KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

Z1 Drag Racing History

  • z1kzonly
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01 May 2020 22:50 #824755 by z1kzonly
Z1 Drag Racing History was created by z1kzonly
I know not a lot of you are not drag racing fans here. But I just came across these pics of Terry Vance's Pro Stock Kaw from the late 70's. This was the bike that hooked me. I bought my 1st in 1977. And dreamed of this build, wearing out a Russ Collins R C Eng. catalog. This ended up in Australia? I had to share! Some of you will appreciate it.

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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The following user(s) said Thank You: DOHC, mopguy, riturbo, Street Fighter LTD, slayer61, SWest, Mikaw, Dragbike_Mike

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02 May 2020 20:37 #824819 by Kidkawie
Replied by Kidkawie on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
Badass! I love those old drag bikes.

1975 Z1 900
1994 KX250 Supermoto
2004 KX125

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03 May 2020 08:42 #824853 by z1kzonly
Replied by z1kzonly on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
So simple! They even used a stock seat, cut foam out and pulled cover down tight! With that magneto, Reminds me of the Supercharged AA/Gassers we run. Start it and run it!

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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18 May 2020 09:37 #826003 by z1kzonly
Replied by z1kzonly on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
Came across some pictures of the Late "Brian Johnson 2015" From England, avid drag bike racer, went up to Top Fuel nitro. He spent time in Western New York Buffalo, early 80's.
But this is one of his early Kaw Pro Stocks. "The Imperial Wizard" this has been painted a few times, a modern side winder installed. But this is when pro stock ment mostly stock! The perfect vintage Kawasaki Z.

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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The following user(s) said Thank You: Dragbike_Mike

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18 May 2020 10:27 #826006 by gd4now
Replied by gd4now on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
Sorry I do not have a better pic than this ad, but I have always liked this Denco machine.

1977 KZ650 B1
Pods and Denco header


OLD KAW OWNERS SMILE ALOT

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20 May 2020 09:25 #826147 by z1kzonly
Replied by z1kzonly on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
That Ad is classic! I am going after this look. When I was young, never had any real money to build and modify these. I had my 1st mighty Z in 1977. Now Im 62, playing like a kid again! I will never learn! :laugh: :laugh: I'm gonna cheat with the GS Suzuki swingarm, have a 5" slick along with 18" front rim. That red tail is an original FRP ? Watson fiberglass, front fender is glass too. That is the plan anyway, might sit like this too, like my other 10 projects. Always loved them first professional Pro Stock drag bikes

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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30 May 2020 17:40 #826967 by urankjj
Replied by urankjj on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
Ron Webb's Top-Fuel Kawi. From Yesteryear...
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30 May 2020 20:09 - 30 May 2020 20:11 #826982 by krazee1
Replied by krazee1 on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
This is Vicki Farr piloting the Farr Cycle Z1R in the early 1980s. They manufactured big block cylinders up to 1400 some CCs if I remember correctly. They used to run at a track in Topeka Kansas at an event put on by Truet and Osborne, I think they were from Oklahoma. If Vicki got a good launch her pony tail would stick straight out the back!

Former M.E. at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, Lincoln, NE
1966 W1 (the Z1 of 1966-50H.P. and 100mph!)
1974 Z1
1978 KZ1000 LTD
1976 KZ900B pile O parts
1980 KZ750E
1980 Honda XL250S (I know, wrong flavor!)
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Last edit: 30 May 2020 20:11 by krazee1.
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14 Dec 2020 12:12 #840036 by Vorbeck
Replied by Vorbeck on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
I loved the multi engine bikes as a kid, still do.

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14 Dec 2020 13:24 #840041 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic Z1 Drag Racing History

Vorbeck wrote: I loved the multi engine bikes as a kid, still do.


How about this one.....



:woohoo: Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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15 Dec 2020 09:54 #840098 by bluej58
Replied by bluej58 on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
The oil tank is probably as big as the gas tank

78 KZ1000 A2A

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16 Dec 2020 15:58 - 16 Dec 2020 15:59 #840184 by z1kzonly
Replied by z1kzonly on topic Z1 Drag Racing History
Anyone interested in old KZ /Z1 dragbikes? Jack Kopella from cycledrag.com has lots of videos! He himself has an 80? Smog head LTD that he shows off. It is sitting in Larry McBrides shop in Virginia getting some top end work done. Jack is documenting it all.
I could not find his pictures of the Bob Davis' 3 - Z1 - Engine Top Fuel Bike that sits in the AMA Hall of Fame Museum in Iowa.
Back in the late 70's Russ Collins Honda Sorrceror triple SOHC 750 Honda bike was out.
Then after Collins crashed, The NHRA pulled Top Fuel motorcycles off of their show!
This massive thing weighs almost a #1000 pounds. I'd love to hear it run at the track with a full load of Nitro!!!!!

Livin in "CheektaVegas, NY
Went thru 25 of these in 40 yrs.
I SOLD OUT! THE KAW BARN IS EMPTY.
More room for The Old Girl, Harley 75 FLH Electra Glide,
Old faithful! Points ign. Bendix Orig. carb.
Starts everytime!

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Last edit: 16 Dec 2020 15:59 by z1kzonly.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dragbike_Mike

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