KAWASAKI Z1300 (1979-1983) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Z1300 was a standard motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki from 1979 to 1989. The bike was powered by a huge displacement engine with a straight-six-cylinder configuration.

It was manufactured in several versions: Z1300, ZG1300, KZ1300, and ZN1300. It was the Z series's largest model, which began with the Z1 (900) in 1972. Over its production period, the bike had a few problems with the oil, but these were quickly resolved by the manufacturer.

In 1979, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Kawasaki Z1300, a large-displacement motorcycle packed with standard features, such as a rectangular headlight up front, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, a dual exhaust system with a muffler on each side, side-mounted rear shocks, and seven-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

The motorcycle was built around a double-cradle steel frame with a telescopic fork on the front that provided 200 mm of travel and dual preload-adjustable shocks on the rear, offering optimum suspension performance and handling.

Two 260 mm discs on the front wheel tied to dual-piston calipers and a 250 mm disc on the rear wheel coupled to a single-piston caliper achieved the braking power.

As for the power figures, the 1978 Kawasaki Z1300 had installed a 1,286cc four-stroke liquid-cooled six-cylinder engine underneath its fuel tank, delivering 120 hp at 8,000 rpm and 117 Nm (86 lb-ft) torque at 6,500 rpm.