Update 5.13.2015: First listing was a no sale at $20,800 reserve not met. Relisted now with a buy-it-now of $21,500. Good luck to buyers and seller! -dc
Kawasaki’s Z1R-TC is the kind of bike they just don’t make anymore, mainly because repeat customers are so important and dead customers generally can’t buy anything. It was the product of a far less litigious age, when “DO NOT TAMPER WITH BOOST CONTROL” stickers and a “we’re not responsible if you die” forms signed before riders howled off in clouds of tire smoke, wastegates whistling were considered sufficient protection from lawsuits brought by widows and orphaned children.
Conceived as a way to move moribund Z1R’s before the introduction of the far more modern GPz, Kawasaki worked with the Turbo Cycle Company to slap a simple turbo and plumbing onto otherwise stock bikes. Oh sure, they recommended you install upgraded internals to handle the additional power, but it’s not like you could force anyone to do something like that. And I’m sure most wild-eyed horsepower junkies buying turbocharged hand grenades knew well enough to go easy on their new rides…
But while the crude technology employed and the minimal changes made to prepare the otherwise stock bike for 10psi of boost, because of course you haven’t messed with that wastegate like that sticker told you may have meant headaches when the bike was new, they only serve to increase the entertainment value today. The Z1R-TC was never going to be any good on the track, and no one expects a 35 year old motorcycle to be fast away from a stoplight, so you’ve got nothing to prove anymore. And mastering that laggy turbo and scary handling just makes things more interesting: apparently, the lag was so bad that a fast pass required the rider to drag the rear brake to control speed while holding the throttle cracked to build boost…
Obviously not ideal, but sometimes it’s fun to work around a bike’s limitations.
Today’s bike looks to be in exceptional condition, and includes an engine built to remain intact for a long time to come and some uprated suspension bits to hopefully allow you to effectively use that newfound reliability.
From the original eBay listing: 1979 Kawasaki Z1R-TC Turbo for Sale
Here is your chance to own a rare vintage Japanese sports bike. There were only approximately 250 of these bikes in this particular color combo made. This bike has less than 6,300 miles on body / original engine. Currently has a rebuilt (1250cc) motor has very few, if any miles on it. I have owned this bike since 1980 when it had only 50 miles on it! This bike is in great condition for its vintage. It has been stored indoors for many years and fired right up when it was taken out of storage. Minor modifications were made to make this bike safer to ride, which includes an extended swing arm and upgraded rear shocks.
Most of the turbocharged bikes of the period suffer in one way or another from lag that makes them less practical than a normally-aspirated machine. But their quirks and on-boost performance, combined with rarity and a hairy-chested reputation make them increasingly desirable to collectors, and the TC is at the top of that list.
-tad
