This is a blast from the past. I was looking for a Z1 when this was shown and ended up buy this particular bike a few days later. I loved it so don't care what others might say. Sold it 'cos the roads around my home are shit and the bike was still stunning when I off-loaded it. The swansong was a ride around the Alps. Thanks for putting this on youtube.
I bought my 1975 Z-1b at 9 years old with 3400 miles on it.. Put over 40000 miles on it and enjoyed every mile.. 82 hp.. faster than the second fastest bike , Gold Wing , in the quarter by over 1/2 a second.. I loved that bike.. The Original Chrome JackHammer.. Fortunately I am still here to Rant about it.. Never caught by the Po Po either.. I really loved the throaty sound at 3500 rpm.. coming from the air box..
I like Steve's enthusiasm. Obviously the big Z is a land mark bike but don't knock our Brit iron as the big Commando wasn't a bad bike and indeed very handsome. This is when Top Gear was a proper program before the three fuckin stougies took it over and turned it into some kind of circus act..
I had the Kawasaki Z1A 1974, it was around 12 months old at the time. Very powerful machine but I was nearly killed or seriously injured four times due to high speed tank slappers that would just start for no reason. new Dunlop tires, Koni suspension, Kawasaki steering damper etc etc made no difference. The ill handling stopped suddenly when I bought a race spec Rickman Kawasaki S+S tuned 1100, absolutely amazing. One half of the S+S was Russell Savory of Honda Racing fame. A black and gold monster with an open pipe and Keihin carbs that would wake the dead and I never found the top end on always trying to rip your arms off. Those were the days.....
@alanbstard4 The Norton was a very heavy motorcycle,(remember two guys that got themselves killed on those, different incidents, going around a corner on a windy road in the Texas hillcountry back then.) The Z-1 was very rideable! (I recall mine having a cool sounding exhaust whistle at low RPM's when in gear and riding down the road, that I'll never forget!)
Maybe all true. however, when these were around if there was anything with more poke than my H2 with pipes and Denco`s would you write and tell me what it was !!!. Urban thirsty burner I know but I was never even near blown off whilst on that amazing rocket ship Honda eater. Hang on tight. H2 Strokers ?. Unbeateable at the time.
At Mecum right? Man I'm just a 17 y.o. from India and it's my dream bike I wish to own one of them someday, but unfortunately for me there's none of em in India and can't import them because the government doesn't allow old vehicles to be imported cuz of emission standards and the only way I'd ever be able to own one is if I get a job abroad that pays enough to afford that ridiculous amount, but still I hope I got a lot of time and hope these bikes don't go away.
@@virusdumb never give up hope! It’s aspirations like these that drive us forward in life. I’m Native American from a very low income part of the US, yet I bought the 73 Z1 when it was new, and had a 63 Jaguar XKE later on in life. I’m 75yo now. You have a lot of life yet to live, just keep working toward your goals. I’m with you brother! (From another “Indian”, lol)
@@tedecker3792 I'm surprised by your age but I don't know what I was expecting because the bike itself is a couple of years older than my dad. People sometimes tell me these are just extravagant materialistic desires and instead I should focus on living well as the aim in my life, but I think a part of living well is also to aspire to have materialistic possessions which strike up excitement and even conversation, like we're two generations apart and the Z1 still excites us both, I'm trying my best to make it and I'll never let the dream die until I make it, thanks for the supporting words brother.
@@virusdumb the act of trying hard in life makes us better people, weather or not we eventually make it or not. We can be an inspiration to others through our drive and determination. Perhaps to their benefit as well. That is part of living well in my view. Thank you for this brief conversation!
Strange comment to make about Brits! I am English and don't think my comments were insulting. Quite ironic that you insult a whole nation when you complain about them being insulting. I agree with your comment about them being bullet proof and raised the bar to a new level in their day.
Yea! I used to own a 71 BSA lightning, and remember push starting it many times, (after it would'nt start with the foot crank) but was a reliable mototcycle after I got it going! loved that motorcycle!I used to work at the BSA/Triumph/Norton dealer back in the late 70s, (it was my dream, back in those days) and learned alot about keeping it reliable and how to build a suped up verticle twin motor(BSA)by the old geezers that had been in that buisness for 40 years, that owned the shop.
I had no idea they made a turbo 900 that was only sold in america? Crazy! I own a Gpz 750 turbo and inherited my dads 1975 Z1B 1075 myself and love Zeds to bits! Long live the Zed :D
Yeah, it was a sad time in the 70s for English motorcycle and car production and i guess that played a big part in why the English people many times and still do make bad jokes about other countries vehicles brands when their own went down into the grave. They never managed to get it right with bad vehicles with low quality and old products still presented as new and things like that usually stay as a thorn in the side for a long time. Still have my Z1 but compared to my second generation Hayabusa it was a bike from another time who still back then was light years ahead of for example Norton and other British dying bikes.
I had one of these I traded in a CB500F4. That I should have kept. This was one expensive bike to keep on the road. Chains, sprockets and Pipes were only transitory members on our trips. It was great in trips and I put 60k miles on the bike before I got t-boned at a light.
A better question would be "why do Americans say 'Zeee?'" The Brits were speaking the language first, so us Americans would be the ones who are out of line, if anyone.
I have a Z1 900 1975 I’m thinking of selling I bought it back in 1988 I still drive it it goes like snot but I bought a goldwing because I’m getting older now and I’ll probably drive it more often
@alanbstard4 Yea, I suppose your right! the 850 was one of the lightest (420lbs) production bikes made, capable of 120mph. I always blamed my friends deaths to the Nortons bulky (all motor) low look.
Why is it that British people always fucking insult? Kawasaki has created a bike that i have yet to see anyone else make. The Duckbill and bullet proof engine design? sorry man, havent seen that on anything else. They were and are the most original manufacturers out there.
171apples171 Its either an insult or a punch to the throat...lol! Thats why I appreciated the original crew, all of the insults are common place to the British people, but not in the U.S.A.. We find them very humorous!
I wasnt insulting you.. It was the speaker in the video. If they are british and are talking about a car or a bike they are always so smug and insulting. I watched another video about a 1969 Dodge Charger and the woman that was driving it was talking all sorts of shit about the design. saying it certainly isnt worth the money and that its just a big pile. Once again.The dodge charger is one badass car. Not saying all british people are dicks. but every one of these Top gear videos was insulting.
Hello Robert, An original unregistered, zero mileage, dry stored UK Z1 was sold on Evil Bay recently for .....wait for it......£25K! Read this and weep!!!!!
Accept that you did not intend to insult all Brits. You words did not reflect your intention. I am a bearded veggie biking non-smoker. The main presenter on Top Gear attacks all of these traits regularly. They like to make cutting remarks in the name of humour. The format works well as the programme tops the BBC sales figures around the world. Not justifying them, just that I have learnt to not rise to the attacks I could take personally. Go in peace 171:-)
This is a blast from the past. I was looking for a Z1 when this was shown and ended up buy this particular bike a few days later.
I loved it so don't care what others might say.
Sold it 'cos the roads around my home are shit and the bike was still stunning when I off-loaded it. The swansong was a ride around the Alps.
Thanks for putting this on youtube.
im 17 and owning a z1 is on the top of my bucket list
Had a 75 Z1, loved it for 60k miles. Now own a 82 LTD 1000, love it as well! Thank you for the video. 😊
I bought my 1975 Z-1b at 9 years old with 3400 miles on it.. Put over 40000 miles on it and enjoyed every mile..
82 hp.. faster than the second fastest bike , Gold Wing , in the quarter by over 1/2 a second..
I loved that bike..
The Original Chrome JackHammer..
Fortunately I am still here to Rant about it..
Never caught by the Po Po either..
I really loved the throaty sound at 3500 rpm.. coming from the air box..
I like Steve's enthusiasm. Obviously the big Z is a land mark bike but don't knock our Brit iron as the big Commando wasn't a bad bike and indeed very handsome.
This is when Top Gear was a proper program before the three fuckin stougies took it over and turned it into some kind of circus act..
I had the Kawasaki Z1A 1974, it was around 12 months old at the time. Very powerful machine but I was nearly killed or seriously injured four times due to high speed tank slappers that would just start for no reason. new Dunlop tires, Koni suspension, Kawasaki steering damper etc etc made no difference. The ill handling stopped suddenly when I bought a race spec Rickman Kawasaki S+S tuned 1100, absolutely amazing. One half of the S+S was Russell Savory of Honda Racing fame. A black and gold monster with an open pipe and Keihin carbs that would wake the dead and I never found the top end on always trying to rip your arms off. Those were the days.....
I had that 900! biggest mistake I made selling her.
I need a Time Machine
The Z1 is a masterpiece of art.
what a horrid accent the guy has... says the owner of a Z1 since 1975 :-)
@alanbstard4
The Norton was a very heavy motorcycle,(remember two guys that got themselves killed on those, different incidents, going around a corner on a windy road in the Texas hillcountry back then.)
The Z-1 was very rideable! (I recall mine having a cool sounding exhaust whistle at low RPM's when in gear and riding down the road, that I'll never forget!)
How about upgrades to 1075cc on a 5 bearing crankshaft with 31mm smooth bore carbs...Now your talking...
Maybe all true. however, when these were around if there was anything with more poke than my H2 with pipes and Denco`s would you write and tell me what it was !!!. Urban thirsty burner I know but I was never even near blown off whilst on that amazing rocket ship Honda eater. Hang on tight. H2 Strokers ?. Unbeateable at the time.
There was, it was my H2 with denco’s and wiscoe heads 😂 they were the best!
The Honda Goldwing came out in the 70's so your statement that the Z1 was the biggest and baddest Superbike of that time is false
just bought the z900a4, £4750,wrong parts in places buying bits from dave m on here, it's never about the money with these bikes 😊
Well it’s 2023, and a 73 Z1 just sold at auction for $50,000!
At Mecum right? Man I'm just a 17 y.o. from India and it's my dream bike I wish to own one of them someday, but unfortunately for me there's none of em in India and can't import them because the government doesn't allow old vehicles to be imported cuz of emission standards and the only way I'd ever be able to own one is if I get a job abroad that pays enough to afford that ridiculous amount, but still I hope I got a lot of time and hope these bikes don't go away.
@@virusdumb never give up hope! It’s aspirations like these that drive us forward in life. I’m Native American from a very low income part of the US, yet I bought the 73 Z1 when it was new, and had a 63 Jaguar XKE later on in life. I’m 75yo now. You have a lot of life yet to live, just keep working toward your goals. I’m with you brother! (From another “Indian”, lol)
@@tedecker3792 I'm surprised by your age but I don't know what I was expecting because the bike itself is a couple of years older than my dad. People sometimes tell me these are just extravagant materialistic desires and instead I should focus on living well as the aim in my life, but I think a part of living well is also to aspire to have materialistic possessions which strike up excitement and even conversation, like we're two generations apart and the Z1 still excites us both, I'm trying my best to make it and I'll never let the dream die until I make it, thanks for the supporting words brother.
@@virusdumb the act of trying hard in life makes us better people, weather or not we eventually make it or not. We can be an inspiration to others through our drive and determination. Perhaps to their benefit as well. That is part of living well in my view. Thank you for this brief conversation!
Strange comment to make about Brits!
I am English and don't think my comments were insulting.
Quite ironic that you insult a whole nation when you complain about them being insulting.
I agree with your comment about them being bullet proof and raised the bar to a new level in their day.
Buenas tarde le escribo desde veVenezuela
Yea! I used to own a 71 BSA lightning, and remember push starting it many times, (after it would'nt start with the foot crank) but was a reliable mototcycle after I got it going!
loved that motorcycle!I used to work at the BSA/Triumph/Norton dealer back in the late 70s, (it was my dream, back in those days) and learned alot about keeping it reliable and how to build a suped up verticle twin motor(BSA)by the old geezers that had been in that buisness for 40 years, that owned the shop.
What is a "Jammy Pige gitah suluh"?
Think he is talking about, (very annoyingly) his mother draws. i had to turn the volume off!
I had no idea they made a turbo 900 that was only sold in america? Crazy! I own a Gpz 750 turbo and inherited my dads 1975 Z1B 1075 myself and love Zeds to bits! Long live the Zed :D
It's actually a Z1R with a turbo. It has a 1016cc engine.
@@pdr5926 correct, and labeled a Z1R TC, for turbocharged. I built and raced these before switching to Suzuki.
Yeah, it was a sad time in the 70s for English motorcycle and car production and i guess that played a big part in why the English people many times and still do make bad jokes about other countries vehicles brands when their own went down into the grave. They never managed to get it right with bad vehicles with low quality and old products still presented as new and things like that usually stay as a thorn in the side for a long time. Still have my Z1 but compared to my second generation Hayabusa it was a bike from another time who still back then was light years ahead of for example Norton and other British dying bikes.
Why all this BLAA;BLAA;BLAAA!?
I had one of these I traded in a CB500F4. That I should have kept. This was one expensive bike to keep on the road. Chains, sprockets and Pipes were only transitory members on our trips. It was great in trips and I put 60k miles on the bike before I got t-boned at a light.
Hoped for more look and feel of the original Z900. Like engine sound and so on.
Have 4 in my garage, great bike's.. :)
Saw one in a shop in Auckland. New Zealand brand new back in the day
A better question would be "why do Americans say 'Zeee?'" The Brits were speaking the language first, so us Americans would be the ones who are out of line, if anyone.
I have a Z1 900 1975 I’m thinking of selling I bought it back in 1988 I still drive it it goes like snot but I bought a goldwing because I’m getting older now and I’ll probably drive it more often
I would be interested
@alanbstard4
Yea, I suppose your right! the 850 was one of the lightest (420lbs) production bikes made, capable of 120mph. I always blamed my friends deaths to the Nortons bulky (all motor) low look.
Why is it that British people always fucking insult? Kawasaki has created a bike that i have yet to see anyone else make. The Duckbill and bullet proof engine design? sorry man, havent seen that on anything else. They were and are the most original manufacturers out there.
171apples171 Its either an insult or a punch to the throat...lol! Thats why I appreciated the original crew, all of the insults are common place to the British people, but not in the U.S.A.. We find them very humorous!
@sharpanator
same for me, but I'm delighted.
I just listed on e bay my 1975 Z! 900 , it was my dads , No reserve 9800 original miles !
DogDaze66 KEEEEP IT! Do you need the money that badly? You will regret it
DogDaze66 how much you get for it
KZ650 SR... mmmm
No Zephyr´s??
cause zed is correct?????
That’s what the Z in KZ means is Zed.
I wasnt insulting you.. It was the speaker in the video. If they are british and are talking about a car or a bike they are always so smug and insulting. I watched another video about a 1969 Dodge Charger and the woman that was driving it was talking all sorts of shit about the design. saying it certainly isnt worth the money and that its just a big pile. Once again.The dodge charger is one badass car. Not saying all british people are dicks. but every one of these Top gear videos was insulting.
7240£ !!!! so cheap :))) now is like 10K in 2016
Hello Robert,
An original unregistered, zero mileage, dry stored UK Z1 was sold on Evil Bay recently for .....wait for it......£25K!
Read this and weep!!!!!
Accept that you did not intend to insult all Brits. You words did not reflect your intention. I am a bearded veggie biking non-smoker. The main presenter on Top Gear attacks all of these traits regularly. They like to make cutting remarks in the name of humour. The format works well as the programme tops the BBC sales figures around the world. Not justifying them, just that I have learnt to not rise to the attacks I could take personally.
Go in peace 171:-)