Left : 1973 Kawasaki Z1 original black coated engine
Bottom : 1974 Kawasaki Z1 second version
The four-cylinder air-cooled DOHC , eightvalve four-stroke , was 903cc at a time when almost all Superbikes were 750 . The Z1 had started the race for larger capacity engines , but it would take the others a while to catch up . In the meantime ‘ The King ’ reigned supreme . Maximum power was 82bhp @ 8500rpm . The first models had a single disc at the front and a drum at the rear . They weighed in at 246kg ( wet ) and had a top speed of 212km / h . If the Z1 had a weakness , it was the frame . In normal use this presented no problem , and indeed most people were satisfied with the frame , and the subsequent
handling characteristics . But some of those who wanted to test the upper performance limits of the powerful engine found it was sometimes too much for the steel twin down-tube frame . Specialist frame kit builders such as Harris and Egli responded with frame kits . A steering damper and after-market rear shocks also helped , but most owners didn ’ t experience high speed wobbles . It wasn ’ t until the end of the decade that Japanese factories began to pay attention to handling , and Suzuki ’ s GS1000 of 1978 became the first Japanese Superbike to match European standards of chassis performance .
74 KIWI RIDER