Lot details
Registration No: SAX620Y
Frame No: K2T30A013745
Engine No: K2T30AE014600
cc: 1800
MOT Expiry Date: April 2010

The late 1970's were marked by a power struggle between the four Japanese manufacturers. Kawasaki's Z900/Z1 dohc four had spent the majority of the decade at the head of the performance league, challenged only by the likes of Ducati, Laverda and Moto Guzzi in terms of outright speed, if not value for money, reliability and availability. However, as the decade closed their position was under threat. Increasingly tight emission laws in the US had forced Suzuki to move to four stroke production initially with the GS750 quickly followed by the GS1000, both of which were (remarkably) similar to their rival Kawasaki models both in performance and design. Likewise, Yamaha had been forced to use their considerable four stroke experience, gained as consultants to the likes of Toyota in the four wheeled world, to produce the XS1100 which majored on torque and the sleeping giant, Honda, had woken up and were gleefully announcing the imminent release of their (self proclaimed) "mechanical" tour de force, the CBX.
Kawasaki needed a response and delivered it in 1979 with the Z1300, a motorcycle that looked as if it had been designed with a marker pen instead of a fine liner. Here was a machine that out torqued the Yamaha, could hide a Suzuki in its tyre smoke with the twitch of the right hand and technically made the CBX look like a moped. It quite simply was bigger, more powerful (120bhp) and more complex than its rivals or anything that had come before and consequently stunned the motorcycle world.
The liquid cooled across the frame, twin cam six was housed in a traditional frame with twin rear shocks and telescopic forks . Shaft drive was employed to transmit the power and twin 260mm discs helped slow the monster down. Fuelled and ready to go the big Zed easily tipped the scales at over 700lbs, could achieve 130mph plus and destroy a rear tyre in 3000 miles. It was also exceptional at covering vast distances at high speed two up with luggage and prompted discussions about voluntary power limits and weight lifting training programmes in parliaments and bars around the world.
This example dates from 1982, by which time the low tech carburettors that graced the original machines had been replaced by fuel injection, has been in the present ownership for the last 18 years. Described as being in good condition throughout and offered with 18 previous Mot certificates supporting the recorded mileage of 39,549 miles, it is finished with attractive custom paintwork and fitted with a number of accessories. Mot'd until April 2010 and offered with a Swansea V5C it affords the opportunity to acquire an example of the machine that redefined the phrase "superbike".