While we always associate “star cars” with models like the Aston Martin DB4 (James Bond, many of them), the Audi S8 (Ronin), and brutish Mustangs named Eleanor (Gone in 60 Seconds), the motorcycles that light up the silver screen get less attention. This may be changing as we start seeing classic films get a modern-day boost at the box office, such as the case is with bikes like the fabled Kawasaki Ninja ZX900. This example offered here on eBay is also known as the GPZ900R, which is the same model Tom Cruise rode in the original Tom Gun.
With the resurgence of Tom Cruise and the sequel to the original Top Gun lighting up the box office, it’s only natural that nostalgia enters the chat and we begin looking at the icons from the first movie. While we can’t necessarily expect to buy a fighter jet to fulfill our alpha-male fantasies, you have more sensible choices. While I would naturally pick a replica Porsche Speedster (I think a high-quality Speedster replica is one of the best values on the vintage sports car market at the moment), the Kawasaki Ninja is an excellent choice as well, especially considering how innovative the bike was when introduced.
It achieved a number of firsts, but chief among them was this string of features: liquid-cooled, 16-valve, inline-four cylinder engine. It was the first motorcycle to pack all of these features into a single platform, and the bike produced an incredible 115 b.h.p. It became the fastest production motorcycle at the time, able to achieve 151 miles per hour. But unlike the super bikes of the 70s, Kawasaki devoted just as much time to balance and handling, and created a high-flying sports bike that was also comfortable to ride and still able to handle well at the limit.
The seller’s bike has some cosmetic flaws, as he believes it was dropped a few times but not in any sort of significant dust-up; the blemishes strike me as being caused by carelessness more than anything. The photos show some very helpful service records that indicate this seller has gone through the motions of making this classic super bike into a reliable cruiser than can kiss redline whenever the urge strikes you without fear of there being a necessary routine service left undone. The condition is the kind that makes bike one you can use everyday despite its emerging collectability, but even so, the reserve remains unmet at the moment.
I had one of these, exactly like this one. It falls into the I-shouldn’t-have-sold-it category along with my 2 911s, my 2002 tii, and a bunch of other things. At least I still have the Rolex.
Also, 155 while laying on the gas tank with my left arm tucked in. Supertrap muffles and a couple of other minor mods. It took a long time to get there too!
First saw this bike in Top Gun & bought the 85 version brand new for $600 less than this one. 0-60 in 2.6, sub 11 second quarters, 150+ mph top end out of the box, even more by just tickling the carbs a bit. Great handling & braking. Interceptor? GSXR? No, in 85 (imo) this was the bike to ride if you enjoyed working on your edges. The need for speed was calling me in those days.
Lucky to survive but no regrets. In their day these bikes were cutting edge & while they certainly won’t lead the pack today, 35+ years later they wouldn’t be only a speck in the mirror either.
I remember watching the first Top Gun and I don’t think that scene where Tom is racing along with a fighter jet on his Kawasaki will ever be forgotten. What a cool scene. It seemed fitting they bring back that scene in the new Top Gun movie with the original bike early on. Talk about a powerful product placement. Wonder how many young kids will be driven to buy a motorcycle by this scene? I certainly was. I remember the super bike wars of the 80’s. You have to remember we were exiting the malaise era and there was a glimmer of hope that we were going to have exciting cars again. The bikes however offered the blistering performance we only dreamed of having in a car.
Not forgotten alphasud because tommy was racing all right, he was sitting.. The bike was inside a trailer , getting towed along lol.
Anyone owned cars from films?
Lotus Esprit, Z3 to make me feel like Bond and also owned a Ronin matching S8.
84 Ninja 900 was my second bike and recall it was oil cooled which when in traffic and slow speeds would run hot, ping and and idle rough till air would cool off after picking up speed. Also first year of smaller size front wheel. Preferred bigger front wheel size on my 78 Kz1000. Still it was fun bike to ride with jetted carbs and Yoshimura exhaust pipe. Hit 170 MPH top speed for a few seconds back in the 80’s. Great times!!
Bill
👍 big front tires.
These seemed to be everywhere back during this time. When I took my motorcycle driver’s test, there were 2 of these slinking between the cones. Meanwhile I was struggling with my ’79 Yamaha XS750-F that probably weighed 150 pounds more.
mono shock? Well at least it’s still low in the back. Hate the current monos w/it way up.
Seems near same dash in my ’78 KZ750B (2 cyl, altho they hada 4 cyl that yr too).
KZ 9 & 1000 were nice too but this following gen – GPZ were the nxt thing w/the radiator…
I owned one of these with some mods. It would run with anything out there at the time including my friend’s ZX-11. Would run 165 plus mph !
ah bikes…..I had a 96 GSXR 1100, a 92 Ducati 907ie, and a 97 Yamaha VMax all at the same time. got so much crap because all my friends rode Harleys ……The Ducati was my favorite, I found it in a high school friends brother-in-laws garage in pieces, managed to put it back together even needing a NLA fuel pump [BMW K bikes pumps fit]
I suffered a tibia plateau fracture in 2003 and by 2011 the riding position was killing me [hip pain due to the 6 months on one leg] and sold them all :-(
I still have a motorcycle table in my garage so one day I will def have another bike, just not sure what it will be.
Meh, give me the old Super Hawk anyday. Almost an insult to the original Z-1, that I’d love to have. L/C, PITA, cafe style, PITA, goes the speed limit in 2nd gear,,come on, Asians think we drive around on Bonneville Salt Flats all day,,,and I suppose, that’s kind of true. This bike seems like it’s for people that have lost the original fun of biking, and need some blistering machine to get any kicks. I know, an old man talking, but I’m not that far off. Statistically, deaths by motorcycle, are low, compared to miles traveled, same old thing, you only hear about the crashes, but most accidents involve sport bikes like this, but what the hey, it’s a heck of a toboggan ride.
And for the record, I never cared for “Top Gun”. All it did was boost what’s his names already enormous ego.
I have a 2020 cb650r so it’s moderately fast. I put it around a 7? On 1 to 10 it does 60 in 3.5 and 11 sec quarter you simply can’t go that fast cheap in a car.
Most accidents are at least half riders fault you just have to keep your head up and slow down at intersections
I’m 51 and never dropped a street bike but growing up on a dirt bike helped as they are way harder to ride IMO.
Always run good new rubber and the biggest is look where you want to go. Almost every accident I see on YouTube is being a idiot and target fixation.
I’m often amazed that these idiots have time to honk but not get out of the way as I don’t even know where my horn is because in hitting the binders and in full accident avoidance.
Basically the more dangerous it is the more fun it is amirite?