MEAN GREEN MACHINE: VSB’S KAWASAKI KZ1000R S1 REPLICA

[weeksy]

https://www.bikeexif.com/kawasaki-kz1000r-s1-replica

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I like it (it's be weird if I didn't), my mate has a set of those front discs, they're incredibly heavy.

Odd dull Kawasaki fact, Z1000Rs, Z1000Js, Z1100Rs and GPZ1100s all look the same, but they all have different frames with different geometry, and Kawasaki changed them every year of the 5 years they were made.

KZ1000S1s were made by Kawasaki in Japan, the frames are chrome moly tubing made to look like the road bike mild steel frame.

[Mr. Dazzle]

they're incredibly heavy.

Funny, cause they don't look it.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

they're incredibly heavy.

Funny, cause they don't look it.

They're like large dinner plates made of stainless steel.

Actually the ones on that bike look like steel outers on alloy inners, the original S1 discs look like that but are single pieces of stainless steel.

[Alan PBTD]

Very nice bike - my favourite - I had a 1100R for 10 years but it's a bit of a mish mash to a call it a S1 replica. Watched the video of it on u tube and it's a very neat job but there's a few things that aren't right. It's either a S1 Replica or it's not.

[Demannu]

I have a soft spot for a 'green meanie' from the early 80s, so

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Very nice bike - my favourite - I had a 1100R for 10 years but it's a bit of a mish mash to a call it a S1 replica. Watched the video of it on u tube and it's a very neat job but there's a few things that aren't right. It's either a S1 Replica or it's not.

It's definitely not an S1 replica, I've got the Japanese Racers magazine / book about the race Kawasaki Z1000s and you the S1 is quite different, and Lawson's bike had a few differences to the S1 (flat slide carbs are the obvious difference)

Also have a read of Lean Mean and Lime Green by Randy Hall, gives a big insight into the US Kawasaki race team of the early 80s

[Alan PBTD]

When I was in the trade many years ago I was very friendly with some boys from Kawasaki Dublin. They were moving and sorting out their warehouse and apparently there was a S1 in a box hidden in the depths. Never heard any more but everytime I brought it up in conversation it went very quiet with wry smiles all round.

Gordon Pantall - who had Kawasaki shops in Swansea donkeys years ago has Graham Crosbys Z1000 - the proper original bike. Was in his attic for many years when he retired and one of our TD Instructors did a lot of welding on it then it came out for restoration. I think they ran it @ the TT.

And one of my old Ducati customers came across a XR750 Harley frame. After many years investigation it turned out to be an original works HD frame - no numbers and lots of braces / mods. He tracked down the builder in the USA and the conversation when like - has it got this weld / brace here and there - he confirmed it had and the fella said it he'd built it and said it was the real deal. HD USA heard about it and wanted to buy it back.