CMM MARKETPLACE

Every month we take a look at the classic motorcycle market with a range of industry experts. This month, Paul Jayson from The Motorcycle Broker and our very own Scott Redmond look at high-performance yardsticks and Kawasakis in particular.

On the subject of super-cool and fast Kwaks.

The Z1 900 is a true design classic and a motorcycling icon – it has been since the day it hit the streets in the US in about July 1972. They really hit the US showrooms from about September 1972 onwards and are all referred to as 1973 models, although they were produced in 1972. The Z1 removed Honda’s crown and left them chasing shadows with the CB750 until they bought out the CBX1000 in 1978. The CB750 pulled a claimed 125mph while the Z was electronically timed at 132mph, apparently. So the king was dead in 1972, long live the king and the Z was king when it came to top speed. For ease of understanding these beautiful Zeds, we will refer to 1972 built motorcycles as 72s and all models built from January 1973 until around August 1973 as 73s, after which the Z1A came out. Production in 1972 accounted for just under 5000 machines from Kawasaki: the first 1200 or so being very different from any of the remaining 3700 or so machines. I sold a first 1200 Z1 for £45k... There were differences with the cylinder heads, coils, front brake union, colour and many other subtle differences. You will be very hard pushed to find one of these machines outside of a museum, especially with the original cylinder heads with the carb take off spigots coming from the head itself. These often broke off, or failed, and the later head with the carb take off spigots coming from the inlet manifold, were fitted under warranty. Carburettors were often changed for the later ones, which did not leak fuel everywhere and remained balanced, unlike the earlier type carbs. The colours, candy red brown and orange, were lighter than the 1200 post 1972 models. All 1972 machines came with different speedo faces and the forks were a little chubbier in places due to the cast being so new. By 1973 production, Kawasaki had ironed out the complaints from real-life riding and the Z1 remained pretty much the same for the rest of the production year, but was also now available in green as well as brown/orange. All of these machines have coded stamps on wheel rims, swingarm, front disc etc. which tell you the month and year of production of those components. Most of these machines now have after-market rims and discs so they are a mish-mash of parts. People are concerned about the value of these motorcycles and are creating their own rideable pension pot. Machines with the correct date stamps on the components are the ones which are really going to increase in value. The 72s are more sought after and expensive than 73s and the first 1200 are the holy grail of Zeds and will command the highest of all premiums. The 1973 Zeds will start moving up and becoming more expensive, because a genuine one is a rare motorcycle indeed and is better than the earlier machines. Perfect ones are £25k, bitsas £8k-£15k. The market for classic Japanese motorcycles is moving with pace and has a long way to go. Even once the Z1A came out, the first year production Z1 had already become a classic and collectors had their eyes on them. The entire Kawasaki Z900 series is a design icon and will always excite collectors. They are very rideable, fun and an incredible investment. For those not caring about investing and happy to ride a Zed, there are loads of bitsas around which are great to ride hard, just don’t get conned into paying a fortune for them. Such bikes are great value and great fun to own and ride.