Kawasaki Z1 900 | The King of Motorcycles?

The Kawasaki Z1 900 is the epitome of the classic motorcycle of the seventies. Arguably the most beautiful Japanese bike of the era, this is the story of the project codenamed ‘New York Steak’ - experience the speed, acceleration and sound of the Kawasaki Z1 and see what this classic motorbike is like on the roads today.

[ramonwoodworth]

I bought my Z1 from a roommate in 1975. Gave it to my son around 1994. This last Father's Day he gave it back to me completely restored! It is immaculate. Makes me smile every time I ride it. The sound from those pipes is music to this old man's 75 year old ears!

[leafforever]

My 1975 Z1B900 stays in the family. It goes to my oldest Son, when I can't hold her up, anymore. What a machine...👍

[keithwaite]

Been riding 47 years… and I still think this is the sexiest motorcycle ever built, had a z1000 and a Z650 … loved them, but always wanted a Z1

[tedecker]

Had the first one delivered in South Dakota. Rode it 6 years and 70, 000 miles. Worked at a Honda dealership at the time, the boss made me park it across the street.

[adrianr]

I remember 1973, I was 15 and was into 125cc trail bikes but I have never seen a bike more beautiful than the Z1 900's and I nearly died the first time I laid eyes on one.
I am happy I grew up in a golden era of bikes, music and girls.

[biggusbestus]

I was a police mechanic in the 1970s. One year we sold all the oil leaking Harley's and got Honda 750s. The next cycle we bought Kawasaki 900s. I drove a Suzuki GT 380 in my personal life and to this day wish I still had that little rice grinder.

[MichaelZZRrider]

A French cafe at night, by the sea, me a 13 year old lad just sat looking at all the bikes parked outside. These guys were like gods with their CB750'S, GT750's, Laverda's and an assortment of other machines. All of the guys seemed to have beautiful French ladies on the back. I was mesmerised. Then, a sound I will never forget as a bike came down the road by the sea front and pulled up, only to be surrounded by everyone there. A Z1, that under the cafe's lights, looked like something created by Da Vinci. It was the most beautiful bike I had ever seen.I knew all about the performance but had never seen one in the flesh. There began a love affair with Kawasaki that is still as strong today as it was then. I have owned many Kawasaki's and still have 3 now (about to be 4 as I will shortly rescue a ZZR 1100). I still think about that night and the question I would like to ask those French riders the bloody hell did you manage to get all of those beautiful French ladies to ride on the back? Maybe if I slowed down a little I may have had more luck. But then I would not be a Kawasaki rider Ha! Ha! Live to Ride!

[threethrushes]

The production value, the sound, editing, and care taken over each video shows genuine love of your craft and for bikes.

Thank you!

[lancelot]

I had seen the review of the Kawasaki Z1 in a Popular Mechanics 1972 Sept issue, I believe, which I still have. The challenge was to ride the bike 24 hrs continuous hours over 100 mph at Daytona - just stopping to replace tires (which were coming apart), oil changes, chain adjustments (the original Z-1 had a automatic 3-position chain lubricator), and oil changes.
A year later, summer 1973, I met another other motorcyclists heading in the same direction on the Interstate (back then, whenever you met a fellow motorcyclist, you would invite him to ride together). Soon there were three of us. Suzuki GT-750, and two Honda Four CB-750 (mine included). Someone shows up in our rear view mirrors, single headlight on (that must be a dedicated motorcyclist, a "pro" as only hard-core riders rode with their high beam on in daylight). Pride and vanity helping, we cranked up our engines easily to 100+ mph hoping to loose that single driver in the dust. He joined up with us, shit, it is a Burgundy red Z-1... We all admired each others bikes and then he waved at us and ... departed leaving us behind. Wow! We joined him at a service area and took our got a snack, we all switched bikes, trying each other's machines and made it to Trois-Rivieres (QC, Canada) on a local highway. Those were the days, we were a nice a small riding community and we pretty much all knew one another. The only people who would not "play" with us with "bad" motorcycle gangs and Harley Davidson guys, we did not care, we could lose them in the dust. Eight years later, I sold my faithful CB-750 to a friend at 102, 000+ miles and bought a used Kawasaki KZ-1 with a Vetter fairing. Peace be with you guys, ride safe! Ciao, L (ME, USA & QC, CAN).
PS. I still ride Vintage Honda, my joys are a 1983 CB-1000 Custom and a 1982 Goldwing Interstate (and a few others from that era)...

[kevinp]

Had a buddy back in 1976 who had one. It had a 4 into 1 header with a megaphone pipe. Man you could hear it from 5 miles away on a hot summer night. I remember laying in bed, windows open no ac back then, he would be coming home from work around midnight. What a beautiful sound, yep that’s Michael headed home. You could hear it from the time he started it to when he turned it off when he got home. Pretty sure the neighbors didn’t like it but to a 18 year old kid it was music to your ears. Man, those were the days !

[fjp]

I remember when the Z1 came out in the mid 70's. It was awesome, like nothing else back then.

[Team-fabulous]

Back in the day when Kawasaki opened their factory door and wheeled the Z1 out the world gasped. All modern inline four cylinder four strokes can trace their lineage back to the mighty Z.
A fantastic video...

[PJD_]

I had a Triumph Trident T160 in 1975 preceded by a BSA Thunderbolt but most of my peers were riding big UJM’s. They didn’t interest me in the day but this Z1 has certainly held up over the years and looks great.

[Supercell]

I had a 77 and 78 KZ 1000’s back in the 70’s, maybe 15 bikes later, I’m 64 and ride a GW now, the day I can’t ride will be the start of my demise, excellent video, loved it.

[Jake-tybs]

my 73 z1 900 has been in my family since 1975 when my brother bought it. i got it from my brother in 85 what a bike. still get many compliments.

[seniorrider]

The colors and black engine grabbed me and I got one in Nov. 73. The brakes were good, but not strong enough for the power and speed. This bike could get one in trouble if they weren't careful. Luckily, Kawasaki came out with a dual disc kit for it and when installed, the bike had superior braking power. I drove mine across the country in 74, averaging 45 MPG. Loved that bike, learned a lot riding it. Unfortunately some lowlife thief stole the bike in July 76. I've looked at the new 900RS, but it just doesn't grab me the way the Z1 did.

[thenormalguy]

I smile when I think "Yeah, I had one of those..."! That bike was balls-out SICK.
Sold it to my best friend. He still has it today.

[patrickallen]

I think I was 11 and had a small mini bike and loved to ride. When this came out I remember staring at it for what seemed like hours. It was the bike of bikes and it was a head turner. Every so often a bike comes out that is a game changer and I think this one tops the list.

[pjeffries]

The love of my life. Bought it on my 18th birthday. Lived to tell the tale.

[TheHomeExpert]

This is one of the best sounding motorcycles that I have ever heard when I was growing up, especially if you put a Kerker aftermarket pipe on it.