Kawasaki Kz1000

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The Kawasaki Kz1000 is a motorcycle manufactured in Japan released in September of 1976 as a 1977 model to replace the Kz900 model.

It is a sport-cruiser bike with an in-line 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed transmission, a 'one down and four up' configuration.

It was the fastest production bike in its day and this fame was taken advantage of by the television show CHiPs, used by Ponch and Jon, as California Highway Patrol officers. The Kz1000 also frequently shows up in the Mad Max series as a vehicle for both villain and heroes alike. The bike can also be found in less popular shows and feature films such as Great Teacher Onizuka (a Japanese animation series) and Chain Reaction (Keanu Reeves' character's bike).

This article covers only the models from the Kz1000's introduction in 1977 to the first year of fuel injection in 1980.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Kawasaki introduced the Kz1000 in late '76, replacing its already successful Kz900(cc) motorcycle in an attempt to appease motorcyclist interest in foreign made bikes.

The only differences between the Kz900 and the Kz1000 are that the latter of the two has a heavier crankshaft for less engine vibration and smoother acceleration and a larger displacement.

As with any machine, there are variations to specs and assembly configurations, even on the same year and model (i.e. - chain drive or shaft drive options on the '79 and '80 Kz1000)

[edit] Performance

As the fastest production machine, it easily out-accelerated any other machine (2 or 4 wheeled) in its day.

Although the speed is not on par with today's modern sport-bike standards, it is still impressive for a carbureted 'muscle-bike' with points ignition (pre-'79) and is a popular platform for a lot of top-fuel and pro-stock drag bike competitors.

Maximum horsepower: 93 hp (69 kW) @ 8,000 rpm

Maximum torque: 8.1 kg.m@ 6,500 rpm

Braking distance: 11 m from 50 km/h

Climbing ability: 30°

Minimum turning radius: 2.4 m

[edit] Powertrain/Drivetrain

Engine

Type                             4 stroke, DOHC, 4 cylinder, air cooled 
Bore and stroke                  70.0 mm x 66.0 mm
Displacement                     1,015 cc
Compression ratio                8.7
Maximum horsepower               93 hp (69 kW) @ 8,000 rpm [93hp='79 Kz1000 E-1 shaft]
Maximum torque                   8.1 kg-m @ 6,500 rpm
Valve timing             
        Open       30° BTDC 

Inlet   Closed     70° ABDC

        Duration   280°
     
        Open       70° BBDC

Exhaust Closed     30° ATDC
       
        Duration   280°
Carburetors                      (4) Mikuni VM26SS or VM28SS
Lubrication system               Wet sump
Engine oil      Type             SAE SF 10W40, 10W50, 20W40, 20W50
Capacity                         3.7 l
Starting system                  Electric starter and kick
Ignition system                  Battery and coil (transistorized '79-)
Cylinder numbering method        Left to right, 1-2-3-4
Firing order                     1-2-4-3
Ignition timing                  From 20° BTDC @ 1,450 rpm to 40° BTDC  @ 2,350 rpm                                                                                            
Spark plugs                      NGK B8ES
Gap                             .28-.32 mm

Kawasaki ditched the traditional 4-4 exhaust (available on Z-1 and Kz900) for a cheaper and a more easily produced 4-2 exhaust. This was a move made by Kawasaki to supposedly keep up with the sheer demand for the motorcycle and to target a broader consumer range.

The Kz1000 series came in either a chain drive or shaft drive ('79-) to turn the rear wheel.

[edit] Tires and Rims

The KZ1000P (police) sits on a 18 inch wheels with Dunlop run-flat tires. The tire sizes are MN90-18 front & MR90-18 rear. They came in either a cast magnesium or chrome-plated wire spoke rims.

[edit] Engine Oil (Modern)

The Clymer Kawasaki motorcycle book claims that the recommended engine oil is SAE SF 10W-40. Many owners use 15W-45 during warmer months. Rotella T or Castrol GTX are highly favored amongst many Kz1000 owners and are readily available in most auto stores.

[edit] Accessories

The Kz1000 came optional with a wind jammer fairing (not the ship), saddle bags, a sissy bar and highway bars - all of which were removeable without any interference with performance or function.

The fairing and saddle bags were molded fiber-glass resin made by Vetter, while the sissy bar and highway bar were chrome plated to accentuate the look.

Highway bars were also used for comfort on long trips that didn't require constant shifting or braking and usually held additional lighting, in combination with the single 7 inch halogen head lamp. Some newer accessories readily available include cafe fairings made by EMGO and Lockhart. For drag racing applications, POD filters often replace the stock airbox for an increase in air volume and velocity.

[edit] Ride, Comfort and Size

Overall length 2,210 mm

Overall width 880 mm

Overall height 1,200 mm

Wheelbase 1,505 mm

Road clearance 160 mm

Dry weight 240 kg

Fuel tank capacity 16.7 l


The Kz1000 series wasn't a particularly heavy bike, although it had lack-luster handling and braking compared to its monstrosity of an engine. They did, however, ride smoothly. As a 'middle child' (not a fully loaded cruiser and not a light weight), the KZ1000 did ride smoothly and easily took to the open roads for long trips or local errand running, and was perfectly snug in a back corner of your garage without using up too much space.

[edit] Police Use

As a fast, reliable, and relatively maneuverable bike-the Kz1000P was a favorite among Police Departments that utilized motorcycles (Kz1000P and Kz900P were used as the police bikes in the popular tv show C.H.i.P.s.)

Its quick acceleration, quiet exhaust and relatively light weight made sure that a running criminal wouldn't get very far, the officer would be able to use his radio and if the officer dumped the bike over at any time, chances are, he'd be able to pick it back up without any help. For this and other reasons, caseguards are often seen on these models-protecting the lower engine casing from sustaining any damage or potential oil leakage from falls. The Kz1000 can be outfitted with police gear.

[edit] Almost Banned in the U.S.

Shortly after its release the U.S. government planned to ban the Kz1000 in the country because several people were being killed in high speed incidents. However, this wasn't entirely stirred up from just the Kz1000 although it was mostly targeted at the bike because of its displacement. Many of the blame originated from Kawasaki's earlier bikes the H1 and H2 which were practically missiles on wheels.

It was reported that the bike started to handle "goofy", or start to 'wobble' above a certain speed, some saying it was a characteristic of the bike's design - the short front forks and too steep of a rake angle. This was a common complaint of many earlier 1000cc motorcycles. Also, since the machine is fairly heavy, the brakes have a tendency to lock up and cause tire skidding during emergency braking.

Most owners have refuted the proposal of an unstable Kz1000 at high-speeds. The ban never made it past debate.