Kawasaki NINJA ZX-6R super middleweight Sportbike
The history of W1 dates back to 1960 and the beginning of K1, a motorcycle developed by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Meguro had first started producing motorcycles in 1909 and was modeled on the English K1 BSA A7 replacing them Meguro single cylinder Z7.
It was early days, and most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers at the time were essentially building bikes copied from American and European models, especially in major travel categories.
In its day, the K1 is an advanced design and introduced modern manufacturing techniques with its 4-stroke air-cooled, OHV 496cc twin engine mounted in a double cradle frame.
In 1960 Meguro Works entered into a business relationship with Kawasaki Aircraft Company Ltd. leading to a full merger in 1963. Consequently, although the K1 was developed and produced by Meguro, sale, it was left to Kawasaki Motor Sales co precursor Kawasaki motorcycle Co., Ltd. at the time, Kawasaki engineers were so deeply committed to the development of a 4-stroke engine for small cars that they had no time to develop new motorcycle engine but by the end of 1962, the draft four wheels had ended and some of these automotive engineers transferred to Meguro and took over the project There were two projects that developers must address the SG a single-cylinder OHV 250cc and K1 .
However, engineers still wanted to overcome some basic design flaws in the K1 engine Because the business side wanted to maintain the impressive looks and appearance worthy of the K1, it was decided to redesign the engine only, and in 1965 they reshaped and the only engine in 1965 K1 remodeled was presented as K2 changes included increasing the oil pump capacity, improved crankshaft bearings, etc. the Y-shaped lid, the distinguishing feature models W, was passed at this stage.
However, the K1 and K2 still share the basic weaknesses of the BSA A7 K2 has been exported to the United States for a test in response to the expanding US market for 4-stroke motorcycles Unfortunately, it was rejected a lack of power.
The response was the W1 which was developed as a large, high-performance, four-time based on the K2 With this new model, the basic problems found in the lubrication system already improved in the K2 and the weakness in the great end of the crank sustainability was solved by going to a built crank But their was not enough time to implement the planned changes in the train of the valve making it a CMB regarding the framework was concerned, the conventional tubular frame BSA A7 was used unchanged.
The frame construction technology Kawasaki inherited Meguro was very advanced for its time, and most of the following models K1 adopted tubular frames because they were relatively easy to do Although Kawasaki had developed an engine 4 time much earlier, K1, K2 and W1 are typical motorcycle models 4 times for their day and were, so to speak, manual models reflecting the then current design and production technologies.
The entrance to the W series on the American market was rather failed because it was too similar to the K models in the basic structure and lacked a sense or feel The new models also imitated W appearance too BSA A7 for American tastes, even if the internal engine was much improved BSA.
The W1 engine involved the larger bore of the K models and included a separate primary drive and transmission frame welding techniques came directly K models Before the Kawasaki W1 sold only 2 shots in the US market, but with the beginning W1 he joined Honda to become one of the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturers to produce 4-stroke engines.
While Honda had produced only 4 shots from the beginning, the entrance to Kawasaki in the US market was based on forecasts of increased sales for a large displacement 4 shots in the near future.
The 624cc engine W1 was one of the first Japanese motorcycles large displacement However, motorbikes so were used in America was quite different than expected and the W1 was deemed unfit for the US market OF Furthermore, in Japan, it was well received and has become famous for its unique double its OHV vertical and individual style.
Kawasaki KZ650 as it was known in the United States, or Z650 as he was known everywhere, was the Son of Z1 as both Z1 900 and Z650 were designed by Gyoichi "Ben" Inamura the Z650 the mid seventy years came from the idea of a bike that was not too heavy and not too big, but with the character of a sports bike.
Important in designing this bike was that he had the agility of a 500 with the performance of a 750 and have the ability to travel long distances without too pilot fatigue He was indeed the best all around bike that Kawasaki had released so far the first version was held in the UK in 1976 where the world press had the opportunity to see and test the machine for the first time, it was advertised as a bike with performance impressive 500 CC and 750 three-cylinder two-stroke, combined with the flexibility of the Z900 and the 4 in 2 exhaust system, large cylinder head makes you think you have a Z750 rather than the Z650 has 64bhp been claimed with a dry weight of only 465lbs, making it a top speed of nearly 120 mph possible, but more importantly, this new model is treated as any other Kawasaki for once all available power could be used in relative safety.
During his lifetime the Z650 has gained a reputation as a good and reliable bike around it was built until 1983, and was followed by the liquid cooled GPZ600 Kawasaki Z650 The engine block is like a smaller version of the block of Z900, but was a complete design new lot of things have been redesigned to make it smoother engine and make less mechanical noise.
plain bearings have replaced the rolling Z1 rollers supporting the crankshaft, but more significantly a Hi-Vo chain was the main driving force between the crankshaft and the transmission relative to the direct gear Z1 These improvements reduce the cost of manufacturing, but also a bike too comfortable enough, even when long distances driving a bike to have fun with even after more than twenty years 1976 1977 Z650-B1.
First image NUMBER KZ650B-000001 This motorcycle four-stroke four-cylinder twin touted camshaft head, as the largest Z1 and Kawasaki according 64 BHP engine 652cc Unlike Z1, the 650 uses a plain bearing crankshaft and uses a primary drive chain instead of a gear unit by a single 245mm disc was used at the front with a drum of 250 mm at the rear, more than enough to handle this relatively lightweight motorcycle He was offered in two colors, candy super red or emerald green candies 2 3 9 11 2005 4 37 PM 1978 Z650-B2.
STARTING NUMBER KZ650B-027501 FRAME very few differences were made to B2 The front brake caliper has been reversed at the rear of the fork leg and the front master cylinder has been changed from a point around a triangular the charging system has been modified from a three to two phases single-phase system and the regulator and the rectifier is now a combined unit of the cam chain tensioner has been changed to an automatic unit and hazard switch was added to the switchgear to the left hand needle roller bearings are now used in the swingarm instead bushes previous models and slight changes were made to the carburetors to improve the operation speed reduced fuel valve was replaced by a unit of diaphragm type There were also slight changes to retail case outboard engines to incorporate the new logo Kawasaki tiny footrest before are now mounted in rubber to fight against vibration and the front forks were slightly modified in 1978 Z650-C2.
START NUMBER KZ650C-010001 FRAMEWORK This was better known as Z650 CUSTOM The engine was a standard unit B2, but the custom has been much modified elsewhere Kawasaki equipped seven-spoke alloy wheels with double discs at the front and rear disc Böld new graphics made this model stand out from the crowd and C was a very good seller there were a C1 model in the US in 1977 1979 Z650-B3.
START NUMBER KZ650B-046 201 FRAMEWORK The only difference from the B2 model was a change of graphics and a return to the green and red color tank badges sales once again gathered New original tiny were also used this time the red color was described as red candy persimmons 1979 Z650-C3.
SETTING FRAMEWORK KZ650C-022801 NUMBER C3 used the new all weather sintered disc pads and wet braking was much improved the bike was once again only available in one color, bright dark blue The rear calliper has was modified to accept the new sintered pads square the side panel badges have been slightly modified It was also a C4 1979 Z650-D2 SR.
STARTING NUMBER KZ650D FRAME-010601 was essentially a C3 with chrome styling slightly chopper was used on the hull of the projector, the reduced clock and chaincase The rear tailpiece was dropped instead of a warden painted rear fender exhaust down pipes before crossed and exhausts were slightly shorter the rear wheel is now a small grease Article 16 inches for an all important custom look There was also a D1 in 1978 and a model E, which were very similar, but not as much equipment having a single front disc and rear drum brake Z650 1980-D3.
NUMBER-026001 KZ650D STARTING FRAMEWORK The only difference on the D2 was a change of color and graphic Z650 1980-F1.
START NUMBER KZ650F-000001 FRAMEWORK F1 was actually a cross between a C and a B model he had alloy wheels, but kept the drum brake in the rear instead of a disk has been available in three colors, blue, red or green 3 3 9 11 2005 4 37 PM 1981 Z650-F2.
START NUMBER KZ650F 007,201-FRAME F2 was much changed from the model F1 It incorporates many of the pieces more Z750E the engine is finished in black and ignition Transistorized used instead points the front end of the 750E has grafted on the direction of a change brakes, the front wheels and clocks the kick-starter pedal and the shaft was removed from the machine, as the Z750E a passenger grab rail was also equipped 1981 Z650- D4.
NUMBER UNDER-KZ650D 028,101 START Basically a SR version of F2-F3 1982 Z650 model.
NUMBER UNDER KZ650F-012401 DEPARTURE There was a major change for 1982 CV carburetors were fitted with the 32mm carburetors larger as necessary throughout the models airbox Z750E The Z650 1983-F4.
START NUMBER KZ650F 014,301-FRAME This was the last of the 650 models, Kawasaki GPZ now focused on the range and there was no place for the previous bestseller The case external engine was similar to the model Z750L There was also a Z650H model, which is a CSR model with a chopper style.
OK, I'm cheating a bit here by showing a 90s Kawasaki Zephyr because the Zephyr line can not be considered a classic Japanese bike, but it could be well called the first retro-modern classic and is based on a classic defined It clearly, the KZ900 Z1000 is what we are considering here.
H4 There are forums and clubs and blogs and spare parts manufacturers dedicated to the Zephyr, which surprised me a bit because I always thought Kawasaki didn t go far enough to make this model line stand more he hit the streets looking like a place out of naked compared bike he's contemporaries it is great to see that the owners have taken upon themselves to create bikes that resemble the superbikes Z KZ 70s.
The Kawasaki Zephyr is a range of nude retro superbikes, made in the 1990 All models were built by Kawasaki with air cooling, cross-line, double overhead cam, four-cylinder engines There was a Zephyr number of models available in four cubic capacities - 400, 550, 750 and 1100cc.
The 400 was produced in Japan since 1989 because of the demand for 400cc motorcycles on the market it was very popular Many spare parts have been produced, with companies such as producing Racing Over exhausts, swingarm, fairings and engine modifications.
Zephyr style is more or less based on the old Kawasaki Z1, rear suspension with dual shock, CPUs relatively upright riding position and the air cooled 400, 550 and 750 engines were developed from the old Z400 series 500 550 650 750 900 the 1100 engine is based on the venerable DOHC air-cooled, inline four-cylinder or eight valves which traces its roots through the GPZ1100 the Z1000 is the only built Zephyr with two spark plugs per cylinder the Zephyr offers the customer retro style coupled with simplicity and reliability of the line performance was adequate for normal driving and the engines have been tuned for low power at mid-range.
The Zephyr began Retro Naked bike boom in the UK and Europe in the early 1990s and for a time moved to Kawasaki motorcycles 2nd best selling manufacturer in the UK market.
The engine Zephyr Z750 reappeared in the 1990s in the short ZR7.
The Zephyr 1100 was a Z1 restyle in his last year of sale, including a return to metal wire wheels wheels also appeared on the 750 was replaced in the Kawasaki range in the UK by popular Z1100R of ZRX1100 style more ZRX1200 later.
The ZRX series bikes had a great impact on the growing market for retro-style bikes, especially the United States, it was modeled on the superbike championship Kawasaki winner KZ1000R-S1 that propelled Eddie Lawson Superbike dominated in the early 1980s, and even spawned a proprietary international association known as the ZRXOA ZRX owners Association.
Kawasaki kept the retro-modern theme with the W650 and W800 British bike-like Look-alike Yamaha continues to build SR400s the Honda CB1000 etc etc.
It would be great if there were more traditional tributes to great Fours But the Zephyr has everything and here's hoping there's much more to come.
Just check Google Images for dozens of other superbly modified Zephyrs.
Kawasaki, Kawasaki, middleweights START NUMBER OF FRAME, motor only in 1965.