One of three versions of Kawi’s venerable 1,000 series, this is the one I would want, as it’s probably the best all-around model to live with in most situations. This 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000 ST can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in The Biggest Little City in the World: Reno, Nevada, and the seller is asking $3,500 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Nevadahalfrack for the tip!
Although, as a bike that does, or tries to do everything, sometimes, each of those things gets watered down a bit in order to work for everyone. This is Kawasaki’s shaft drive model of the KZ1000, known as the ST. The KZ1000 Limited is easy to pick out; that’s the laid-back cruiser model, but the MKII and ST looked somewhat similar. The ST (sometimes referred to as a shaftie) is the one in the middle, a pretty safe bet, in my opinion.
I’m not a motorcycle touring guy anymore, but that’s all I dreamed about in my teens and early 20s. After driving 30,000-40,000 miles a year for the last 20 years, I’ve seen enough horrible, uncaring, inattentive drivers that I don’t even like riding a motorcycle on public roads anymore. Back in ’79, I would have gotten a fairing and saddlebags for this bike as I did for my shaft drive Yamaha 750. This Luminous Dark Red example looks great, and the seller has included a ton of good photos. Kawasaki made the KZ series from 1977 through 2005 in various configurations.
38,185 miles! That’s about triple the miles as I have on my ’78 Yamaha XS750E shaft drive bike. Of course, I haven’t ridden mine in, gulp, four decades. It’s a true barn find now. Dang, how sadly coincidental. The seller says this KZ has clean paint, and it does look great. It also has new tires and a new battery, a fresh oil change, and a rebuilt carb. It almost sounds like it was taken out of storage and brought back to life. I wonder if they’d work on my 750…
The engine is Kawasaki’s 1,015-cc DOHC inline-four with around 95 horsepower and 65 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a five-speed manual sending power through the shaft drive to the rear wheel, the seller says this one is running great, and they have a clean title. Here’s an excellent article on the ’79 KZ1000 ST. I’d keep this one exactly as it looks now, no 4-into-1 exhaust, no cafe racer trinkets, none of that. Have any of you owned or ridden a KZ1000?
I’ve ridden a ZL 900 Eliminator, gotta be pretty close to this. Scary fast, 105 in a block, 11 second quarter mile. This is a beautiful bike, love these Kawasakis.
Haven’t rode a Hayabusa or a V Maxx have you?
I don’t know mate, just got here meself- Jim Goose.
I remember when these first came out – I had a Honda 750 F (or K I can’t remember!) but these were so much faster and I wanted one! Great write up and a great memory!
Going way back two of my friends bought the Kawasaki Z1R one in a ice blue color and the other one in black both of those were scary fast. One of them also bought a month later a Suzuki GS 1100 which was another rocket. Agree with Scotty with so many people on the road lucky if they are paying even half attention today just not nearly safe to ride a bike.
Lakota, since you mentioned the Suzuki…
Anybody remember this episode vs the H-D VRod. 😲🏁
https://youtu.be/ZSM1a-y6hLw?si=o-7CqMZRd4E2Vvgs
Surprised its still available. KZ’s sell pretty quick in this condition, especially at a good price. Which this is. Close to me Id buy this.
Who keeps the break in sticker on the tach for 38k miles! Mine lasted a day on my GPZ 550. It was hard to keep the rpms down during break in.
Thanks for mentioning that, sir. I meant to talk about that sticker; that is something I would have done for sure. Great catch on talking about that break-in sticker! I agree, this is ridiculously tempting, but I’m getting rid of a few two-wheelers, so adding another one probably wouldn’t be a good idea.
I’ve waited a long time for one of these to grace the screen. A major tip of the hat. This guy is perceptive enough to know when a friend is feeling blue. The TS 400, and now this. What’s next, that ’75 GW? Thanks for your support, pal, both on and off the screen.
Many have heard my Z1 this and Z1 that, this is close, but no cigar. My preference is the original Z1s, ’73-’75. I had 2 friends with them. One was a ’73, that two tone red, and the other, a ’75 with a gold stripe, both incredibly awesome machines. A Honda 750 on steroids might come close, even though, the bikes had little, if anything in common.
While the 1000 was even more intense than the 900, I didn’t care for the “modular” look and the shaft drive. Still, there was no apparent reason why a human being should accelerate at this level. That seat needs more of a “step”, and whatever you do, DON’T Armor All the seat. When it happens, you’ll know. And the “wipeout kit” on these included a foot peg, a rear brake lever and a clutch cover. If these went down on the right side, the brake would crunch the clutch cover.
This bike pushed the limits, with 0-60 times of about 4 seconds, I say “about”, because I bet even the tester had a rough time, and 1/4 mile in just over 12 sec. @106mph, and a top speed of 132mph,,,if you have the grapes, acceleration could be described as “brutal”. That aside, the power is at your discretion, and set up properly, soft bags, some sort of windshield, highway pegs, better seat, this would be an awesome cruiser.
This is a great find, but I’ve been looking at bikes, and there just isn’t the interest today, and that’s too bad. Prices are really tanking on motorcycles, and here’s the proof. Now, do I have any business riding something like this ,,,today? Of course not, but a guy can still dream, can’t he? Nice try, SG, and thanks again.
Had one of these. Top heavy, drive shaft makes the read end light under acceleration. Dumped it twice. Be careful.
Very light backend on a right-hander! Stacked mine a couple of times too!
Sold my ‘75 Z-1 back in ‘88…
Only rode it early am to get outta Phoenix into the mountains, sneak back later at night!
lol
City traffic in this desert city now is 10 times worse than back in ‘88…
My brother had an ‘80 Suzuki GS 1000S that trip the light @ Firebird Raceway in ‘83 mid 10 seconds.
Burners of this era were quicker than most “owners” could handle…
1000s
Exactly, moved to Phoenix in 1992 and didn’t think the traffic was bad,but now forget it.Ive seen some nice classic bikes for sale here but at 73 I cant do it.Im scared to drive my 66′ Mustang to much anymore.
I know what you mean, my late wife and I bought a horse property in east Mesa up on Culver east of Power and two blocks south of McDowell in ’80 and the whole area was empty desert then. Part of the reason I sold it and moved out in ’99 after she died was because of the development happening and I could see the writing on the wall. I did have a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic that was custom built at Valley Kawasaki for a while toward the end of my living there but it was a short drive to get into the Tonto National Forest and getting up to Payson and into the White Mountains was still relatively easy, so I was fortunate to have lived there when I did.
Good wright up Scotty! A somehow bad memory about a similar Kawa 900 around 1977. I had just sold my Kawa 500 2 stroke with the insistance of my father and he helped me buy a Lancia Autobianchi A112. I was craving for a ride and a friend of mine had just bought the Kawa 900cc. Considering that all Kawa 500 or 750 riders are fast, he gave me his new machine for a ride. There was a square and i was going rather fast into it. Then and as my friend was watching i changed to a lower speed as i enterd the square, not knowing the braking power of a 4stroke engine. The bike almost touched the pavement to the horror of my friend and my unpleasant surprise. The case was just saved and i thanked him for the ride, pretending that everything was under control all along but it wasn’t.
I have a 1978 Suzuki GS1000E. I understand the power of these litre bikes of the 70’s. And I especially understand the tip on “don’t Armor All the seat”.
I also had a 78 XS750, with that gorgeous maroon paint and gold pinstripe. I still think it is one of the prettiest bikes ever made. Bought mine off another airman while in Britain. I swear that bike almost got me married more then a few times! British girls know their bikes!
Had a 72 KZ900, it was super fast. Traded it for a 84 Ibanez X series guitar back in 85, still got the guitar!
Hi Daniel, couldn’t have been a KZ, they came out in ’76, but I thought the Z1A came out in ’73, however, it did come out in ’72 with the black motor. I read that was changed because they ran hot. Seems ’73 was the 1st time I saw those on Daytona Beach..
The KZ1000 was a sprightly motorcycle in its various plain chain drive forms. There were several versions including the Classic, one of the first motorcycles with fuel injection. The ST was slightly tamed by running shaft drive (shaft drive wastes some energy). The engine was also detuned for a more sedate riding style. This is a beautiful example, and I doubt you’ll find another this nice anytime soon. I’d be all over this if I was itching to add to my stable.
Great write up Scotty and find Nevada! I went from a brown 73 CB750 K3 to a 78 Z1R after riding my buddies 900 Z1 a few times. The silver/ green was the only available color but I got used to it. As with the 750, the first thing I did was put on a 4/1 Kerker header. These bikes sounded great and it still takes me back when I hear one today. These bikes were fast and scary fast.
I have toyed with the idea of buying an Indian but, when I think about the dumps and close calls I had when I was younger and bullet proof…I have no business on one at my age.
When me and my buddies started riding these street bikes in the 70’s I’ll never forget when we were seniors in high school a kid took my buddy’s H1 Mach 3 for a ride and never came back, ran into the back of a car at high speed. These bikes are not for the faint of heart.
I had a ’80 LTD 1000. Put the mandatory 4/1 Kerker on it. I had a friend who said he could hear me coming from about 1/2 mile away.
Unfortunately, I had to sell it because of bad back issues. I was living in NJ at the time and a guy from Philly came to buy it. He showed up in the back of a taxi cab and then thought he was going to bargain with me on the price.
Either pay what I want, or you better call another taxi to take you back to Philly.LOL
Wow, this is really amazing to see in this condition. I loved my ’75 900Z1 and I can only imagine what this must be like to ride. A lot of people would call me crazy but at 76 I want another one, only these days I’d be going a whole lot slower and probably mostly riding on country roads. It also occurred to me recently that another Kaw would be a lot easier to handle than the Indian Chief Classics I’ve been looking at. I’m fortunately strong and healthy from working out etc, but these are around 400lbs lighter than an Indian.
After I got rid of my kz1000, I bought a Harley FXR. MUCH better motorcycle. Not nearly as fast, but the lower center of gravity made for the better and easier ride.
Used to hear guys razz HD riders, but in all fairness 97.8% of all HD’s are still on the road.
The rest made it back to the garage..
Thanks Luigi, I was actually just thinking that very thing this afternoon. My Vulcan had a low center of gravity and was around 650lbs dry but I had it fully decked out, so I think it was likely over 700, which means I should be able to handle an Indian Chief pretty easily.
Good choice, John Michael. Something like the “new” Z900 may be what your looking for, with ABS and FI to boot-
Just a random example, https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Kawasaki-Z900RS-5040939675#sid=587925
“We don’t quit riding because we got too old,
we got old because we quit riding.”
I had a 1983 Yamaha XJ750RK, silver with factory fairing and saddlebags that I bought new old stock in 86. Great bike. Sold it years ago and understand it was shipped to New Zealand,
These were used as Police bikes in NZ, not easy to lose if they were on your tail!
In 1980 I bought a new 79 Z1R-TC. Turned the boost up to 12lbs and I was the fastest street racer in Austin TX.
Oh oh, this one is sold! Did one of you grab it?