CHiPs. To an entire generation of Americans raised on TV, watching Ponch (Eric Estrada) and Frank Jon (Larry Wilcox) ride their motorcycles on the fictional show was just about as cool as one could get. For those that are younger or located elsewhere, CHiPs stands for California Highway Patrol. While this pair of Kawasaki’s are a little more recent than the show, it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the pair. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jim S. for sending them in and bringing back some memories. Both ex-highway patrol KZ1000P’s were used for training, so they have some bumps and bruises. The 1990 bike looks somewhat better and runs, albeit roughly, while the 1984 is a little beaten up and may have electrical or starter issues. The 1990 is listed as having 46,000 miles; no mileage is given for the 1984 bike. They are located in Saratoga, California (of course!) and are for sale here on ebay with a buy-it-now of $1,200 but an opening bid of $500 for the pair. Maybe a his and hers pair once refurbished?
Ponch and John were the show’s main characters.
Listed as 1K displacement…….they are most likely 1300 cc as were police bikes of the time………..I bought a 900 years ago and opened it up for service and it was not 900…..it to everyone’s surprise, it was 1300 cc………a little something Kawasaki used to get a leg up on the competition…..s.o.b. would do wheelies if you even thought about it…….I sold it and bought a Harley to keep the front end on the ground! P.S…..it was not a rebore……..everything in it was OFF THE SHELF from big K!
I thought it was Ponch and John? At any rate I also remember watching them bob and weave together like they were on a trailer…. So if I was to buy these, then logically, if one fell over, the other one would as well? Not worth the risk at all.
It was Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello ( Erik Estrada) I’m a huge fan of the Kawasaki 4 cylinders they used, ( building a plastic model of one right now) and watched the show ( which is currently on the “oldies” tv station) strictly for the car and truck spotting and the bikes, but I’ve got to tell ya’, that is a pretty lame show. While I’m not too crazy about the police setup, the KZ 1000 was the zenith of the in-line 4’s, and guaranteed to straighten your arms out. They were fast bikes and handled reasonably well.
Little Chips note, you’ll notice, the last 2(?) seasons of Chips, Larry Wilcox was replaced by Bruce Jenner, ( do we call him Caitlyn now?) as, apparently, Wilcox and Estrada couldn’t get along.
I did not know BJ was on CHiPs! Now I have to go see.
Hi randy, Charles got it. He did replace Estrada for a few episodes, but I do remember Jenner and Estrada together without Wilcox toward the end. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/14/87/51/148751f0df766523acce7df5b5b5a4ff.jpg
After seeing the pic, I remember it well. The show died after that. I wonder if they replaced one fairy with another to make a point?
Thanks for the name correction, CHiP’s fans :-) Fixed above.
I looked it up and it says Bruce Jenner replaced Eric Estrada after he refused to work.
I watch Chips out in the garage about everyday. Its hard to get much done it’s so funny! And I agree with Howard, So cool to see collector cars now doing what they were built for in the day. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry when something treasured today gets driven off a cliff. Not to mention the half dozen that take a flyer from the hidden ramp. Almost forgot to add about all the hot chicks from the era! Thankfully I have not seen Jenner yet.
Those would make great touring bikes if you wanted to tour on a rig type bike. Always heard that Kawi engine was very bulletproof.
LOTTA FUN-LITTLE DOUGH-VERY POWERFUL MOTORS..just gotta steal ’em
that seems awful cheap. these are very smooth running bikes. i wouldn’t mind buying the pair, just for the fun of pulling up behind someone just to see them panic. looks like both would clean up easy, i would shine one up and get it running to sell, then restore the other one.