Difference between revisions of "Kawasaki KZ1300A"

From CycleChaos
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
==Kawasaki KZ1300==
[[Image:Kawasaki-KZ1300A.jpg|right|thumb|Kawasaki KZ1300A]]
[[Image:Kawasaki-KZ1300A.jpg|right|thumb|Kawasaki KZ1300A]]
==Kawasaki KZ1300==
At the end of the Seventies, [[Kawasaki]] was riding high. Several of its models had proved a fantastic success, from the [[Kawasaki Z1|900cc]] Z1 to its three-cylinder two-strokes ranging from the [[Kawasaki S1|250cc S1]] to [[Kawasaki H2|750cc H2]]. The marque had carved itself a solid sporting image, crowned in 1978 by the 250 and 350cc world championships. More crowded than ever, that year the range consisted of no Fewer than 16 models -including three 1000cc machines! The time could not have been better to make a grand gesture, and Kawasaki seized the moment by launching its KZ1300 at the Cologne Show in 1978.
At the end of the Seventies, [[Kawasaki]] was riding high. Several of its models had proved a fantastic success, from the [[Kawasaki Z1|900cc]] Z1 to its three-cylinder two-strokes ranging from the [[Kawasaki S1|250cc S1]] to [[Kawasaki H2|750cc H2]]. The marque had carved itself a solid sporting image, crowned in 1978 by the 250 and 350cc world championships. More crowded than ever, that year the range consisted of no Fewer than 16 models -including three 1000cc machines! The time could not have been better to make a grand gesture, and Kawasaki seized the moment by launching its KZ1300 at the Cologne Show in 1978.
==Run of Bad Luck==
==Run of Bad Luck==

Revision as of 02:00, 21 January 2007

Kawasaki KZ1300

Kawasaki KZ1300A

At the end of the Seventies, Kawasaki was riding high. Several of its models had proved a fantastic success, from the 900cc Z1 to its three-cylinder two-strokes ranging from the 250cc S1 to 750cc H2. The marque had carved itself a solid sporting image, crowned in 1978 by the 250 and 350cc world championships. More crowded than ever, that year the range consisted of no Fewer than 16 models -including three 1000cc machines! The time could not have been better to make a grand gesture, and Kawasaki seized the moment by launching its KZ1300 at the Cologne Show in 1978.

Run of Bad Luck

But its luck ran out. Kawasaki, who had been beaten to the draw by Honda with the launch in 1969 of the first Japanese 750cc four cylinder, suffered the same mischance in 1978, when the Honda CBX1000 six-cylinder appeared at the beginning of the year, leaving Kawasaki holding only the honor of making the largest-capacity machine in that period of burgeoning technology.

Over the Top

Even so, Kawasaki could justifiably be proud of having made the most impressive two wheeler, though it proved a bit over the top for Europe, which only gave a half-hearted welcome to this very efficient(in terms of sheer performance) six-cylinder, which seemed too heavy and insufficiently sporting. In America, too, early enthusiasm faded away and the KZ1300 failed to make its mark, for the US market seems indissolubly wedded to the big V-twin.


1979

1979 Kawasaki KZ1300-A1



  • 1,300 cc
  • 6 cylinder, watercooled, 1300 cc engine. Front dual disc & rear disc brakes, shaft drive, cast wheels.
  • 4-Stroke, 6 Cylinder
  • Dual Over Head Camshaft,
  • Water-Cooled
  • 5-Speed, Return Shift
  • Max. Horsepower:
  • 120 HP @ 8,000 rpm
  • Spark Plug: NGK BP6ES,
  • or ND W20EP-U
  • (Europe)(Canada) NGK BPR6ES,
  • or ND W20EPR-U
  • Tire Size
  • Front: 110/90V-18 4PR,
    • (US) MN90-18
  • Rear: 130/90V-17 6PR,
    • (US) MT90-17
  • Color
  • Fuel Tank: Luminous Starlight Blue
  • Front Fender: Same as Fuel Tank
  • Engine No.: KZT30AE000101-
  • Frame No,: KZT30A-000101-
  • Parts Catalogue No.: (Europe) 99910-1036-03
    • (US) 99910-1032-03, (West Germany) 99910-1046-03
  • SenriceManualNo.: 99924-101503
  • Owner's Manual No.: (US) 99920-1059-02,
    • (Europe)(West Germany) 99922-1039-02, (France)99923-1022-01

1980

1980 Kawasaki KZ1300-A2



  • Color
  • Fuel Tank: Luminous Ruby Red (except(L)), Luminous Starlight Blue
  • Front Fender: Same as Fuel Tank
  • Engine No.: KZT30AE005801 -
  • Frame No.: KZT30A-006201-
  • Parts Catalogue No.: Same as A1
  • Service Manual No.: 99924-1015-03
  • Owner's Manual No.: (US) 99920-1059-04, (Europe)(West Germany) 99922-1039-03, (France) 99923-1029-01
  • Major Changes: Color.

1981

1981 Kawasaki KZ1300-A3



  • Max. Horsepower:
  • 120 HP 8 8,000 rpm
    • (W) 99 HP 8 8,000 rpm
  • Color
  • Fuel Tank: Luminous Holly Green (except (L)),
  • Ebony
  • Front Fender: Same as Fuel Tank
  • Engine No.: KZT30AE012401-
  • Frame No.: JKAKZAA15BA011501--
  • Parts Catalogue No.: Same as A1
  • Service Manual No.: 99924-1015-03
  • Owner's Manual No.: (Europe)(West Germany) 99922-1088-01 (US) 99920-1098-01,
  • Major Changes: Adjustable air rear shock absorber, transistorized ignition system with electric advancer.


1982

1982 Kawasaki KZ1300-A4



  • 1286 mL
  • 4-Stroke, 6 Cylinder, Dual Over Head Camshaft
  • 5-Speed, Return Shift
  • Color
  • Fuel Tank: Luminous Passion Red, Ebony
  • Front Fender: Same as Fuel Tank
  • Engine No: KZT30AE014801 -
  • Frame No: KZT30A-014101 -
    • (Canada)(US) JKAKZAA1()CA014101 -
  • Parts Catalogue No: 99910-1273-02
  • Service Manual No: 99924-1015-05
  • Owner's Manual No: 99922-1149-01
    • (Canada)(US) 99920-1138-01
  • Remarks: 6 cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, shaft drive, cast wheels, front and rear disc brakes.

1983

1983 Kawasaki KZ1300-A5



  • Color
  • Fuel Tank: Luminous Passion Red, Ebony
  • Front Fender: Same as Fuel Tank
  • Engine No: KZT30AE016401 -
  • Frame No: KZ630A-015901-
  • Parts Catalogue No: Same as Z(KZ)1300-A4
  • Service Manual No: Same as Z(KZ) 1300-A4
  • Owner's Manual No: 99922-1203-01
  • Changes: Graphic