1982 Kawasaki Z1000 - J2, 998 cc (see text). Registration nu...

Hammer

£3,500

1982 Kawasaki Z1000 - J2, 998 cc (see text). Registration number XDC 510Y. Frame number KZT00J-012697. Engine number KZT00JE030933.
The KZ1000 was released in September 1976 as a 1977 model to replace the 1976 KZ900, which in turn replaced the Z1 launched in 1972 in the Z series and was replaced in 1984, with Kawasaki's first liquid-cooled bike, the Ninja GPZ900R, although it remained in production for the USA police service until 2005.
It has an inline-four cylinder engine and a 5-speed gearbox, in a 'one down and four up' configuration. Producing about 90 hp, it was the fastest production motorcycle of the era.
Some of the significant differences between the KZ900 and the KZ1000 include that the latter of the two has a heavier crankshaft for less engine vibration, smoother acceleration and a larger displacement. There were various configurations of specifications and assembly, such as having the choice between chain-drive and shaft-drive. The more cruiser-like US version was called 1000 LTD in European markets. Kawasaki swapped the traditional 4-4 exhaust (available on Z1 and KZ900) for the cheaper 4-2 exhaust, it was their first fuel injected motorcycle.
The KZ1000 was ridden by California Highway Patrol officers Ponch and Jon of the 1977-1984 TV show CHiPs, by Keanu Reeves the film Chain Reaction and fourteen of the motorcycles were used in the 1979 Mad Max for members of the Toecutter's gang.
XDC was first registered on the 14th October 1982 and changed hands a couple of times before Steven Thompson of Thirsk bought it in 1985, the mileage was about 20,000; he sold it to our vendor in June 1996 when it had risen to some 33,000 who laid it up in 1998. Reawakened from its slumber in late 2013 it was in need of a total engine rebuild (barrels bored to 1100 cc, new pistons, welded and strengthened crank and reconditioned cylinder head) as a plug had been left out and rusted the barrel, over 2014 work continued with the frame being powder coated, the tin work being paint in a USA colour scheme, a new Eddie Lawson replica seat and a Vance & Hines exhaust system. Since the restoration it has only covered approximately 1,000 miles.
sold with the V5C, old tax discs, MOT's and a quantity of receipts for the mechanical items used in the rebuild.