Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1975 Kawasaki KZ900A4
Stainless Steel 4 into 1 exhaust
Estimate
£8, 000 - £10, 000
Registration No: PFE 807P
Frame No: Z1F 094781
MOT: Exempt
Authentic restoration to period specification
Imported from New Mexico a few years ago
Supplied with many receipts and a V5C
Kawasaki Heavy Industries is one of the largest corporations in Japan producing a wide range of products from rolling stock to ships. After taking over the ailing Meguro Motorcycle Company they began manufacturing motorcycles under the Kawaski name in the early sixties, first continuing development of the K1 BSA A10 copy but soon moving on to build a reputation for high-performance 2-stroke twins and triples. In the early ‘70s the four-stroke four-cylinder Z1 was initially developed as a 750cc to compete with the new Honda SOHC 750 but Kawasaki held the bike back until it could be increased in capacity to set a new benchmark for superbike performance. With its DOHC 900cc engine offering a top speed of over 130mph it easily became the fastest mass-produced bike in the world and is now one of the most desirable bikes of the 1970s. The A4 was the last of the 903cc models before the engine was enlarged to become the Z1000 in 1977.
This Kawasaki 900 has been part of the Brian Ditchfield collection, a retired engineer and lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who has in the past run a very successful Sidecar Grand Prix team, finishing second in the World Championship in 2002. It looks to have been imported from the USA a few years ago so could have been manufactured in Kawasaki's factory in Nebraska where most of the home market bikes were made in the mid 1970s and then given the title 'KZ' instead of 'Z' as in the UK. The A4 was towards the end of the run of 903cc bikes with wire wheels and single disc front brake and a dating certificate from the Kawaski club suggests it was made in September 1975. It is presented in authentic 1970s specification with a stainless steel 4 into 1 exhaust, K+N style air filters and chromed engine covers, the sort of modifications most owners did to their bikes at the time. It comes supplied with many receipts mainly from Z-Power, its original US title from New Mexico, a dating letter and a current V5C.
