Update 12.3.2022: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc
1993 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R M1 with 13K miles
Someone call Bring a Trailer and put them on notice because this Kawasaki ZX-7R is our 5th Featured Listing for the month! We just need to adopt a bland writing style and we’re there. Helping us on our ascent to the top are many enthusiasts and frequent patrons of the industry. Today, a returning supporter, Andy has allowed us to showcase his rare 1993 ZX-7R M1. The seller is running the auction on Iconic Motorbikes Auctions and you can follow the bidding there.
When I think of the origin story for this icon, I think of a boy picking dandelions in the outfield while the hitter pops one out into left field. In this case, the boy is Kawasaki and the raging tee ball game is the newly minted World Superbike Championship. Other teams like Honda came out of the gate shooting with their RC30 while Kawasaki was dicking around with a steel frame GPX750. Of course this was no regular GPX and Kawasaki did secure one win in the opening season in Hungary but they only managed to reach 4th in the constructor’s championship. They had brought a knife to a gunfight. As we know Kawasaki didn’t become the kid who got bullied on the playground because of the whole dandelion thing. Instead they studied the other manufacturer’s designs and released the ZXR750 in 1989. That bike ultimately helped them clinch the WSBK championship over a Ducati piloted by Carl Fogarty in 1993. This 1993 ZX-7R M1 Homologation is as close as you can get to that. 
The 1993 model was the most advanced ZX-7 to ever be released. The first generation bike used a souped up GPX750 engine and actually ended up weighing more than the GPX750 itself which is crazy considering it was made from Aluminum. In a field littered with lightweight Bimotas and Hondas the ZXR never stood a chance. By the time 1993 rolled around. Kawasaki had redesigned the engine, added upside down forks, shortened the wheelbase, installed ram air intakes and cut some weight off the bike.
This M1 Homologation special got two extra bits that the rest of the regular “L” models did not receive: a close ratio gearbox and 39mm Keihin FCR flat slide carbs. It’s a race bike.
The keys to collector quality are low production, race pedigree, and an engaging experience. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention condition and that is really the highlight of this bike. The seller has completed a full restoration over the course of his ownership. Overhauls to the engine, bodywork, suspension, brakes, and pretty much every major assembly were done to this bike. The condition of the bike prior to the resto is unclear but the seller mentions it remained in storage for a number of years. It’s only got 13K mi so it clearly wasn’t ridden much. There’s a picture in the gallery below of the tank and the paint looks so good I’m not sure I would ever be comfortable going into full tuck.
There’s really not much else to say about this bike. It’s great to see these classic machines get revived and enjoyed. Everything that we as enthusiasts and collectors love about the hobby is really embodied by this ZX-7R. It’s analog. It’s racy. It’s got an iconic 90s color scheme. This is the kind of stuff we’re talking about when we say we miss the old days.
The auction can be found here and has reached $8,100 before the close of day 1 of 6. Good luck on the bids!
Thanks for reading!
Norm
