Kawasaki ZR1100A

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Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
Manufacturer
Also called ZR 1100 Zephyr
Production 1992 - 1994
Engine
Four stroke transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.
Compression ratio 9.1:1
Top Speed 219.6 km/h / 136.4 mph
Ignition Analogue CDI (Capacitive Discharge Ign.)
Spark Plug NGK CR9E
Battery YUASA YTX16-BS
Transmission 5 Speed
Final Drive Chain: 530x116
Front Sprocket 16T
Rear Sprocket 48T
Frame Steel, Single cradle frame
Suspension Front: 43mm Telescopic forks
Rear: Dual shocks adjustable preload and compression rebound damping
Brakes Front: 2x 310mm discs 2 piston calipers
Rear: Single 240mm disc 2piston caliper
Front Tire 120/70-18
Rear Tire 160/70-17
Wheelbase 1435 mm / 56.5 in
Seat Height 795 mm / 31.2 in
Weight 243 kg / 535.7 in (dry), 266 kg / 586.4 lbs (wet)
Oil Filter K&N KN-401
Recommended Oil K-tech 10W-40
Fuel Capacity 19 Liters / 5.0 gal
Manuals Service Manual

The Kawasaki ZR1100A was a retro styled motorcycle built by Kawasaki from 1992 to 1994. It could reach a top speed of 219.6 km/h / 136.4 mph.

Engine[edit | edit source]

The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.. The engine featured a 9.1:1 compression ratio.

Drive[edit | edit source]

Power was moderated via the Wet, multiple discs.

Chassis[edit | edit source]

It came with a 120/70-18 front tire and a 160/70-17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x 310mm discs 2 piston calipers in the front and a Single 240mm disc 2piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 43mm Telescopic forks while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks adjustable preload and compression rebound damping. The ZR1100 Zephyr was fitted with a 19 Liters / 5.0 gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 243 kg / 535.7 in. The wheelbase was 1435 mm / 56.5 in long.

Photos[edit | edit source]

Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

Overview[edit | edit source]

Kawasaki were the first Japanese company to look back on their own history for inspiration when designing new bikes. The result was the Zephyr range, introduced in 1991. The 550 and 750 Zephyrs, both styled like Kawasaki's muscle bikes of the 'seventies, sold well to people who were attracted to the simplicity and spirit of a 'seventies bike, but who wanted 'nineties reliability and a warranty. The 'retro' movement was born. But what real muscle bike fans wanted was the true successor to the hairy-chested Zl and the later Z1000.

They got it in 1992, with the Zephyr 1100. In stark contrast to the firm's other flagship 1100, the ZZ-R, the Zephyr is a model of simplicity, consisting of little more than an engine, two wheels and just enough other equipment to hold them together. Visually, the Zephyr takes its styling cues from the Zl. But not a standard Zl. What Kawasaki did was to build a bike that incorporated all the modifications people made to their old Zeds as technology moved on and parts from later bikes became available.

So, the Zephyr has an alloy box-section swinging arm at the rear, operating remote reservoir twin shocks with adjustable damping. At the front, huge twin brake discs and four-piston calipers from the ZZ-R1100 are a far cry from the Zl's single front disc and single-piston caliper. Alloy wheels fitted with wide, sticky tires complete the picture. The result of all this attention to the running gear is a bike that's superbly balanced, with plenty of ground clearance for fast back-road riding, and impeccable low-speed manners. The Zephyr is a heavy bike, but it carries its weight low, making for good manoeuvrability The low seat and upright riding position help here, too - a relief for many after the race crouch of most modern sports bikes.

But it's the engine that gives the Zephyr its real character. The air-cooled unit is based on the old GPzllOO - strong, almost over-engineered, and still a favourite with drag racers and tuners. Freed from the need to produce awesome peak power figures for maximum speed, the engine designers were able to concentrate on getting smooth, strong, useable power from as little as 2,000rpm all the way up to the relatively lowly 9,500rpm red line. The only concession to the technological advances made since the 'seventies is the air-cooled motor's twin plug set-up. The use of two spark plugs per cylinder helps improve combustion efficiency and beefs up an already fearsome midrange power curve -there are few bikes that give the same impression of arm-tugging acceleration as an 1100 Zephyr. In the real world, the Zephyr's power characteristics make it easy to drive off the line fast, or power hard out of turns without worrying what gear you're in. If the midrange is impressive, the Zephyr's high speed manners are less so. Flat out at around 140mph, the combination of old-tech chassis and suspension components, and a riding position that turns you into a sail, means the Zephyr weaves and wobbles along seemingly on the very edge of control. Unless you want to lie flat on the tank, 130mph is a more realistic top speed, and the lack of a fairing means anything over 90mph is uncomfortable for long distances.

But paradoxically, it's this very aspect that makes the Zephyr so popular. Not everyone wants a bike that can do 170mph and handles so well you have to be a budding racer to take it to its limits. There's definitely a place for the Zephyr's low tech, low cost, high fun factor approach, as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have since proved by following Kawasaki's lead and producing their own contributions to the retro revolution. Source of overview: Super Bikes by Mac McDiarmid

1992[edit | edit source]

1992 Kawasaki ZR1100-A1



  • 1062 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • Color : Candy Atlantic Blue, Luminous Vintage Red, Pearl Greenish Black
  • Beginning Engine No. : ZRT10AE000001
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZRT10A-000001
  • Parts Catalog No. : 99917-1525-03, (Europe)99917-1524-03,
    • (US)99917-2 523-03, (Japan)99911-1217-03
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99922-1614-01, (West Germany)99923-1310-01,
    • (France)99947-1083-01, (Japan)99921-1422-01
  • Service Manual No. : 99924-1152-01, (Japan)99925-1110-01


1993[edit | edit source]

1993 Kawasaki ZR1100-A2
1993 Kawasaki ZEPHYR ZR1100-A2 in Maroon
1993 Kawasaki ZEPHYR ZR1100-A2 in Maroon



  • 1062 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • Color : Luminous Vintage Red/Pearl Galaxy Mica, Pearl Purplish Black Mica
  • Beginning Engine No, : Same as ZR1100-A1
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZGT10A-025001,
    • (US)JKAZRBA1()PA025001
  • Parts Catalog No. : Same as ZR1100-A1
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99920-1604-01, (Europe)99922-1651-01,
    • (Japan)99921-1469-01, (6)99923-1329-01,
    • (France)99947-1105-01
  • Service Manual No. : Same as ZR1100-A1

1994[edit | edit source]

1993 Kawasaki ZR1100-A3



  • 1062 mL
  • 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, Air-cooled
  • Color : Lurnlnous Vintage Red, Pearl Boulogne, Pearl Purplish Black Mica
  • Beginning Engine No. : Same as ZR1100-A1
  • Beginning Frame No. : ZRT10A-040001,
    • (US)JKAZRBA1()RA040001
  • Parts Catalog No. : Same as ZR1100-A1
  • Owner's Manual No. : 99920-1661-01, (Europe)99922-1687-01,
    • (West Germany)99923-135241, (France)99947-113241,
    • (Japan)99921-1469-01
  • Service Manual No. : Same as ZR1100-A1

Specifications[edit | edit source]

Make Model Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 / ZR 1100
Year 1992 - 93
Engine Type Four stroke transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.
Displacement 1062 cc / 64.8 cu-in
Bore X Stroke 73.5 x 62.6 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression 9.1:1
Lubrication Wet sump
Engine Oil Mineral, 10W/40
Induction 4x Keihin CVK34
Ignition Analogue CDI (Capacitive Discharge Ign.)
Spark Plug NGK, CR9E
Starting Electric
Max Power 93 hp / 67.8 kW @ 8000 rpm
Max Torque 89 Nm / 9 kg-m @ 7000 rpm
Clutch Wet, multiple discs
Transmission 5 Speed
Final Drive Chain
Frame Steel, Single cradle frame
Front Suspension 43mm Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension Dual shocks adjustable preload and compression rebound damping
Front Brakes 2x 310mm discs 2 piston calipers
Rear Brakes Single 240mm disc 2piston caliper
Front Tire 120/70-18
Rear Tire 160/70-17
Dimensions Length 2080 mm / 81.9 in Width 755 mm / 29.7 in Height 1095 mm / 43.1 in
Wheelbase 1435 mm / 56.5 in
Seat Height 795 mm / 31.2 in
Dry Weight 243 kg / 535.7 in
Wet Weight 266 kg / 586.4 lbs
Fuel Capacity 19 Liters / 5.0 gal
Consumption Average 15.1 km/lit
Braking 60 - 0 / 100 - 0 13.5 m / 38.8 m
Standing ¼ Mile 11.3 sec / 177.4 km/h
Top Speed 219.6 km/h / 136.4 mph