Basing their design on the Z1-R's stock fuel tank, the guys fashioned a custom aluminum alternative from scratch. Right behind it lies a fiber-reinforced polymer tail that merges with the seat pan ...

It all started with a Kawasaki Z2, which was developed as a variant for the domestic Japanese market while the bigger Z1 was taking the world by storm abroad.

Kawasaki Z1 900 Set Some Serious Speed Records Kawasaki immediately took the Z1 to Daytona and set a host of speed records. It established a 24-hour run at an average speed of 109.64 mph and a lap ...

It was here, 50 years ago, that Kawasaki brought its new Z1 900 (three of them, actually) to demonstrate the new bike to journalists — and attempt to shatter a 24-hour speed record.

While the Z1 is one of most eye-catching Kawasaki motorcycles of all time, the 1978 Kawasaki Z1-R takes the Z1's design cues up at least a notch. Here's what makes it unique from other motorcycles.

The Z1 as we know it almost never was. The factory originally planned on running a 750 cc engine, but Honda beat them to the punch with the CBR750. So Kawasaki had to do better to beat what was ...