This year marks exactly 50 years since the launch of the Z1 in Akashi saw the launch of the very first Z, which would change Team Green’s history forever. To celebrate this in an appropriate way, a 50th anniversary event was organized at the Swiss importer and the new Z900 SE and Z900RS SE could be immediately introduced.
We’ve covered the story of the very first Z1 (900) before, how it was originally supposed to be a Z750 until they were trumped by Honda in 1968 with the CB750 and the plan was put on hold for a year, after which the decision was taken to go for a 900. In 1972 the Z1 900 was a fact and the engine immediately hit like a bomb, during the 24 Hours of Daytona no fewer than 52 records were broken.
What we didn’t know, however, is how important the Z has been to Kawasaki history. In 3 seminars at the Swiss Kawasaki importer, who has the largest private collection of Kawasaki motorcycles from that illustrious period as a private museum, we are told the story behind the Z, how the first Z came about and that without the Z Kawasaki probably had stopped motoring.
An extensive report will go into this in depth, and will also explain the link with the current Z-generation, which started in 2004 with the first ‘modern’ Z1000.
In addition to the very interesting workshops, Kawasaki also mapped out some beautiful routes for us in the Swiss hilly landscape with the Z900 SE and the Z900RS SE, the last two models of the Z family. The Z900 SE is basically the Z900 that we expected a few years ago to be put on the market by Kawasaki.
The engine is the same as the standard Z900, but with better suspension and brakes. As far as the latter is concerned, the axial 4-piston calipers have made way for genuine Brembo Monobloc M4.32 radial 4-piston calipers. In terms of suspension, the standard Showa rear shock has been replaced by an Öhlins monoshock with hydraulically adjustable spring preload.
In a nutshell, that has translated into a bike that has super fine suspension and now has enormous braking power, according to our man on the spot Ron Huis. An extensive test of the Z900 SE will soon be available on Motorfreaks, followed by a test of the Z900RS SE and a report of 50 years of Z.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.