Kawasaki Zephyr anybody got one ? [Archive]

JimO

15th February 2006, 06:37

i have one that used as a commuter any body else got one ? i went to the Vincent motorcycle rally a couple of years ago and out of 1200 bikes it was the only one there:banana: :banana:

White trash

15th February 2006, 07:29

Firstly there were less than a thousand bikes at that rally. I know, I counted 'em.

And secondly I had the only GSXR600K3 there too, what's your point?

Nice bike though man, well done.

scumdog

15th February 2006, 07:35

No, but I once had a real nice Mk2 Zephyr with a hot Mk3 engine, lowered, fats and a farty exhaust note, does that count???

Motu

15th February 2006, 07:50

Des Townsen designed the Zephyr,he was a customer of ours and I used to work on his Tiumph 2000.A nice clean little yacht,my uncle built several.

I know Jackrat has one,I saw it on saturday.

Jackrat

15th February 2006, 14:37

Yeah I got one,Motu saw it on Saturday.

92 Red 750,,,,,their flamin' every where mate.;)

marty

15th February 2006, 15:01

there's one for sale over tauranga at that little scooter shop off elizabeth st - quite nice and solid looking actually.

and i had a green Mk3 with triple sidedrafts and widened rims. used to sieze when it got hot from grasstracking, then would be fine again once it cooled down. was a cool car. one of the ones i wish i never sold, along with my '50 ford pop.

JimO

15th February 2006, 15:28

im pretty shure mine is the only one in Dunedin

rogson

15th February 2006, 17:42

Rhino

17th February 2006, 18:55

I owned a mid eighties KZ750 - basically the same air cooled DOHC eight valve motor as the more recent models up until the latest one which I understand it has gone water cooled, FI, etc.

Great (underrated) bike!
I have a 1987 GT750 in the gargre. Great engine that was also used in the GPZ. The GT was the shaft drive, touring version.

Bonez

17th February 2006, 19:54

I owned a mid eighties KZ750 - basically the same air cooled DOHC eight valve motor as the more recent models up until the latest one which I understand it has gone water cooled, FI, etc.

Great (underrated) bike!The eighties 750 engine that evolved from the
1970s Z650 engine..................- http://jarle.eltelevest.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650.htm

Jackrat

19th February 2006, 14:33

The eighties 750 engine that evolved from the
1970s Z650 engine..................- http://jarle.eltelevest.no/Kawasaki/Series/Z/650/z650.htm

You'd think that having been around this long they would'a sorted that bloody cam chain adjuster by now.
Yeah they all sound like that mate:rolleyes:
I like this one.

Bonez

19th February 2006, 14:42

Nice 1100 JR.

terbang

21st February 2006, 08:20

Mate of mine had one and it was very nice. Looked like the Z1 of old..

JimO

22nd February 2006, 19:22

i think think the styling is loosely based on the old 900

filthyfly

11th August 2006, 09:36

I'm thinking of buying one. A ZR1100.
What do you reckon? Rode pretty well.

...Mind you coming from an NV400, pretty much anything would!

HanSoloNZ

16th August 2006, 01:27

I have a Zephyr 1100, it looks good and rides fantastically, way better than my mates 06 Hornet and 02 Triumph Legend.

filthyfly

16th August 2006, 10:36

I have a Zephyr 1100, it looks good and rides fantastically, way better than my mates 06 Hornet and 02 Triumph Legend.

Man, thats a cool looking bike. I'd never even heard of them until my mate put me onto one. I'm hooked and pretty sure I'm going to buy it.
Black and chrome. Naked. Fast.
All good really!

rogson

16th August 2006, 10:45

filthyfly

16th August 2006, 11:44

Just to make you aware if you are not already.
There are some 1100 Zephyr Jap imports around. The imported ones have the word Zephyr on the tank (instead of Kawasaki). If its an import I'm pretty sure it will be restricted (or would have been when imported). I don't know what it takes to derestrict them.

Its not an import. Thanks for pointing that out, I've done a wee bit of homework and I'm only interested in the ones with "KAWASAKI" in bold silver lettering on the tank! It would be a bit disappointing to have that kind of grunt watered down a little...

Bonez

16th August 2006, 16:24

Just to make you aware if you are not already.
There are some 1100 Zephyr Jap imports around. The imported ones have the word Zephyr on the tank (instead of Kawasaki). If its an import I'm pretty sure it will be restricted (or would have been when imported). I don't know what it takes to derestrict them. Didn't the first of them have ZEPHYR on the tanks but Kawasaki had to stop that practice due to trade mark issues?

TWO WHEELS test in 1991 on the 750 available here - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-accessories/Manuals-magazines/auction-66818894.htm

rogson

16th August 2006, 16:49

From what I understand, Ford objected to Kawasaki using the word Zephyr in the markets that Ford has marketed cars using that name (e.g. NZ). I think it was resolved by Ford agreeing to let Kawasaki use the name but not in a prominent way (like on the tank). Ford never sold Zephyrs in Japan and had no claim on using the name there.

It is possible Kawasaki initially had the word Zephyr on all the bikes in all markets and then stopped in the contested markets when Ford objected - inwhich case could those early non-Japanese market "Zephyrs" (on the tank) be worth a premium?

JimO

16th August 2006, 20:08

just bought that mag thanks Bonez

stevedee

16th August 2006, 21:10

Didn't know they made Zephyrs, damn what a fine looking bike, aways said Kawasaki made some of the best. I'm a naked bike fan myself, can't beat em in my humble opinion

spd:-)

Bonez

17th August 2006, 05:46

just bought that mag thanks BonezKnow worries. Real world experiance on owning one here- http://www.agrisoft-systems.de/kawasaki/

And

http://www.zephyr-zone.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

I've got that mag and the suzuki 800 v-twin test in front of me. There's one of those and one with the 550 on test up for auction as well. Always liked the look of the 750.

Performance wise it is not much better than Gerty or GasAxe though, apart from the brakes .

I wouldn't mind having in the shed all the same.

filthyfly

17th August 2006, 09:22

Didn't know they made Zephyrs, damn what a fine looking bike, aways said Kawasaki made some of the best. I'm a naked bike fan myself, can't beat em in my humble opinion

spd:-)

I didn't know about them either and was looking at a zzr until someone in the know pointed a Zephyr out to me.
Took it for a blat and I'm hooked. Sounds like the guy with the bike mags on trade me has an 1100 review as well so I'll take that thanks!

Drum

17th August 2006, 09:34

there's one for sale over tauranga at that little scooter shop off elizabeth st - quite nice and solid looking actually.
.........

Ive been looking at the Zephyr 750 as the next step up from my 250 - Any ideas on that? Would it be suitable? Any known issues with them?

And whats the name of thats scooter shop? I was looking at a Zephyr in TGA on tardme the other week, but didnt get my bids in on time. Would be interested in tracking down the owner.

filthyfly

17th August 2006, 13:03

Having ridden the 1100, I'm hooked! Great sound, power, and they look cool too. The 750 seems the business too. I'd say it may handle better with a full tank of gas!

HanSoloNZ

18th August 2006, 16:31

I just put my Zephyr on Tardme, $6500ono, which is pretty damn good buying with all the mods.

Drum

18th August 2006, 16:34

How about posting the link Han? Cheers

HanSoloNZ

19th August 2006, 13:39

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=67234392&key=126692

JimO

19th August 2006, 17:37

I bought mine a few years ago and it sat in the garage for a while but this year my wife has been riding it to work. I dont think they have any major issues mechanically but sound rattly as a bag of hammers when cold but i think thats a air cooled kawasaki trait its not as nice as Hans Solos one but would consider selling it at a reasonable price check my profile pic