Kawasaki GPZ900R
When Kawasaki sent the GPZ900R off the assembly line and onto the tarmac, the factory took a step up in the superbike segment. The 908 cc inline-four, with its 115 hp, was good for just over 240 km/h, or just over 150 mph. No previous standard machine could reach such a dizzying top speed, and the bike was also profiled on the big screen around the world with Tom Cruise riding it as one of the main actors in the 1986 feature film "Top Gun". We don't know if Kawasaki took on a role in the film, but one thing is certain; the advertising value was invaluable.
From the early 1960s until 1983, Kawasaki had stuck to air-cooled 2-strokes and conventional 4-strokes with 2 valves per cylinder. When they launched the 900 cc Z1 in 1972, it was under the slogan "King of the road", and the brand had a reputation for producing the fastest motorcycles. This reputation was greatly helped by the two 3-cylinder 2-strokes H1-500 and H2-750. The oil crisis in 1973 after the Yom Kippur War had something to do with the view on consumption and eventually also emissions. In the USA, the world's largest motorcycle market for heavy motorcycles, the concept of "emission control" became something Kawasaki also had to take seriously if they were to retain their share of the market. The Z1 became the heir, the 2-strokes were phased out and ever larger inline-fours became the solution.
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Liquid cooling and 4-valve technology
At the beginning of the 1980s, more and more Japanese manufacturers began to increase the power, strengthen the frames and factory-fit fairings of various sizes. The race for power and performance was to reach new heights this decade. For Kawasaki , the GPZ900R, often referred to as the "Ninja", was a long and important step forward in terms of technology. A streamlined design with a full fairing that provided good aerodynamic properties provided both comfort for the rider while reducing air resistance in the pursuit of the magical limit of 150 mph. To move the 236 kilograms, an additional power package was needed, and with the help of double overhead cams and 4-valves per cylinder, the engineers at Kawasaki managed to extract 115 hp at 9500 rpm.
0-402 m in 11 seconds
The water-cooled power pack delivered solid thrust from the start, and when the needle on the tachometer passed 6000 it really started to take off. At 8000 rpm the thrust was even more brutal until the needle passed the red mark at 10500 rpm. For most motorcyclists, an engine with such character was something completely new, and definitely not for "freshmen". The quarter mile passed in just over 11 seconds and when it crossed the finish line after 402 meters the speedometer needle was close to 200 km/h. This attracted attention, and contributed to Kawasaki's reputation as the manufacturer of the fastest motorcycles at the time. To stop safely, the bike was equipped with a rear disc brake and dual front discs with anti-dive.
Top Gun
For many owners, the GPZ900R became a faithful and resilient friend, both for sport and touring. It eventually became possible to buy both side bags and a top box in good quality, specially adapted to the model, and with a passenger on the back it was a mile-eater out on the highways. By the standards of the time, it offered good aerodynamics and stability at high speeds. Kawasaki GPZ900R was relatively perfect when it went on sale in 1984 and did not change significantly until the 1990s, with the exception of the 16-inch front wheel, which was replaced by a 17-inch one in 1991. This gave less "nervous" steering and better stability. For many, the GPZ900R became synonymous with fierce speed resources, an image the bike "acquired" from the 1986 film "Top Gun" with Tom Cruise in the saddle. Perhaps not so strange when we see Cruise at full throttle in battle with a Jetfighter! Kawasaki GPZ900R was produced from 1984-1996.
Technical data Kawasaki GPZ900R, 1984 model:
Engine: liquid-cooled 4-cylinder 4-stroke, DOHC, 16 valves
Displacement: 908 cc
Power: 115 hp at 9500 rpm.
No. of gears: 6
Front tires: 120/80x16
Rear tire:130/80x18
Tank: 22 Liters
Weight: 236 kg
Top speed: 243 km/h
