Turbo Time! 1984 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo

When Honda launched the Turbo wars with the 1982 CX500T, the rest of the Big Four were not far behind. Before the very brief rise of the factory turbos came crashing down, Honda had produced both the CX500 and CX650 Turbos, Suzuki introduced the stunning XN85 Turbo Katana look-alike, Yamaha phoned in a warmed-over Seca 650T, and Kawasaki produced the fastest motorcycle money could buy in 1984: the GPz750 Turbo.

1984 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo for sale on eBay

The recipe during this era of motorcycle innovation followed pretty similar routes; take an existing engine/platform, build up the bottom end to withstand additional power, bolt up a turbocharger and associated plumbing, and create an induction system to maximize both performance and longevity. In the case of Kawasaki the GPz unit was already fairly stout. By reducing compression via the use of special pistons, the real magic was in the oil delivery system. Oil is a cooling medium for air-cooled engines, and Turbos are notorious for creating heat quickly. Kawasaki beefed up the oil capacity, added a scavenge pump, and generally increased oil flow through the engine. But the secret to the boosted GPz was in the exhaust. By optimally placing the turbo in front of the engine – and thereby feeding the turbo hot exhaust gasses as directly from the combustion chamber as possible – Kawasaki managed to minimize turbo lag and really extract the most from their turbo setup. Electronic fuel injection fed the beast, and the remainder was an interesting mix of GPz750 and GPz1100 components.

From the seller:
Up for sale is my 1984 GPZ 750 Turbo with only 269 original miles. I bought this bike directly from Kawasaki Motor Corp two years ago. The new Kawasaki President sold off all of Kawasaki’s inventory in California that had been sitting there for years and this was one of them. I bought this bike just as you see it. As far as I can tell, the bike looks 100% original and has matching VIN with Engine VIN. Bike has been stored in my heated garage. The bike has been on display since I purchased it and never put fuel in it. This may be the lowest mileage turbo in existence, and it came straight from Kawasaki Motor Corp. I have all the paperwork needed to register the bike in all 50 states. You may never find another one like this, there are turbos out there but with this low of mileage would be near impossible to find. The only reason why I’m selling is because I am downsizing and moving south. Freight shipping will be coordinated and paid for by the purchaser. Thank you and happy bidding

While Honda and Yamaha produced sport touring rigs and Suzuki created something all new, Kawasaki extended their GPz lineup to include this Turbo model. That was smart from an advertising perspective, as even folks who couldn’t afford the Turbo might kick down for a normally aspirated GPz750 (or even a GPz550 or lowly 305). The fact that Jay Gleason ripped off a quarter mile time quicker than the company’s own GPz1100 earmarked the Turbo as something special – and fast. Available for only a few years with very minimal changes, the GPz750 Turbo is often (and rightfully) considered one of the best turbo bikes of the era.

Today’s example has a claimed 269 miles on the clock. That seems unreal today, but the entire bike looks to be pretty clean and well preserved. This came directly from Kawasaki very recently according to the current owner who has paperwork to match. If it all checks out, this is as new as new gets for a 37 year old bike. I suggest you check out all of the pics and details here, but be warned: this bike is breaking the price barrier for the Turbo set. Bidding is up to nearly $11,500 at time of writing, and there is still a reserve in place. It is uncommon for Turbos of any make to cross the $10k barrier, so this just might be one to watch. Stay safe, and good luck!!

MI