Post Listing Update: This Z1R was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown.
The Kawasaki Z1R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer. So he took the KZ1000 and turned it into this! The first year of production was 1978, and all the bikes were adorned in Starlight Blue. Kawi actually skipped the 1979 model year for the Z1R and brought it back in 1980, this time in black. The black bikes are much more rare – 3,309 units versus over 17k of the blue.
The sport-tourer concept that Moulton introduced to this bike included a smaller front wheel, and the cockpit fairing – a first for a Japanese production bike. For 1980, Kawasaki made several changes: increased trail, a new frame, bigger fuel tank, higher ground clearance, and more. Weight increased to 552 pounds dry but a change in gearing meant it accelerated quicker. For more on the Z1-R, check out this article on Motorcycle Classics.
This example (VIN: KZT00D-018788) has 16,171 miles on the odometer and it looks to be in good shape. It’s being offered by the third owner who says that this was the “crown jewel” of his collection. Listed flaws include a dent in the rear fender and two broken cylinder fins. The insides of the tank were coated and the carb was recently cleaned. Other upgrades include a K&N air filter and Dyna ignition.
Find this Z1R for sale in La Salle, Michigan with a BIN of $14,000 or best offer