Thread: Kwaka Z500 and Z1000

I had a GPZ 750 which I restored as a daily rider in about 2000.
Nice engine with lovely deep note. I fitted a dynojet kit and it had open exhausts when I got it. It was pretty fast also but nothing like say the Hornet 900.
Compared to modern bikes these old things are very top heavy ( and heavy heavy) and once you are commited to a cornering line they do not like to change. I couldn't believe how easily the Honda Hornet 900 changed line compared to it when I moved up and passed the Kwaka to my son.
The thing you have to watch is the the monolever rear suspension if you get one with that although the vanilla 500 has a normal swing arm. The parts were unobtainium even back in 2000, and they have several nylon bushes which I had to get from Japan. Try to move the wheel up and down while it is off the ground. Any slop and it's new bushes required.

The engines and gearboxes are great and bulletproof and I had no problems with it at all that I can recall.
Regards Philip A

I had a GPZ750R, little brother of the 900. Good bike and handled/stopped as well as the 900.




I too would like a 70's or early 80's bike to build a cafe racer, something that i can put on club reg for fair weather riding .

The Zs are worth the money. GPZ are not worth any decent money yet. I have not owned one but have done a lot of kms on a Z900 of a friend. The Z900s and 1000s are bringing good money in good nick nowdays. They were a good bike and one of the few you could ride with Harleys and Triumphs etc and not get bagged for the other being the Suzuki GSX1100 (which I did own and are now also worth decent money).
I think you will be disappointed in a 500. Having said that these bikes are old and compared to the newer bikes handle & brake badly with their razor thin tyres. I did enjoy riding it though. For their time they handled great. They in turn lead into the GPZ incarnations including the ninja. But as said heavy and dont like changing direction quickly.
I also spent a bit of time on my brother in laws GPZ750 turbo and it was a great bike to ride.
Horses for courses it depends what you actually want.
I personally would never buy a bike or car as an investment, there can be money to be made but it is also hit and miss.

I had a GPz1100B1. Went well enough, tho the japs didn't discover brakes or chassis dynamics till some time after they built these...but yes, wish I still had the old pig.


If your used to a modern sports bike handling and brakes, the 1st corner could be a tad interesting on one of these dinosaurs.


Café racer?.... SR500

Didnt the B1 have two different size rims? (was it 18's and 21's?) I always thought, for Australia, thats a great idea.
I had the last model Kawasaki 750 air cooled, sweet at well over the current limits,, mine was black and red,,
only a bikini fairing though

This is probably a better project,,
same year,,

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

This is probably a better project,,
same year,,

I used to have a z1r mk 1 awesome bike but 200ks and the tank was empty (including reserve ) absolutely bulletproof

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Didnt the B1 have two different size rims? (was it 18's and 21's?) I always thought, for Australia, thats a great idea.
I had the last model Kawasaki 750 air cooled, sweet at well over the current limits,, mine was black and red,,

18 and 19 from memory.


Mine was green....in Lawson rep colours. Wish it was the real deal tho