Kawasaki introduced the Z1 motorcycle in 1972. Four years later they introduced the Kz900. The original Kawasaki Z1 was the first series of Japanese motorcycles with the combination of four cylinders, dual overhead cams and 903 cc (55.1 cu in). It was one of the most powerful motorcycles produced up until that time, and set multiple world records.[citation needed] And even though its quarter mile times and top speeds were grossly overestimated,[by whom?] actual numbers were impressive enough to earn the bike the nickname “The King”.[citation needed] In 1977 a z1000 ridden by Reg Pridmore became the first Japanese bike to win an AMA Superbike national when it took the victory at Pocono Raceway. In 2003 Kawasaki introduced a completely revamped 30 year anniversary edition of the Z1000. It used a modified engine from the Kawasaki ZX-9R, and was bored out by 2.2 mm resulting in bigger displacement, more low-RPM torque, and only a slight power loss of 4 bhp from the original ZX9. In 2004, Kawasaki released the Z1000's smaller brother, the Z750. In 2007, Kawasaki released a new Z1000. The Z-series since the 1970s until today are also known as the “Z”, “Zed”, and “Z1k”.
In October 2009, Kawasaki unveiled the 2010 Z1000. It received an all new Aluminum frame, Digital Instrument Panel, Bodywork, and a completely new engine. It sports 77 x 56mm bore and stroke figures, 1mm over the ZX-10R’s 76 x 55mm displacing 1,043cc. That is up from the previous model's 953cc. Compression ratio is 11.8:1, and fuel injection is handled by a bank of 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
Kawasaki Z1000
Kawasaki Z1000