Z1 900 sells for WHAT?!

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.

[billallen]

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 🇺🇸 🤠

[johnbrooks]

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.

[messenger]

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.

[sharkzf]

When I first started riding on the street, these were the bikes everyone wanted!! So cool! 😎

[dougturner]

Mike, Doug here, your restorations are beautiful. You deserve this👍

[ericbraun]

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.

[tedecker]

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.

[gymshoe]

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!

[martinh]

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!

[Dallas-Nyberg]

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!

[johneire]

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.

[wattzmonster]

Love that color combination on that 73' Kawasaki Z1 900. DIG IT!!!

[dcwebb]

Was there at the auction, they were stunning in person! Drop dead gorgeous bikes.

[thinkingimpaired]

In the 70s, I remember my buddy giving me a ride on the 900. Even with 2 people, the bike was fast.

[thejerseyj]

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.

[jimjohnson]

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 :(

[k.i.i.]

Motorcycles will never go out of style. The newer generation probably likes them more than the older generation does. Even the vintage ones. Riding them is a few notches away from flying like Superman🤣. And I'm serious! You don't get that feeling with any type of car (even the most popular cars)...or any other vehicle for that matter. You need to ride a motorcycle to understand. People may debate on what type of bike to get...whether it be a Harley or Honda...It doesn't matter, they're all classified as motorcycles. Keep in mind that these vintage (1960's to 1980's ) motorcycles will out last the new ones being built now. These vintage motorcycles will still be here 50 years from today. New motorcycle or old, it doesn't matter. Get one that you're attracted to cosmetically. You'll know when you find the right one(s) too because you will have "that good feeling", which is you're brain releasing dopamine. And trust me, you'll feel it when you see the right one(s)! I have 2 vintage motorcycles and I've had them for years and I STILL get those "good feelings" whenever I look at them. I do find myself staring at them often. Just be safe with them because they can be very dangerous or they can be very save (just like anything else)...It all depends on the operator.

[samueladams]

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.

[MatMcCrudden]

The Movie Mad max made those really popular down here in Australia.

[MrDjh]

Freakin insane would never have dreamed this 10 years ago.Heading out in my 71 CB 350 now