In the early 1970s the Japanese would change the face of motorcycling forever, with a new breed of bike that was faster, more efficient, more comfortable and much cheaper than anything offered by the Brits or Americans, who had dominated the global motorbike market until then.
Colloquially known as UJM bikes (which stood for Universal Japanese Motorcycle), the nickname represented a very similar style of design applied by all of the major Japanese bike makers during the era, the pioneer of which was the 1969 Honda CB750.
Kawasaki entered the UJM market the following year with the Z1, followed by entries from Yamaha and Suzuki. For the 1976 model year, the Z1 was replaced by the 903cc twin cam KZ900.
The design of the frame was changed to accept many modified frame fittings such as the battery box and air filter box and was strengthened with heavier gauge tubing in an effort to improve the handling.
It was a bike that was always regarded as a stop-gap, as Kawasaki was working towards an upgraded version of the engine for 1977, when the KZ1000 appeared. As a result, the KZ900 is one of the rarest UJM bikes of the lot, with less than 11,000 sold globally.
This one is presented in very good original order, having been imported to the UK from Ohio, USA, in 2020.
This is a terrific looking bike that is in superb overall condition and it looks incredible with its lime green tank and bodywork – so definitive of its era.
The handlebars and saddle are in excellent order, the frame is in good order and the numbers all match, while the forks are in excellent condition, as are all of the visible brake components and engine parts.
The vendor reports that there are some small marks commensurate with the bike’s age and usage, but nothing of any significance. It also comes with new tyres all-round.
Fitted with a Dyna S electronic ignition complete kit
The Kawasaki’s air-cooled 903cc twin cam four is one of the classic 1970s bike engines and makes a distinctive, unforgettable noise. This one is in great order and handles almost as good as new.
The vendor says it’s a great bike to ride with fantastic acceleration to accompany that amazing soundtrack, while there are no known mechanical problems. He will also include new Rear Shocks with this bike entirely for free!
This is a fabulous example of one of the motorcycling icons of the 1970s, finished in an amazingly lairy colour scheme and in fantastic running order. It’s also a truly rare machine, being a 1976-only KZ900, which gives it added appeal among collectors.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1976 Kawasaki KZ900
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