Post Listing Update: This KZ750 was pulled off of eBay because “there was an error in the listing.”
While the motorcycle news headlines of the 70s were usually about Japanese firms trying to top each other in terms of displacement and power, there was still a market for big standards that did not try to set speed records. Honda and Kawasaki battled with the CB750 and Z1, furthering what a 4-cylinder 4-stroke production bike was capable of, but in ’76 Kawasaki took a different approach and released the KZ750, a big bore twin like Triumph Bonneville or the Yamaha XS650.
Kawasaki’s strategy was pretty interesting. While we waited for them to release like the KZ650 and the KZ900, Kawasaki played a card of simplicity and dependability. Some riders were highly interested by the performance battle, but others just wanted to have a dependable bike with good specs. This is where the KZ750 came in. The 745cc twin pushed 55hp through a 5-speed gearbox. Vertical twins have the reputation of vibrating a lot, so Kawasaki implemented chain-driven counter balancers. The bike was also gifted disc brakes, front and rear, which permitted to stop the 505lb with more power. In the end the bike was able to reach 100 mph – not overwhelmingly impressive but overall it could easily keep up with traffic. To get more information about the KZ750, read Motorcycle Classics.
The KZ (VIN: KZ750B001107) presented here is in great condition showing a bit more than 31k miles. The bike has just been serviced, which included spark plugs, battery, fluids and filters. Find this KZ750 in Long Beach, California with bidding up to $202.50 (and it looks like the reserve is already met!)