Posts by tag: Kawasaki

Featured Listing August 1, 2019 posted by Mike

Featured Listing: 1978 Kawasaki Z1R TC

Update 8.1.2019: Joe has renewed his Featured Listings. Check out all of Joe’s bikes for sale on RSBFS! Many thanks for choosing us to help move your collection! -dc

In the wonderful world of Turbo motorcycles, there are the “make your own” types, and the factory turbo offerings. But this special model, the mighty Kawasaki Z1R TC, not only blurs the lines between the two camps, it is also the very first in the factory turbo column. You see, the Z1R TC was sold through Kawasaki dealerships as a new model. However it was not (technically) a factory effort. The offspring of a mixed marriage, ex-Kawi exec Alan Masek convinced the Big K brass to ship bikes to his Turbo Cycle Company (TCC). Given the sluggish sales of the warmed over Z1R, this was no big feat. TCC applied an American Turbo Pak kit to the stock machines, and shipped the resultant mutants to select dealerships with a $1,400 premium tacked on to the sticker price. Appearing to be a factory effort – but devoid of the factory warranty – the Z1R TC went on to gain an incredible reputation for speed, on/off switch turbo boost behavior (Jeckyl & Hyde anyone?), and questionable longevity. For Kawasaki it was a huge win with very little risk. Today, these rare bikes are coveted by collectors world wide.

Featured Listing: 1978 Kawasaki Z1R TC!

The original Z1R TC bikes went out the door in stock Kawasaki colors; they were literally converted by TCC and kicked out of the shop. As the operation matured, several changes occurred. The first was a change to the exhaust plumbing and collector – in an effort to tame the boost. The next change was a new wastegate that limited boost to 6 PSI (the Gen I bikes had a fully adjustable wastegate). And finally the classic 1970s paint scheme emerged. These are all Gen II bikes, and can be identified by the “Molly Designs” logo on the tail section. With the new graphics the Z1R TC finally had the appearance to show off the induction upgrades. Today these Molly graphic bikes are the most desired of the Z1R TC set.

From the seller:
You should know that I am a serious collector, with a large motorcycle collection. I decided to sell some of the most valuable motorcycles in the collection. These motorcycles represent some of the most iconic motorcycles 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Those motorcycles are now being offered up for sale one by one. Many years ago when the best of the best was available, and that is what I was buying, these motorcycles were targeted for my collection by me.

In general, I do believe super rare Italian motorcycle of the 1970s and 1980s are the future Ferrari of motorcycle collecting. We all know what has happened with the Ferrari market.

An exception is the Kawasaki Z1RTC.

More from the seller:
The rare bike in this ad is the 1978 Kawasaki Z1RTC. To me it is one of the greatest and rare motorcycle you can collect. It is a very limited production motorcycle especially in the Molly Graphics configuration. It is unbelievably fast and has an exhaust that is a thrill to listen to as it winds up through the gears. I purchased this Z1RTC from the original owner and it has not been taken apart or restored or manipulated. The original owner explained to me that this ZR1TC turbo is a Stage 3 which is the best of the best for Z1RTC turbos. The original owner told me he took the bike to a drag strip only once and turned 9.9 seconds in the quarter mile and described the feeling by saying, “it felt like his eyeballs were pinned to the back of his head”

The Z1RTC is all original except for the upgraded pressure gauge. Always kept on a trickle charger and ready to fly down the road.

They are only original once.

I would suggest that you check out the other rare cycles that I am offering for sale.

Prefer phone calls 847-774-4857

Thanks for looking at one of the best!

While the Z1R TC put Kawasaki on the map, not all was tea and roses. This was a serious motorcycle that demanded the best riders. Boost was not easily manipulated and the remainder of the stock Z1R pieces were not engineered for the upgrade. The complete lack of engine controls that we take for granted (computer controlled fuel injection, programmable ignition modules, rev limiters) made for a very fragile existence. There was actually recommendations in the manual that new owners upgrade to stronger valve springs, weld the crank and upgrade the clutch if the bike were to be used aggressively. When was the last time your owners manual made those types of modification suggestions? But given that there was no factory warranty, there was apparently little to lose.

These are mean, aggressive yet beautiful motorcycles. They chronicle an era where experimentation and entrepreneurship could coexist with a larger factory effort. And the epic bikes that resulted from these strange bedfellows strike awe and wonder in the hearts and minds of viewers – and riders. To find a totally stock Z1-R TC is an amazingly rare sight. This bike is very, very close to perfectly original, and has a very limited list of owners. It looks absolutely pristine and clean enough to eat off of – should you dare to commit such sacrilege. For those in the market for something unique and special, few bikes can compete with this beautiful 1978 Kawasaki Z1R TC. Interested readers should give Joe a call ASAP. If previous listings of this model are any example, this one will go quickly. Boost on, and good luck!!

Kawasaki July 27, 2019 posted by Mike

Peer Pressure: 1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo

The 1980s were wild time of experimentation. There was a technology explosion as liquid cooling, computerized fuel injection and other performance enhancers hit the scene. The sport bike battleground became a dizzying array of different configurations, each manufacturer vying for top honors on the racetrack and the showroom. Nowhere was this more evident than the brief window of the Turbo craze; the promise of liter bike power in a mid-sized sport bike never materialized, but the Big Four made seemingly every effort to make it so. Today what remains are the carcasses of the aftermath; an antiquated reminder of how quickly technology moves forward.

1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo for sale on eBay

Honda Turbos followed the route of the 500 & 650 cc CX twins, Suzuki went with a 650cc Katana rip-off that originated the air-oil cooling later made famous by the GSX-R series, Yamaha phoned in a warmed over Seca with a unique blow-through, carbureted 650 cc configuration, and Kawasaki built the Top Dog of the bunch with the GPz750 Turbo. Rated by motorcycle magazines as the fasted bike in 1985, the Kawi Turbo did deliver on the 1/4 mile promise of turbocharging. However the drawbacks of forced induction – weight, cost, complexity, turbo lag, lack of power predictability, etc – quickly sunk the ship. Buyers weren’t interested in paying the premium for the Turbo, and riders preferred the real world performance of the less expensive liter bikes. The year of the Turbo was over.

From the seller:
1985 KAWASAKI GPz750 TURBO (ZX750E), RARE and ORIGINAL
Manufacture Date – 08/84. One of 1,500 1985 GPz750 Turbos produced!!

An ALL ORIGINAL example of the fastest production motorcycle made in 1985, per Kawasaki. OEM motor, bars, seat, pipes, turbo, levers, mirrors, signals, brakes, fairing, wheels, etc. The ONE exception is an after-market uni-shock (single shock) the previous owner installed. I have the OEM uni-shock for it too and it still works great.

CLEAN and CLEAR TITLE!

Runs great! Looks great! Collector quality! This rare bike has already surpassed collector and vintage status. And, dependent on who you ask or where you look, has reached Antique status at 35 years old. Does NOT run like an old, decrepit bike….no way. ONLY 10,846 original miles on the odometer (see pic). There may be a few more miles on it when it sells. A RARE TURBO ANTIQUE YOU CAN RIDE! And ride fast…if you’re into that sort of thing. How cool is that? Fresh gas. Fresh battery. Newer front and rear brakes. Turbo works like it should. All electrics work like they should. Good compression. Good tires. All those little OEM Kawa stickers and decals are still in place; see RPM gauge, chain guard, base of tank, etc. Dual helmet locks! Original, original, original. If you are tired of looking at GPz 750 Turbo’s that are not original and in great condition, you can now stop looking. You have found The One.

This Turbo was last ridden in 2012 – see pic of temp tag – with annual fuel and oil changes. Basically long-term storage. New battery installed and starts right up. Currently has 92 octane in it (premium). There is very, very light surface rust around the base of the tank neck filler hole – see pic. Tank is very, very clean.

This bike isn’t new (obviously) but in very, very, very excellent condition with SUPER LOW miles on it and the starting bid reflects that condition.

More from the seller:
Many OEM Kawi parts and accessories go with this antique GPz750 TURBO motorcycle. Items such as (see pics):
OEM Kawa Uni-shock absorber
OEM Kawa GPz750 Turbo tool kit!
OEM Kawa Ignition keys, 2 each
OEM Kawa SERVICE MANUAL (1984)
OEM Kawa WORKSHOP MANUAL; SERVICE MANUAL SUPPLEMENT (1985), TWO EACH
OEM Kawa GPz750 TECHNICAL TRAINING MANUAL, TWO EACH
OEM Kawa 20-page “PRESS KIT”. This is cool. An OEM (copy) of a 1985 Press Kit, authored and published in Japan but written in English. Used for the roll-out introduction of the 1985 GPz750 Turbo for the Press
OEM Kawa “750 Turbo” sticker (bumper sticker)
OEM Kawa Fuel filter, NEW, 1 each
OEM Kawa Air filter, NEW, 1 each
OEM Kawa Clutch Cable, NEW, 1 each
OEM Kawa Horns, dual set, 1 each

Kawasaki-branded key fob; color matched to bike
Mini-turbo key ring ornaments, color matched to bike, 2 each – Super Cool!
Bike cover with custom Kawasaki patch
Master Lock wheel disc lock; color matched to bike, 2 keys
OEM equivalent NEW battery, 14L-A2 (replaces 12N14-3A); just installed
Deltran “Battery Tender Automatic” (full size) WITH pigtail connection already installed on bike
K & N oil filters, NEW, 2 each
Canyon Carver handlebar tie-down set, 1 each
Custom aluminum license plate bracket
Some extra high-pressure fuel line hose

As stated previously on these pages, Factory Turbos are rare. But they are rare for some of the wrong reasons; nobody wanted them. The big Four quickly realized the poor ROI this direction was offering, and pivoted back to more mainstream sport bikes. Nearly 35 years later the song remains the same. Yes, prime examples of the XN, CX, XJ and ZX have slowly gained in value in recent years, but certainly not any faster than a super-clean example of any other 80’s era sport bike. It seems completely unfair, given the rarity, uniqueness and performance of these puffer bikes – but the public votes by wallet share, and these machines have proven to have a narrow focus of interested buyers. This particular GPz750 Turbo looks awesome and has some cool stuff that comes with it. But is it worth the opening ask of $9,999? Historic values would say probably not, but the market is constantly changing and conspires to make fools of us all. Check it out here, and Good Luck!!

Featured Listing July 3, 2019 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: 1989 Kawasaki ZX-7

Every once in a while it’s nice to see a clean, honest and awesome sportbike come across our screens that would be as comfortable as garage art as it would be on your morning commute and in the mountains, and this 1989 Kawasaki ZX-7 might just be that bike. It’s not particularly rare, but it’s an early iteration of a sporting icon and a link between Kawi’s beastly GPzs from the 1980s to the modern Ninjas.

1989 Kawasaki ZX7 for sale on eBay

With the best part of 100 horsepower on tap and a reputation for being a sweet handling street bike, this early Ninja has a ton of upside for the right sportbike rider. We love that this bike is in the stealthy, classy black and silver color scheme. More often than not, we see these things with Kawasaki’s trademark green and blue paintwork, but the black looks just as good and you don’t see as many of them.

This 1989 Kawasaki ZX7 is mostly stock, but has a couple of modifications to aide rideability. There’s an Ohlins shock and a 1990 ZX7 swingarm out back, along with titanium chain adjusters and the carbs have been jetted to cure the stock flat spot. Past that, it’s as it left the nest.

From the eBay listing:

1989 ZX-7 up for sale in beautiful riders condition. No major damage other than a few normal road scratches from age. I ride this bike to work several times a week and it runs great, no issues, selling only to raise funds to purchase a house. Very rare Ohlins rear shock, upgrade to 90′ ZX7 swingarm, shorter suspension dogbones, new fork seals and chain. Factory Pro stage one jet kit. Stellar handling, braking and side to side transitions. I had an 07′ R1 awhile back and this bike is more fun. Would make a great addition to any collection or daily rider. Shipping at buyers expense but I will deliver for free if you live in SoCal. Or, if you live close contact me for a test ride.
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/t1Nggxx34VY

Price: $4,800
Contact Lance by email (mienyamaha@hotmail.com) or call 909-213-3485

If you’re looking for something to stick on track stands and ogle instead of enjoy on a backroad, this probably isn’t your bike. The marks are mostly superficial, but lower-mileage and cosmetically perfect examples are out there. This bike should go to someone who will ride the hell out of it like Kawi intended.

Kawasaki June 27, 2019 posted by Aaron

Racier Ninja: 1993 Kawasaki ZXR750R M

Known as the ZX-7 in the United States and the ZXR750R in other markets, Kawasaki’s answer to the 1990s class of 750cc superbikes came in a wide variety of specs over its 14-year production cycle, but the early race special bikes are the ones that truly capture imaginations. In 1993, Kawasaki churned out a few hundred nearly race-ready ZXR-750Rs marked with an ‘M’ model designation. Standard bikes were noted with an ‘L.’ What was not a big divide in nameplate signaled a huge difference in spec and performance.

1993 Kawasaki ZXR750R M for sale on eBay

The M bikes rolled out of the factory with a rack of four 39mm flatslide carburetors, a slipper clutch, a close-ratio gearbox, fully adjustable suspension, no pillion post and an aluminum gas tank. Weight savings were something like 20 pounds over the standard street bikes and horsepower was up considerably, to 121 at the crank. While the run-of-the-mill models were sweet street machines with a hard edge when you wanted it, the M bikes made no concessions to comfort or ease of use.

This 1993 Kawasaki ZXR750R M is in fantastic, well-maintained, one-owner condition. The clean and nearly mark-free bodywork belies the bike’s 23,000 miles and all mechanical parts appear to be basically free of dirt and debris. The tires and brakes are new according to the seller, and the oil is said to look very good.

From the eBay listing:

This bike is one of few remaining kawasaki racing production model motorcycles. The rules for ama superbike racing during these years specified all manufacturers had to offer a production version of the bikes they intended to race. I think “homologation” was the term used to describe this process.
This motorcycle is the “m” version, not the normal “l” version which was the standard street bike offering. The “m” models had fully adjustable front and rear suspension components, 39mm flat slide carburetors, a close ratio transmission, a slipper clutch, an aluminum fuel tank, and no provisions for a passenger.

This bike needs nothing and speaks for itself all the way from front to back and has brand new tires and breaks and oil is clear as the day shines. Been serviced and owned by journeyman motorcycle mechanic since bought brand new in British Columbia Canada. The bike is just a piece of 1990s art for the sport bike worlds highest times and these bikes are rocketing in price as we all know and this is just the beginning. These bikes that are in this condition are getting sold for huge dollars and continue to rise and before you know it they will be doubled and tripled in price for everyone is importing them for profit and investment due too crashing market possibilities these will never loose there value for they are our generations dreams from the past that will never be forgotten. The rush and the feeling of rolling hard at 240 kph or 150 mph in the 90s can become and a reality and at the same time a serious Blue chip investment you can enjoy. I have 2 of them and a few other Japanese sport bikes I will be selling from my personal collection to make room and raise some funds to open my motorcycle shipping company I August. no chips in paint not damage no accidents just a beauty. Call me anytime for questions on the bike 4035508273 please refrain from asking my buy it now price just call we can discuss.
The warranty ran out in 1994 so the bike is being sold as is.

Bike is located in Red Deer Alberta Canada and is very easy to get across the border and tax international can deliver to your door or fly in to Calgary Alberta airport and ride home. Phone and talk to me before you bid to buy because there is no question asking and bargaining after auction ends. Please treat my auction properly and don’t bid because your board and ask your wife first and don’t bid by accident as I have seen ion the past.

Cheers Kyle Devereaux

Kawasaki June 26, 2019 posted by Mike

Featured Listing: 1980 Kawasaki KZ1000 Mk II AMA Superbike

Update 8.3.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

RSBFS is pretty strict when it comes to what makes it on the site. And while we generally shy away from race-prepped bikes, this one got the attention of the entire RSBFS staff. It spoke to us, and we believe that it will speak to our readers in the same way. Because this 1980 KZ1000 AMA Superbike is a terrific specimen of the way things were. In the days when going professional racing in the US meant starting wtih a street-based machine, the KZ1000 was about as high-tech as you were likely to find. From there you did what you could to
address the flexi-frame geometry, the teeny-tiny brakes, and the limitation of the air-cooled, two valve motor. Aerodynamics for motorcycles was a new art and really didn’t exist for the masses, save for the occasional bikini fairing. The “standard” was as close to a sporting motorcycle as most manufacturers offered, even though they were a far cry from the race-bike-with-lights that you can find at your dealership today. And if you like the way your Kawyamhonzuki GSXCBR1ZX carves corners today – just like a race bike – you can look back at dinosaurs like this and be very, very thankful that competition improves the breed.

Featured Listing: 1980 Kawasaki KZ1000 Mk II AMA Superbike

Starting life out as a 1980 Kawasaki KZ1000 – before being prepped for a life on the track – this example has few ties back to the original bike that spawned the silhouette. Both the frame and the braced swing arm are modified right out of the Yoshimura heyday. Suspension has been updated to better handle the rigors of racing, including a pair of trick Fox “piggyback” shocks. The engine and electrics have been converted over to race bike usage, which means that there may be some mystery in terms of exactly what was done. The charging system appears to be total loss, with magnetos feeding the spark and no need for a large battery thanks to the lighting delete. Note the slimmed-down profile of the crankcase ends; removal of the end-mounted components (such as alternator) and custom aluminum plates narrow this critical dimension, allowing for greater lean angle before hard parts touch down. The smoothbore carbs with awesome looking velocity stacks complete the transformation from streetable standard to no holds barred racer. Neat custom touches abound, including the oil cooler installation mount (with braided steel lines, naturally), the aforementioned crank end plates, and the rear caliper bracket. The exhaust is another Yosh product, and tucks the pipes high and tight for maximum cornering clearance. The cockpit remains relatively stock looking, if you ignore the doctored speedo.

From the seller:
1980 Kawasaki KZ1000 Mk II AMA Superbike as it rolled off the track in 1990

This example defines the word “untouched”. Formerly raced by the late Dr. David Kieffer racer #122 of “Roughstock Racing” in AMA Superbike. What you see here is current photos of it’s unrestored condition including original paint and complete bike is as it rolled off the race track for the last time at Steamboat Springs Colorado Vintage races in 1990.
Features include:

-Race Prepared by Roughstock Racing
-Pops Yoshimura Frame and Braced Swingarm- No VIN# being race only frame
-Engine to frame bracing through Countershaft
-ARD Magneto ignition
-EPM Mags- unrestored 18” Rear & 19” front-typical surface marks
-29mm Mikuni Smoothbore Carbs
-Yoshimura 4/1 header with Velasco end section
-AP Lockheed front Calipers
-Grimeca rear Caliper
-Fox Racing Shocks and Koni set in spares
-Spare wheels with original rain tires- Sun USA front 19” x 2.75” DID rear 18” x 3.5”
-Small assortment of electrical spares
-Full gearing assortment
-Spare front rotors

More from the seller:
Engine fires up easy and sounds good. It is believed to be a big bore with a close ratio transmission but I cannot verify details. Any plans to use it for other than display and firing up should be preceded by a full teardown. Bike was in dry storage for many years after last race and was gone through for inspection of cams, carbs and basic components before being fired up again in 2015 and has been fired on occasion.

More from the seller:
Bike is located in Allentown, PA

Price: $25,000

Proceeds from the sale of this bike will go towards the Quarterley Racing / On Track Development program that supports four Moto America Junior Cup riders in Kawasaki Ninja 400’s. The team is headed by Dale Quarterley, former AMA Superbike Kawasaki rider. Look us up on Facebook.

The history on this bike is certainly interesting, and entertaining. The late Dr. David Kieffer – the former owner and racer of the bike – was a board certified orthopedic surgeon, but also a also a motorcycling enthusiast. He amassed an impressive collection of bikes during his lifetime, and actively raced as an AMA Pro in the Superbike class as well as the Colorado-based Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA). Lest you think this man was simply a rich doctor playing motorcycle racer, Dr. Kieffer was a fierce competitor and actually raced an RC30 in endurance events prior to it being officially homologated for AMA racing (at which time he entered the bike in Superbike events). That shows impressive commitment, but it was his off track activities that make him an inspirational figure. Being an orthopedic surgeon immersed in a sport where physical trauma is common, the good doctor not only raced against the competition but he also performed surgery on them (Fred Merkel, Scott Russell, Aaron Yates and Ricky Johnson, to name a few). According to some sources, Dr. Kieffer would provide medical aid to competitors who could not otherwise afford treatment (i.e. no insurance). As a result, he was nominated to be the AMA Sportsman of The Year in 1986.

Dr. Kieffer went on to contribute to medicine in motorsports in varying ways through his association with the AMA and FIM (including acting as Chief Medical Officer for FIM events such as MotoGP), and he left behind an impressive legacy of good. He also left behind an sizeable collection of machines – including this very period correct Kawasaki KZ1000 Superbike. The history is moving and significant. But Dr. Kieffer’s good works did not end with his passing. Proceeds of the sale of this bike will aid in young rider development under the guidance of road racing superstar Dale Quarterly, improving US talent into Moto America with the goal of feeding riders into the international scene. This is an amazing opportunity to acquire a rare and significant racer with history, and contribute to road racing in America at the same time. Check out the cool historic pics as well as all the recent shots. Then give Bob and call and strike a deal. Good Luck!!

Kawasaki June 25, 2019 posted by Aaron

Big Green Monster: 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR

Used to be factories could build race replicas by throwing on a garland sticker, some reservoir shocks, a rorty pipe and a loud paintjob. Just basic mods and some raucous pigments got you looking a lot like Eddie Lawson back in 1983, though getting near his lap times still required a pile of special parts, and just a dollop of otherworldly talent.

1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R for sale on eBay

Kawasaki celebrated Eddie’s pre-500cc grand prix 1981 AMA Superbike championship in high style, churning out about 1,000 examples of the wild 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R. The engine came straight out of the regular KZ1000, albeit with a few tweaks. The bodywork was from the mighty GPz 1100, while the seat and bars were near-takeoffs from Lawson’s race-ready mount.

The lovely thing about the Eddie Lawson Replica is that there are no hyper-performance parts to get in the way of everyday rideability. The big mill is air-oil cooled to keep temperatures in check as simply as possible. It also sports a roller bearing crank assembly to insure magnificent longevity.

This ELR has been ridden, and it shows, but that is part of its charm. The nicks, rubs and touch-up paint show someone did their best to do right by the bike’s namesake, racking up just over 16,000 miles in the process. Nonoriginal parts are few and far between, though some lovely Ohlins rear shocks have made their way to the party.

From the eBay listing:

1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R – Eddie Lawson Replica – Factory Race Replica

This is an extremely original example of the limited production, special edition superbike commemorating Eddie Lawson (1981-82 Superbike Champion and four-time 500cc World Champion). Less than 1,000 ever produced, with some sources citing only 750 having been made (www.motorcycleclassics.com). When we first saw this bike at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum it made an immediate impression, and we knew we had to have one. Wearing infamous Kawasaki racing green paint, the KZ1000R is powered by a 998cc double-overhead camshaft inline four. The Kerker 4-into-1 is factory included.

This motorcycle came from a high-end collector and has been well-preserved and well-loved. As far as we can discern the paint is all original, as are nearly all of the components on the vehicle. The non-original items include the fairing decals and brand new Ohlins rear shocks. All electric components function, as do all of the gauges and dash indication lights.

We have completed the following maintenance items:

• Fresh oil change.
• We rebuilt the petcock.
• Steering bearings were just replaced.
• New drive chain.

We’d like to disclose all of the imperfections in writing for full transparency. Please refer to all photos, as well as the additional photos and videos linked below:

• There is touch up paint on the back of the front fender.
• The mirror mount on the front brake master cylinder (right-hand side) has material missing but still functions.
• Scratches on the underside of the tank with light dings on other parts of the body.
• There is a light abrasion on the back side of the right fork.
• Small tears along the edge of the seat.

Clean title in hand. A must-have bike for the collection that you wont be afraid to ride!

$22,000.00 – Accepting Offers

Please see all videos and additional pictures.
www.burnupcompany.com

At $22,000 buy-it-now, the seller knows what they have. While the ELR might not be the highest-performance race rep ever built, it might be the most iconic, and it celebrates a true American icon to boot.

Big Green Monster: 1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R ELR

Featured Listing May 14, 2019 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7RR N2

Maybe it’s the Ninja Turtles paintjob, or the twin headlights or the gaping air scoops that flank the headlights, but the 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7RR oozes with purpose. After all, nothing about a lime green-and purple single-seater sportbike says “ride me to work.” These are the colors of losing your chicken strips up the inside of a dentist on a Ducati. This is the livery of a long day in the general district courthouse followed by indefinite license suspension.

The 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7RR was built to homologate the bikes Rob Muzzy was tuning to within an inch of their lives for AMA Superbike and Formula USA competition. Aside from the fairly obvious single-seat tail section and deleted passenger pegs, the bikes had beefier Nissin brakes, fully-adjustable suspension and 41mm flatslide carbs.

With Doug Chandler and Scott Russell on board, the ZX-7RR’s predecessor took four AMA Superbike titles in the 1990s, as well as a brace of Daytona 200s courtesy of Russell. Eric Bostrom also rode a ZX-7RR in the latter half of the ‘90s.

Thanks to the big flat slides, a tall first gear, the ZX-7RRs made pretty miserable street bikes, which led to most of them being stripped of their street equipment and thrown around amateur road racing series and track days with abandon. To find one as blemish free and low mileage as this one is a real rarity.

This 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7RR N2 is completely stock except for an air-valve mod, and has done less than 6,000 miles. It resides in Canada, but the seller says he has explored importing it to the U.S. and does not anticipate any serious issues.

From the seller:

I have for sale a 1997 Kawasaki ZX7RR in very good or even excellent condition. This fine example has been ridden only 9500km (5900mi) by its original owner. The seat cowl, tank, upper cowl and fender are scratch and dent free. There are a few paint chips and a small rub mark on the muffler that I have tried my best to point out in the pictures. I can provide more pictures if desired.
The bike is stock with the exception of the seat pad which I had re-upholstered. The engine ‘air system’ has been replaced with what I gather is a ‘Kleen Air’ mod. I have all the original hardware to return it to stock condition.
I believe I am the third owner and I have had it in my collection for 6 years. Although not ridden during that time, I periodically started and ran the bike and kept fresh fuel in it. I did recently ride it to the local garage for a safety inspection and everything performed as a like new bike should.
I live an hour and a half east of Toronto, Ontario and would consider delivering the bike to the New York City area or Buffalo NY. This model may be imported into the USA (VSP312) via an importer to whom I would supply the paper work including the ‘Recall letter’.
I am asking $18,500 for this clean example of a ZX7RR. Please call Neil at (705) 924-9147 or email n_macmillan@hotmail.com

At $18,500 U.S., the bike is priced as a rare collector bike, and a low-production piece of AMA history. Considering that similar homologation mounts from Honda and Yamaha of this vintage are going for more than double that, this Kawi represents something of a bargain.

Featured Listing: 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7RR N2

Kawasaki May 1, 2019 posted by Mike

Beast of Boost: 1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo

During the wild years of the decade known as the 1980s, there was a lot going on. Legwarmers were hot. The brat pack were hot. And most importantly, Turbos were hot. Every major Japanese manufacturer played with the puffer configuration at least once (Honda tried it twice) before giving up on induction-enhanced motorcycles. Honda built a pair of large, heavy sport touring bikes. Yamaha built a lazy Seca with futuristic fairing in a “me too” effort. Suzuki took the bonkers approach and built a no-apologies sport bike like a Katana on turbo steroids. And Kawasaki watched, learned, and eventually dipped their toes into the water with an updated GPz.

1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo for sale on eBay

The largest of the turbo bikes by displacement, the Kawasaki GPz was also the fastest. The only factory turbo bike to break into the 10s in the quarter mile, the GPz 750 Turbo was not only faster than all its forced-induction peers, it was the fastest street bike tested in 1984. With an estimated 112 HP on tap thanks to the Hitachi turbo unit sitting low down and in front of the inline four. With ideal turbo placement for short exhaust primaries, Kawasaki’s approach minimized lag and maximized horsepower. Even then, power windup changes suddenly as the engine builds boost – making for a fun ride, but a less than predictable mount for tight canyons. Like all but the Yamaha, the Kawasaki Turbo introduced fuel injection in an effort to better control engine operations and promote rideability and longevity.

From the seller:
1985 KAWASAKI GPZ750 TURBO

Here’s a real nice Kawasaki 750 Turbo for sale. Bike is in near perfect original condition except for 1 flaw/crack on right lower side of faring. Always stored inside and covered. Runs and rides excellent with fresh oil and filter change. It is all original with factory owners manual and tool kit and has 530 chain conversion to get rid of the factory heavy 630 chain, see last 2 pics. Newer tires and battery.

While the Kawasaki Turbo takes after the GPz models, it differs in many ways. Engine internals, chassis geometry and suspension, and custom factory lowers were all bespoke to the Turbo, although Kawasaki did raid the GPz750 and GPz1100 parts bins to keep costs down. The resultant looks made it familiar to the GPz, yet officially it was known as the ZX750E and referred to simply as the Kawasaki 750 Turbo. Lasting only a couple of years with no significant changes, the Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo shared a similar life cycle with the rest of the Turbo packing offerings. Expensive, complicated and generally unloved, they all failed to sell well in the showrooms – despite the flash and the speed.

Today’s Turbo example is a 1985 model, and it looks like a true survivor. It does not appear to be scuffed, dropped, hot rodded or significantly modified. The seller states that the chain was downsized; the 530 chain is pretty stout, and the factory 630 size was incorporated no doubt due to concerns over longevity. Other than that, this appears to be an honest machine presented to us by a turbo collector (notice the XN85 in the background). The opening ask is a fair $6,999 – but there do not appear to be many bidders as of yet. Not terrifically valuable when compared to more elite machinery (RC30s, OW01, MHe, etc), Turbo bikes are slowly gaining ground as well as the respect of riders and buyers. If you are in the market for one of these unique time pieces, this 10,000 mile machine might be your opportunity. Check it out here, and then jump to the Comments to share your Turbo thoughts. Good Luck!!