Kawasaki Z1300
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Z1300 showing smooth engine water jacket and shaft drive to rear wheel
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| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
|---|---|
| Also called | KZ1300, ZG1300, ZN1300. |
| Parent company | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Production | 1979-1989 |
| Engine | 1,286 cc (78.5 cu in) 4-stroke DOHC water-cooled inline-6 with three Mikuni 32mm BSW32SS CV twin-choke carbs (1979 Z1300 A1 model) |
| Bore / stroke | 62 mm × 71 mm (2.4 in × 2.8 in) |
| Top speed | 222 km/h (138 mph) |
| Power | 89 kW (120 hp) @ 8,000 rpm (claimed) |
| Torque | 115 N⋅m (85 ft⋅lb) @ 6,000 rpm (claimed) |
| Transmission | Multi-disc wet clutch, 5-speed, shaft drive |
| Suspension | Front: telescopic air fork Rear: swingarm |
| Brakes | Front: 2× 300 mm (11.9 in) disc Rear: 270 mm (10.8 in) disc |
| Tires | Dunlop tubeless, Front: MN90-18 Rear: MT90-17 |
| Rake, trail | 28.5°, 100 mm (4.0 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1,660 mm (65.2 in) |
| Dimensions |
H: 810 mm (32 in) |
| Seat height | 810 mm (32 in) |
| Weight | 314 kg (692 lb) (tank 1⁄2 full) (wet) |
| Fuel capacity | 21 l; 4.7 imp gal (5.6 US gal) |
| Fuel consumption | 5.56 L/100 km; 50.8 mpg‑imp (42.3 mpg‑US) |
The Kawasaki Z1300 is a muscle bike with a water-cooled 1,300 cc straight-six engine that was manufactured by Kawasaki between 1979 and 1989.
Previously referring to the Z1300 as an Autobahn stormer, when reviewing their 'Machine of the Year' competition results in 1979 after readers had voted for the Triumph Bonneville as the winner, UK weekly newspaper Motor Cycle News stated "Kawasaki, with their Z1300 — a superb example of technology by anyone's standards — have gone overboard in many people's minds", adding that the Honda CBX, Suzuki GS1000, Yamaha XS1100 and Z1300 were "hyperbikes".
The Z1300 featured six cylinders, water cooling, and shaft drive, The undersquare stroke of 71mm and bore of 62mm kept the engine width acceptable, but the high piston speed limited the maximum rpm figure. During its ten-year production run, fuelling was switched from carburetors to electronic fuel injection and suspension was upgraded to air systems front and rear. Fuel injection system was adopted primarily to improve fuel consumption, but as a bonus were increased power and torque.
Although its straight-six engine was smooth, the motorcycle was heavy, expensive and thirsty, and the Z1300 sold poorly, particularly in Europe. One amateur reviewer on a modern website criticised the handling, stating it "wallowed, weaved and bucked", and the engine covered only 30 miles per UK gallon.
When released, its output in excess of 120 hp (89 kW) prompted France to introduce a 100 hp (75 kW) limit on new motorcycles. However, no other EU country followed suit, and France is set to abolish the 100 bhp limit in 2016.
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Wikipedia