1979 Kawasaki Kz1300 on 2040-motos

Kawasaki Other description

Mostly complete, she starts and idles on gas (and occasionally a little starter fluid persuasion) could certainly use a carb cleaning and possibly a resync, paint is in fairly good shape for being 34 years old, has the common paint fading on tank and fenders but overall good shape. Clear title, one owner, original Florida bike. LOW MILES! Only 7091 miles. It will need some love to be back on the road as a rider, speedometer works, odo works, temp gauge works, unsure on issue with tach and unsure whether or not the gas gauge works currently. Blinkers work, headlight works, brake light works, starter and wiring is in great shape! Comes with original Grand Touring/1300 front fairing and rear oem Kawasaki/Vetter matching rear hard bags. Bags have holes cut for 3.5" speakers. The headlight comes with it along with the factory blinkers, it just needs the original brackets to be reattached! Next to no corrosion on original bars, headers, and minor oxidation on the engine case, overall in pretty good shape.
Very low vin number, first year of production! She would make a great candidate for a full restoration and wouldn't take a lot of work to return to former glory.

The first year for the KZ1300

The Kawasaki Z1300 is a touring motorcycle with a water-cooled 1,300 cc straight-six engine that was manufactured by Kawasaki between 1979 and 1989.

The Z1300 featured six cylinders, water cooling, and shaft drive as standard equipment.

Kawasaki’s huge six-cylinder shaft-drive Z1300 was the zenith of Japanese motorcycle excess in the 70s. John Nutting covered several thousand miles on two early versions, but still looks back fondly on what is now regarded as a beast of a bike...

Kawasaki Z1300, Classic Mechanics Feb 2012

With the launch of its massive six-cylinder Z1300 in 1979, Kawasaki triumphed in showing how Japanese design ingenuity alone could never succeed in overcoming the dynamic necessities of a motorcycle.

But perhaps the Z1300 was before its time. Well before its time. Nowadays, of those who still own examples of the six-cylinder monster more than a quarter love it for what it is: a lavish example of excessive engineering framed in a conventional motorcycle format

Motorcycle Classics, Sept/Oct 2009

Kawasaki KZ1300
Years made: 1979-1982 
Claimed power: 120hp @ 8,000rpm
Top speed: 140mph
Engine: 1,286cc DOHC liquid-cooled inline 6
Weight (wet): 710lb (322kg)
Wheelbase: 62.5in (1,588mm)
Width: 25.25in (641mm)
1/4 mile, sec/mph: 11.79/115.68
MPG: 35-45
Price then (1979): $4,695

Weighing in at an astounding 710 pounds, the Kawasaki KZ1300 was a heavyweight 6-cylinder motorcycle, with a 239cc displacement advantage over the Honda CBX 1000 and 380 over the Benelli Sei 900. Much like the Sei, its six lungs are fed by a trio of carbs.

Each of the three 32mm, 2-barreled Mikuni units is equipped with dual throttle ports, making for an unusual looking setup and the world’s first 2-barrel CV carb. Like the CBX, the Kawasaki KZ1300 features double-overhead cams with shim and bucket valve adjustment. Unlike the CBX, it uses a driveshaft to deliver its power to the rear wheel. The result of all these machinations was a claimed output of 120hp at the crank.

Holding all this in check is a tubular steel frame that’s fairly typical for the era, but with a 45mm steel backbone for increased rigidity. Despite the largeness of the Kawasaki KZ13000, its seat height is the same as the CBX at just over 31 inches. It is a well padded and accommodating place to spend the day, and ahead of that saddle you’ll find a large 5.6-gallon fuel tank. That big tank and MPG ratings of 35-45 add up to potentially long stints behind the bars.

The Kawasaki KZ1300 exhales through a 6-into-2 exhaust, and being liquid cooled is equipped with a radiator, hung on the down tubes of the frame. Cast wheels at both ends carry disc brakes, with two up front and one out back. A 5-speed gear box is on par with most machines of the day.

Ground clearance was one of the primary complaints of magazines at the time, but most were impressed with the power the KZ pumped out and its enormous presence. “There are motorcycles with more speed, but not with the same combination of power, strength comfort and handling,” said Cycle World, adding, “The sophistication is incredible, the size is enormous. What we have here is an incredible hulk.”

Styling on the massive Kawasaki KZ1300 is sharp for a 6-cylinder motorcycle and works to keep its porkiness in check. The crisp lines of the tank, side covers and tail section make it look lighter than it is.   All in all, the big KZ trumps the lesser sixes by sheer numerical supremacy.  Yet as learned from our test riders, the bulk of the KZ1300 was of little concern when the grip was twisted.