1978 Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R Review

Honda got the first punch in with their CB750, but Kawasaki soon countered with the Z1. Each model had its own merits and followers, but the Z1 arguably had the edge with its bigger capacity. In 1978, Kawasaki released their next big punch in the form of the Z1-R.

The Z1-R has been widely regarded as a 'factory café racer' version of the Z1000, and that's true to a certain extent. While the engine of the first Z900, through to the litre capacity versions, was agreed to be a great power unit, the frame was seen as the bike's weak point. This led to a large number of (mainly British) aftermarket frame builders to offer their own frames to suit Kawasaki's big Z engine. These were prodigious and popular enough for Kawasaki to take notice, leading them to make their own frame improvements (especially around the steering head and swingarm), and upgrades to enable the engine to be enjoyed to its utmost. By adding a bikini fairing, plus a more angular tank and bodywork inspired by those same custom-built café racers, Kawasaki created a machine which was different enough to warrant a separate designation.

The 'R' is generally though to have stood for 'Race', even through the Z's success in production racing here and abroad, like its café racer inspiration, wasn't mentioned in advertising and brochures when the Z1-R was released in late 1977. It was still quick, though - the fastest production bike of its era. As such, it didn't take long for enthusiast publications to put it to the test. In early 1978, Modern Motor magazine pitted a Z1-R against an A9X Torana, the fastest Aussie production car of the time. In terms of acceleration, the Z1-R left the Torana behind, but the real success was in the value-for-money the Z1-R offered. With 1015cc and a superb power-to-weight ratio, the Z1-R was a performance bargain, despite being the priciest offering in the Kawasaki catalogue for 1978. Road tests, whether against a comparably quick car or not, generally agreed the Z1-R was a winner, but the overly thin seat, firm suspension and limited range offered by the 13lt fuel tank did come in for criticism. Similarly, the rear brake was found to be easy to lock up. The styling copped some flak, too. While it looks pretty tame now, the Z1-R's styling was very different when new and did prompt a 'love it or hate it' response.

Irrespective of opinions about the styling, the Z1-R's signature 'Metallic Stardust Silver' paint (the only colour available for 1978) was a standout, complemented by the black frame and black-painted engine, adorned with minimal chrome. The small headlight fairing served to further distinguish the Z1-R from previous Zs, as well as the rest of the competition. While not unique in itself, the fairing was the first of its type to be applied to a volume production Japanese motorcycle, as was the quartz halogen headlight it surrounded. The tank featured an off-centre rectangular fuel cap that was recessed in harmony with the overall design. With an eye to quality, tolerances on the fuel tank and body components were kept tight to ensure the bike looked good, with uninterrupted lines from nose to tail.

While the styling was the Z1-R's main selling feature, it wasn't the only change from the previous Z1000. Mechanically, the engine's capacity, bore & stroke remained unchanged, but the carbs were enlarged to 26mm units, which in turn boosted horsepower. The exhaust was changed to a 4-into-1 system, suspension was altered, and an 18 inch front wheel replaced the previous Z's 19 inch item. Kawasaki showed faith in the quality of their electric starting system by not fitting a kick start lever as standard, although they did hedge their bets by stowing a kick lever under the seat - just in case! A rubber plug covered the input for the kick starter when not in use. Self-cancelling indicators were another new feature of note, and a first for Kawasaki, as were fuel and ammeter gauges. Adding the fairing allowed for the gauges and warning lights to be incorporated beneath a 'dashboard' panel, while also covering the respositioned front brake master cylinder. This cleaned up the appearance of the bars, but was counteracted somewhat by the large indicator solenoid, which was slung under the left side handlebar switches.

There were subtle differences in the Z1-Rs created for different markets, mainly to deal with specific road-licensing requirements. Australian-delivered Z1-Rs were almost the same as Kawasaki's general export model, with the only notable difference black housings and stalks for the mirrors.

Despite being not a lot more than a redesign of the aging Z1000, the first Z1-R has created its own small niche within the enthusiast market. While agreed to be a classic today, the Z1-R was not immediately embraced by the market when new and sales weren't as high as expected, which may explain their relative rarity today. The design still looks fresh, however and the engine performance is more than enough for most enthusiasts today. The firmer suspension - compared to previous Zs at least - makes for faster cornering, but the trade off is instability on rough roads. As it shared many mechanical and other components with previous generation Z1000's, repairing or restoring a Z1-R shouldn't present too much of a challenge. The factory cast alloy wheels, plastics and fairing are getting rarer, but not to the hen's teeth stage yet. With 60s & early 70s era bikes popular enough to warrant modern copies (Kawasaki W800, Triumph Bonneville, etc.), expect late 70s and early 80s machines like the Z1-R to be on the radar for the next generation of collectors.


Specifications - 1978 Kawasaki Z1000 Z1-R

Engine: 1015cc DOHC transverse four cylinder 4-stroke
Bore/Stroke: 69.4 x 66mm
Compression: 872:1
Power/Torque: 90hp (67.45kW) @8000rpm / 62.9lb/ft (92Nm) @7,000rpm
Fuel system: 4 x 26mm Mikuni VM28SS carbs
Cooling system: Air
Starting: Electric (with separate kick starter)
Transmission/Drive: 5 speed manual/chain drive
Front Suspension: 36mm telescopic forks
Rear Suspension: Swingarm/adjustable twin shock
Front Brake: 296mm dual ventilated discs
Rear Brake: 290mm single ventilated disc
Front Tyre: 3.50 x 18"
Rear Tyre: 4.00 x 18"
Dry Weight: 246kg
Seat Height: 815mm
Length: 2160mm
Ground Clearance: 125mm
Fuel Capacity: 13 lt (optional 20lt tank)
Top Speed: 215kph (approx)


TRIVIA
The 78 Z1-R was the first Japanese production bike to feature ventilated brake rotors. While the drilled discs were the seen as a modern safety feature, they were not bevelled and done primarily for aesthetic and 'weight saving' reasons.

Criticism over the range of the original 13lt fuel tank the Z1-R came out with led to the hasty introduction of an optional 20 litre tank. This eventually replaced the 13lt tank as standard fitment. Wider and deeper than the original, the 20lt tank is also distinguished by the central placement of the fuel cap.
Badged as the 'Z1000 Z1-R' for almost all markets, the Z1-R carried a 'KZ1000' designation and badge for the US market only.