Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
26th Mar, 2025 9:00
1975 Kawasaki KZ900A4
Authentic example of a 1970s Superbike
Estimate
£6, 500 - £8, 500
Registration No: PFE 807P
Frame No: Z1F 094781
MOT: Exempt
Authentic restoration to period specification
Imported from New Mexico, USA, 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 Kawasaki 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.
This KZ900A4 looks to have been imported from the USA, and most likely manufactured in Kawasaki's Nebraska factory in Nebraska where bikes for the home market bikes were made, hence 'KZ' instead of 'Z' as in the UK. The A4 model was towards the end of the original 903cc bikes with wire wheels and the single disc front brake before it was bored out to 1000cc for the later models. A dating certificate from the Kawasaki Owner's Club suggests it was built in September 1975 and 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 is offered with many receipts, mainly from Z-Power, its original New Mexico US Title, a dating letter and a current V5C.
