My business partner picked this up over the weekend. He's a big fan of classic Kawasaki motorcycles. This makes his 3rd. He also has a '75 KZ900 he bought new in 75, and a 78 KZ1000.
It's a 1978 Kawasaki Z1R TC, turbocharged bike. One of 250 made in 1978. Only 500 were built over two years. He's the 3rd owner. He found it in a chicken coupe in North Carolina.
It's not perfect, but knowing him, it will be. He's pretty meticulous when it comes to restoring things. The extended swing arm will be one of the first things to go. The side covers are sitting on the hood of the Mustang.
Runs but needs a fair amount of TLC.
Very cool. I remember seeing exactly one of those on the street back when they were new, they were super rare. I'm glad he's going back to the stock swingarm, something like that should be kept stock.
ShawnG
PowerDork
6/5/19 11:15 p.m.
Careful, they knocked the pin out of the grenade with those TC models.
Awesome bike though. The styling was completely unloved when it came out but they've really caught on. A friend of mine has had his since new.
My Ducati 860 has similar styling (Guigario no less) and is still hated by pretty much everyone.
This one looks like it stepped straight out of a 1970s Bond movie to me.
ShawnG
PowerDork
6/6/19 9:40 a.m.
Just noticed the air shifter....
ShawnG said:
Awesome bike though. The styling was completely unloved when it came out but they've really caught on. A friend of mine has had his since new.
Not by everyone...I always liked them myself, and I remember a friend had a poster of a Z1R tacked on his apartment wall. 
Thoes are so cool, I wish I held on to mine longer.
ShawnG said:
Just noticed the air shifter....
The air shifter is going away as well. This one will be going back to stock.
