ever made at that time. It was one mean machine.
That is really clean so my guess would be that isn't actually a bad price because of the fact that after the Honda 750 four the kwaka is a very collectable vehicle and while petrol is available they are going to be sought after and I sold my brown 76 and my old mach 11 together as a pair but ??
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Good that its only got one disk, as per the original - but obviously the steering damper wasn't stock. However it was a worthwhile investment if you didn't want the wobbly frame to kill you.
My favorite bike wow!
Amazing
I remember several years ago H2 Had been going for 25Gs I sold all my triple parts frames seats and side covers and made bank while that was going on.
Hey I got a ‘73 Z1, s/n 00015 (matching engine and frame) I’ve been restoring. Can someone put me in touch with Mike Konapaki, to see if he’s interested in restoring my bike. I’ve had it for a year now, health problems have slowed me down, should have had it done by now. This is serious, no BS, I have plenty of pictures of it, can take plenty more. Thanks, Robert
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
the most beautiful motorcycle ever made
I haven't had the change to thougoughly inspect the Kawasaki Z's, but all four had the wrong plug caps. Yes, it's a small detail but if you're doing to tell me about the meticulous detail the restorer applies and the fact he uses only NOS parts, you've got to get the little things right as well.
Guy I met in CAPE TOWN 76' Had Brown 1 /Orange stripe tank 74' I think /ME K2 CB Honda 750/ Rode pillon few times Rear swing arm gave a bit on Really fast comers & mean fast Rider ..Still have my Red GpzRX 1000,ninja under cover in garage 18k on clock..
I have a 1974 Z-1 in my shop. Bought it in 1977.
what was the suzuki right after the z1
Jack I know you love 2stroke motorcycles. Have you ever seen a rotary engine Suzuki RE5 2stroke being raced? I have a project that got paused in 2003 when I became disabled, and can't mechanic anymore, and was building a landspeed Bonneville bike with a goal of 200mph with a turbo I have 2 Garrett turbo's, and probably a squirt of nitrous oxide [giggle-gas] to get there...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
You "have to" get some crazy wrench swinging psycho into your life, and get it up and running, setting the records, you can't any more - before it's to late - I'd say... I mean, if it hurt to much to think about, you probably wouldn't be here.. Best wishes from Denmark :)
@CONEHEADDK I'd love to have that wrench swinging psycho in my life!!..lol yeah I got hurt in September of 2003 and every project is just paused, for 20yrs now. And I enjoyed anything that burned 🦕 🦖 dinosaurs!..lol I've even got a garden tractor 🚜 with a Yamaha Virago 750cc v-twin engine for pulling a weighted sled at the fair. I was building a truck for a S.H.T.F. situation, and for hunting purposes, a 1975 Chevy Blazer, the last year for the full convertible/removable hardtop that is open to the windshield. After 75 Blazers had a stupid 1/2 style top where the driver/passenger area had a lil roof, and the back part open when the top was off. Some other bike's I still have is my old flattracker a Bighorn 350cc 2stroke single cylinder, with a rotary port intake design, which has the cool front forks, with different mounting spots to lengthen, or shorten, the wheelbase for different track's. A old early 60's Honda Dream 305cc twin cylinder. My buddy has a 1973-74 Suzuki waterbuffalo 750cc tripple GT750 is what Suzuki called it. 5 and half early to mid 90's snowmobiles, my dragboat is in my picture thing in the corner. The fastest hull design ever made, the best number I ever had on a radar gun was 126mph, I think it could go 135ish with a wing to hold it in the water, because aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics meet with this hull design, and the boat quit touching the water, a real butt hole tightening experience..lol so since I never bought, or built a wing, and I was a bit of a drinker 🍸, I changed the gearing ⚙️ so my top speed is 105-107ish mph, and is much safer. To put it in a car scenario, I went from a rear gear ⚙️ of 2.11, to a 4.11 rear gear. So my top speed is lower, but it gets there quicker! Man I wish I could find someone closer to me than Denmark 🇩🇰, but my shop is open for you, if you ever can get across the pond! I even have 3 nitro burning R.C. truck's 2 are Ofna Titan's 4x4, and 1 is a Ofna Titan twin, meaning that it has 2 of the same engines in one 4x4 truck. Like I said, my shop is always open to you Mr Coneheaddk..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
@@billallen4793 WOW - crazy things, and results. I'm probably about the same age as you, if not older (age sucks, damagede bodies even more - I've had a bad back since I was 16, "culminating" in a discusprolapse in 92, so I'm not you man. :/ Only "record breaking" I've ever done (except being stoopid risky crawling on top of speeding cars on highly trafficked "Lillebeltsbroen" bridge, from car to car, from speeding bikes to cars aso, was a beefed upMinarelli 50 cc (mopeds were legal up to 30 km/t from 15 yo back then) thrown into a tiny ladies moped frame (looked speedway) with no brakes, lights, a banana seat from a bicycle and a one liter plastic bottle gas tank tied on - using wooden boots in front of the foot pegs to stop - and could as fast at the times Yamaha mpoeds with disc brakes :D It could do 55 kmt in 1. over 70 in 2, out run any other beefed moped in 3, and still pull through in 4 with tiny me (about 110 pds back then). Once in a haaard W wind I had it reving so high, that I didn't dare keep going, bcz I was afraid, it would sieze. I expect I was doing 150 kmt or more. "Only" dream I have about bikes, if remaking "it" and get a top speed measure, but they are - like everything cool - gone crazy prices, so it ain't gonna happen. Sad to hear about your broken dreams, even thogh having fullfillled some is better than none.. I bet you could find "the psycho you need" at some kind of bike meet, swap market whatever, if you start sharing stories.. Ambition and skills flow over from our mouths, as soon as we meet peeps like us - like fly fishermen (I'm a two hand salmon/sea trout maniac, "just" without access to water the last 4-5 years bcz of cash no flow and distance) can't shut up, when we meet another. Thanks for the nice offer - I'm NEVER going to the US, bcz of your warped "justice sissystem" that I have had zero trust in since all the absurd 9-11 covoverup aso. IF I ever go anywhere far, it will be to see Canada again (born Toronto 1961) but with Caztro and the gang of wowowkeness in charge, that ain't gonna happen either.. Expecting a man like you to have a good woman in you life, at least. They usually chose men, that can and do, bcz IF you have that, you are still "lucky". I've had a couple over the years, and nothing beats that. Best wishes. B)
@CONEHEADDK yes I was lucky enough to find a good woman, I was 28yrs old back then,and I'm over 50yrs old now! You've got more than 10yrs on me bud!..lol our justice system has become a JUST-US proposition, for the rich and powerful, but that stuff only matters if you break the law, which I'm not in the habit of doing..lol where I live we are surrounded by the world's best trout fishing! Google a place called "the miracle mile"! 7,000 fish 🐟 per mile! That's what the fish population is! No boat required to fish from. And the communistic snowboard 🏂 instructor up north has gone completely crazy! I'm sure that the gistapo will be going door 🚪, to door 🚪, soon, searching for firearm's! I fear that it will take the government to do something like that before we stand-up as a nation, together, to fight the people who are ruining our nation! I was hoping that this type of situation wouldn't happen in my lifetime, but the Bible, and the wife said that it would. I was an Army Bratt who traveled the world 🌎 on the Uncle Sam travel plan until 1985ish when we came back to the state's from Europe. My father and stepfather were both career military 🪖 intelligence. I was taught to love my country, but don't trust the politicians! It's a good rule, and has served me faithfully since..lol my town is called Lander Wyoming, and it's about as close to heaven as a man can get, without dying, of course...lol and you must like winter to live here, and be happy! As far as a visit goes, you'd be welcome ANYTIME! For immigration purposes, now might be the ideal time to sneak/walk across our southern border and stay to get a citizenship, before someone can get voted 🗳 in and stops the flood of illegal's coming in. Afterwards it'll be very hard to get in this country. And that's only if you believe that we can have another trusted election result! After the 2020 "election" I find that doubtful, unless we go back to in person voting, showing identification, and thumb 👍 dye to show that you've voted already. So in a short wrap-up we are screwed!..smh..lol..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
@CONEHEADDK have you seen the moped racing from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, and South America? They build some insane creations with moped type motorcycles, which are CRAZY fast!..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠 they are big rotary engine fan's also!
I had a lot of bikes in my life I bought a 900 LTD Kawasaki The end of 75 Put over 300000 miles on It best bike I ever own By far
Nice!
Красивый мотоцикл 🏍 👍👍👍
Thanks a lot for watching! What would you be willing to pay for a 73 Z1-900? And what motorcycle do you dream of adding to your collection?
Those were NOT the original tires. The stock rear tire was a Dunlop K87, the front was a Dunlop F7 (I believe).
Those other tires may have been put on by the dealer when new, but not at the factory.
I bought a ‘73 Z1 fifty years ago. Still have it. Not for sale (until my grandson goes to college, maybe).
Worked on a bunch of them, made some go really fast. But I kept mine stock, except for the seat, air shocks, exhaust. Original parts are in a box. And better tires. Put tapered bearings in the steering head, and a top motor mount to improve handling. Stock exhaust pipes are hanging on the wall - they are marked “900 Z1/750 Z2.” I stopped riding it when the odometer returned to zero, about 35 years ago.
I knew the guy who owned the fourth 903 to come off the line. Number 3 was in Kawasaki headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, numbers 1 and 2 were in a museum in Japan - this was in the 80’s. The fourth was still in the crate, which was a Honda 750 crate. I don’t know why.
I ride a Z1000 now. It’s fast enough for me.
I read somewhere several years ago that a really good Z1 would be worth six figures some day.
I wonder what a ‘71 883 Sportster would be worth today.
One more thing - except for some very early Z1’s, I have not seen any with matching frame and engine numbers. And yes, I’ve seen a lot of Z’s, working for a Kawasaki distributor. Mine do not match either.