'79 GL1000, 60Kms

[Cormanus]

Well done pekingduck.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I have to say I don’t remember that bike. Was it a successful model? Just looking at it, I like it!

Additionally, 120 hp at 8000 RPM, 652 lbs, top speed of 140 mph, 5-speed gearbox, and sshh-haft final drive. Final production year was 1987, The Z1300 was considered at the time mechanically indestructible.

[Cormanus]

Au₂O₃, sorry, that looked like a scan of a copyright article to me. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll try to restore it.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Au₂O₃, sorry, that looked like a scan of a copyright article to me. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll try to restore it.

Dang - you are correct.

Delete the image Cormanus.

= = =

Excerpt from unmarked clipping:

"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 of 350 to 750cc. 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 Z 1300 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 CBX 1000 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 Z 1300 failed to make its mark, for the US market seems indissolubly wedded to the big V-twin."

Additionally, 120 hp at 8000 RPM, 652 lbs, top speed of 140 mph, 5-speed gearbox, and sshh-haft final drive. Final production year was 1987, The Z1300 was considered at the time mechanically indestructible.

[flynrider]

That's a beauty! The owner of my local Kawasaki shop bought one of these back in '79. I drooled over it regularly.

Much like the GL1000 of this thread's title, the KZ1300 started out as a naked roadster with an optional full fairing and bags (IIRC, designed by Vetter). Like the GL, it quickly morphed into a fully dressed touring bike called the Voyager.

[redbirds_imp]

I was able to test ride a KZ1300 years ago. A friend owned a Kawasaki shop and let me loose on the first one they had on the floor. I remember it being very smooth and fast but felt ponderously heavy compared to a Gold Wing I had test ridden earlier.

[peterbaron]

Here is a different '75 GL1000, all stock, 16,000 mils, one owner, mint....but salty price.
Guess how much in CAN$

[Cormanus]

CA$21,432

[the Ferret]

Beautiful Wing

[peterbaron]

I'll taka a look at it next Saturday.
Asking CA$10,000