1997 Kawasaki KZ1000-P Jim Goose Replica
Miles: 1
Clean Title
Listed Price: $59,980
This Kawasaki KZ1000 police bike-based replica of a machine used in the original Mad Max film from 1979 obviously doesn’t fit with our usual content, but I hope I’ll be forgiven: outside World Superbike and MotoGP racing, Mad Max is likely to have been one of the most powerful influences on young gearheads of a certain age. The wild, guerilla-style POV footage of Jim Goose gearing up and leaving his paramour’s place in the early morning and blasting along a deserted stretch of roadway en route to his ultimate doom, the cameraman filming over the rider’s shoulder and hanging on for dear life, captured the thrill and danger of motorcycling in a way that even top-level racing really couldn’t, until the advent of the lightweight, miniaturized cameras used on racebikes today. In modern terms, a Kawasaki KZ1000 couldn’t be considered anything close to a potent sportbike, but the stuntmen risking their lives hurling these heavy, underbraked, skinny-tired monsters along narrow, badly-paved roads certainly inspired me with their heroics.
A total & faultless bespoke re-creation of the cult classic Mad Max Goose Bike, this motorcycle began its journey as an original KZ1000 Police bike that has been totally transformed with a complete rebuild by International multi award winning custom motorcycle builder Shaun Ruddy.
Featuring the following touches:
Fully polished & rebuilt engine with custom exhaust featuring 1980’s NOS Jardine mufflers.
Polished & chromed parts throughout with polished stainless steel hardware.
De-tabbed hand finished gloss black powder coat chassis with chrome adjustable shocks.
Customized Airtech Streamlining body panels & rear cowl mounted with hand crafted polished stainless steel supports
Multi stage paint “eye matched” to movie bike colors finished with badging and logos imported from Australia, manufactured by the company that produced the original movie badges.
Other unique items include fully custom rear sets, fully refurbished hand controls, police siren, CB radio, pursuit lights & hand crafted leather seat.
Electronics have been upgraded with a complete custom wiring harness, new charging system, high performance coils and plug leads, fully refurbished gauges, new headlight, tail light, indicators and blinkers.
This concourse quality motorcycle has had every single part renewed, polished or coated giving it the look, ride and performance of a new motorcycle while maintaining the look of the classic Goose movie bike.
This recreation looks to be pretty spectacular and it should be, given the eye-watering $59,980 asking price. Note that the bike is one of a planned series so, if you’re really interested, you could spec one out differently, preferably with some updates to the bike’s performance. Given the detailed build sheet, this Kawasaki KZ1000 Jim Goose Replica is probably much, much nicer than the original that was used in the film: director George Miller was working with a pretty slim budget, and the rough edges of the vehicles and costumes are often visible. But every dollar is up there onscreen and used to full effect: the bikes and cars used in the film get used, abused, wrecked, set on fire, launched off bridges, rammed through caravans… If you haven’t seen it and you’re into motorcycles and, obviously cars, you’re really missing out.
-tad
