5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Top Gun Motorcycle - Kawasaki GPZ900R

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  • Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
  • With Top Gun 2 around the corner, it’s time we do a throwback to the original speed king - the Kawasaki GPZ900R. It was good ‘nuff for Tom Cruise so it will be good ‘nuff for us.
    The fastest motorcycle of the day also pioneered a lot of interesting stuff, and it laid down the foundation for the modern superbike that’s still in use today.
    -----
    All footage used belongs to respective copyright holders and is used for education documentary purposes under fair use guidelines. A big thanks to all the uploaders for putting the files online.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 365

  • @GarethLewisjones
    @GarethLewisjones 2 роки тому +81

    Mines still in the garage, almost 40 years old and can still hit 150 a truly epic bike.

    • @billyzee261
      @billyzee261 2 роки тому +6

      One of my old high school friend's dad bought him the '84 Ninja 900 and that was a true beast of a bike that just totally destroyed my old Yamaha twin. I was going crazy trying to figure out how to kick his ass, thinking of the Yamaha FJ1100, the Suzuki GS1150, but finally ended up getting the '86 FZ 750 five valve per cylinder Genisis, that put me up and above him, especially on the turns. In my humble opinion, in '84 there was nothing to match the ninja. In 85/86, the bike at that time to match was the FZ750. Boy, those were the days of having serious fun...

    • @billyzee261
      @billyzee261 2 роки тому +8

      Did I forget to mention Frank? Frank Joe Biden.

    • @stevena1887
      @stevena1887 2 роки тому

      @@billyzee261 That's right, the dumb puppet really is ruining our country.

    • @gearhead682010
      @gearhead682010 2 роки тому

      @@billyzee261 who gives a flying fuck about that pile of UnAmerican pile of shit? Oh my bad your clearly dumb ass! Keep his shitty name in your mouth and don’t ever utter it to a true American which clearly you’re NOT🖕🖕 sincerely FUCK YOU🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕

    • @marcwagner9369
      @marcwagner9369 2 роки тому +2

      mine too . build 1989 black/ gold 78000km no problems

  • @stevedunn5546
    @stevedunn5546 2 роки тому +1

    Rode one on the Isle of man. The eliminator was cool too same engine.

  • @imaniodufuye7536
    @imaniodufuye7536 2 роки тому +1

    I loved absolutely every minute of this video, I would actually buy it or at least give a donation. I own five bikes, the mighty 07 Hayabusa, 2014 Honda Valkyrie, Moto Guzzi MGX-21, 2022 Triumph Speed Twin... blah blah ANYWAY! Great video love the history, and the Dark Vaderish voice LOL! fam (family). You gotta another subscriber.

  • @almarnordby2034
    @almarnordby2034 2 роки тому

    I just saw THE bike Tom Cruise used on the Stuttgart Museum in Germany. Very cool

  • @kmfiz
    @kmfiz 2 роки тому

    What a cool video. Great production, fun and informative. How do you only have 400 subs? You got one more.

  • @waynemetzger6251
    @waynemetzger6251 2 роки тому

    The Best of the Best !!!!!

  • @chuckbundz6096
    @chuckbundz6096 2 роки тому

    proud kawasaki owner here z900

  • @richardcasey7521
    @richardcasey7521 2 роки тому +1

    I owned one for about 4 years.

  • @fasthracing
    @fasthracing 2 роки тому +1

    Proper thing they were. I bought a new one in 1991.

  • @NP-ek7dl
    @NP-ek7dl 2 роки тому

    subbed !

  • @southboundaustral
    @southboundaustral 2 місяці тому

    Had an A1 & an A2 and in production for 12 years. Before my GPZs had a Suzi 400 and went to a Yamaha XJ900. It was a boring lump. Wobbles from 125kph-130kph. Remember thinking quite a few times jeez a 900 isn't really a step up. Then got my first GPZ. Had cleaned my seat and when I took off (without dumping the clutch) my fingernails were just sitting in the grip ribs. WTF. It was heaven from then on. The XJ if I recall correctly was also in production for 12 years. But yeah, shims.

  • @DaytonCarCare
    @DaytonCarCare 2 роки тому +27

    I remember when Honda came out with the Hurricane that was an interesting bike too. Back in those days I had a couple old 550GPz bikes, 600 Ninja, 900 Ninja, and finally a 1000 Ninja. But I always missed my old 78 KZ1000 with 4 into 1 Kerker with the baffle removed. What an awesome sound. I've had many bikes over the years and recently picked up an 01 Triumph Speed Triple 955i. My first 3 cylinder bike. I'm 58 years old and still ride.

    • @ramargate
      @ramargate 2 роки тому +4

      Riders never get old.... We're always just teen boys regardless of age. 🤘

    • @peterkoning21
      @peterkoning21 2 роки тому +6

      I also had a Z1000 with a competition Kerker(after all Eddie Lawson raced them)without a baffle, glorious ! Then I rode a GPz900 ....had to have one and bought one in '86.....loved it !! Rode it forever. Noe ride Triumph triples....gorgeous souding motors ! I'm 66 and still riding...fast when I can !

    • @MrNufzed
      @MrNufzed 2 роки тому +4

      Brother ,same age same journey/same bikes, similar memories.

    • @peaceprayer595
      @peaceprayer595 2 роки тому +3

      @@MrNufzed Me too. Amazing times.

    • @Crashed131963
      @Crashed131963 2 роки тому

      There was a 1985 Ninja 750 Turbo version as well.

  • @blitzbane4135
    @blitzbane4135 Рік тому +1

    I have my GPZ from 1985 and it is still the best ride!!

  • @ampassionstruck9138
    @ampassionstruck9138 3 роки тому +27

    ..the most beautiful bike ever to come from the ninja series !!😍😍, adore that 80s styling, the machine was the most high tech of her time !!!.

    • @rabanto86
      @rabanto86 2 роки тому

      Naw the most beautiful one is the zx10rr

    • @razor1uk610
      @razor1uk610 2 роки тому

      @@rabanto86 True, although the early to mid life (90s era) Zed Ex 750s/900s have a certain look to them, plus also highly tunable and reliable, if a little weighty - good for moderate to fast road riding.
      Although I each era of styling of the Zed Exes & Zed Ex Arrs, have they're styling plus points for me, inc' the original Gee Pee Zed Nine & the Japanese only 400 version of it look better than the 600 wrap around frame Gee Pee Zed...

    • @peaceprayer595
      @peaceprayer595 2 роки тому +1

      Beleive me when I tell you I love the Ninjas too. BUT the 600 Hurricane was one of the first motorcycles to be wind tunnel tested with the lowest drag coefficient ever. The Motor was cast and the bike was blistering fast for the time including front and rear matching diameter 17" wheels. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that you could put 20k (back then) in a ninja or an FZ600 and you would get lapped at Daytona. All 26 or 27 nearly bone stock Hurricanes came in first place ahead of everything else.

    • @razor1uk610
      @razor1uk610 2 роки тому +1

      @@peaceprayer595 Hurricane? ..must be a US market name for... am guessing a Honda or Suzuki...

    • @peaceprayer595
      @peaceprayer595 2 роки тому

      @@razor1uk610 ua-cam.com/video/I4DEtHt3Sdw/v-deo.html

  • @jeffhubbard5660
    @jeffhubbard5660 2 роки тому

    This is a documentary that TV channels would be jealous of....

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому

      Thank you. Not new to this game - this is just done quick and dirty in my free time

  • @j.santiago7022
    @j.santiago7022 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for a masterful love letter to this iconic machine.

  • @TyfoiD75
    @TyfoiD75 2 роки тому +21

    Fun fact, Kawasaki Gpz500 was elected at least 2 times as the "best beginner motorcycle" when either moving up from 125cc or just starting, here in Finland back in 90´s.. And yep, it was a really good motorcycle. Was my first "big boy" bike^^

    • @jacobfranklin820
      @jacobfranklin820 2 роки тому

      I have an 07’ and an 01’ 500r same bike

    • @Deadpool-ODST
      @Deadpool-ODST 2 роки тому

      Oh yes. They are great little biikes. I have both, the 900R and the 500S.

    • @JanBinnendijk
      @JanBinnendijk 2 роки тому

      I Rode the GPZ500s when visiting the Isle of Man TT in 1995.. Man.. i had FUN with that bike.. a bit akward in the beginning with the 16"wheels, but once you get used to that.. it was a joy.. it cost me a set of Knee sliders though.. never burnt through a pair that fast.. :)

    • @gearhead682010
      @gearhead682010 2 роки тому

      GPz 550 is the correct displacement as I have a 1984 Kawasaki GPz 550, get your story straight

    • @Deadpool-ODST
      @Deadpool-ODST 2 роки тому +2

      @@gearhead682010 Not sure where that came from but ok. Yeah there was a GPZ550 and a GPZ500. The 550 is a 4 cylinder and the 500 is a 2 cylinder. They also had a GPX500 which was a 4 cylinder.

  • @tenbear5
    @tenbear5 2 місяці тому

    It was the 1100 that held the speed record for 6 years.

  • @jasoncook6177
    @jasoncook6177 2 роки тому +1

    I'm a busa boy now ,I had the gpz750 turbo in the early 90s, and I loved it. What a machine for its day😄

  • @geraldwright905
    @geraldwright905 2 роки тому +2

    I was lucky I owned both a GPZ 900 and a GPZ 750 turbo

  • @DeereX748
    @DeereX748 2 роки тому

    I "graduated" from a 1975 S-2 to a used 1974 Z-1B to a 1985 GPZ-900R Ninja. I wish I still had all three bikes. The Ninja was incredible, made a great sport-tour bike and a fantastic track bike. For gut-busting sound, though, I'd give the medal to the Z-1, it sounded like an Indy car when you slapped a 4-into-1 header on it. And the "little" 400 triple S2 could hold its own with literbikes to about 85 mph, at least in a straight line. Not too great in the curves, though.

    • @Crashed131963
      @Crashed131963 2 роки тому

      Nobody remembers the cruiser version of the 900 called the Eliminator.

  • @wajahatali2717
    @wajahatali2717 2 роки тому

    do a video on the orignal yamaha Vmax 1200

  • @ewoe21
    @ewoe21 2 роки тому

    I still have my 1984 Ninja 900.

  • @austinado16
    @austinado16 3 роки тому +11

    Nicely put together! I still enjoy riding my '86 Ninja ZX600R. Found it locally back in early '91, when no one cared about them anymore. People still enjoy seeing it.

    • @colinjrob
      @colinjrob 3 роки тому +2

      Strange that up until the 10 years ago you could pick up all those great 80s bikes for next to nothing but now they cost so much. I got me a Ninja 750R (smaller version of the 900R) for less than £450 (british). It was fully working and and ready to go 7 years later and I still have it and though it's not perfect it still turns heads and on so many occasions older people say "Hey, TopGun!" It has a GPZ1000Rx engine in it now though I kept all the 750 stickers on it just to surprise/scare people. lol

    • @austinado16
      @austinado16 3 роки тому +1

      @@colinjrob Sounds like a great bike! Nice find, and I'm glad you've hung on to it.

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому

      Right on!

  • @RenKnight347
    @RenKnight347 2 роки тому +2

    I had a college roommate that bought the 1985 900 Ninja.
    I had bought the 1985 Honda VF700F Interceptor as my first bike ever. The banks, at the time, weren't willing to work with me, towards anything more expensive, since I was just establishing my creditworthiness. And even my dad had to co-sign for the loan.
    Yes, in case anyone was wondering, I took the state road test on that brand new Honda and passed it on the first go of it!
    Anyways, I remember when my roommate and I used to do "fire drills" at traffic lights where we would switch riding bikes. The thing that I remember the most about the experience was how much annoying the vibrations were felt through the footpegs on the Honda. Something that could take its toll after a considerable amount of ride time.
    The Ninja never had such an impacting issue. I also can recall the handling of the Ninja. Nimble and far better overall characteristics than the Honda. It seems to always come down to getting what you've paid for at the end of the day!
    Always wanted a Ninja but took on other responsibilities and never seem to get around to it.
    If I could do it all over again, I'd find a way to scrap more coin together for a larger down-payment and go for the Kawi.

  • @markblackman2542
    @markblackman2542 2 роки тому +4

    i had the smaller Gpz 600R , the best handling bike i ever owned

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому

      Never ridden that one - good power?

    • @ZXLNT
      @ZXLNT 8 місяців тому

      @@finelymachined5281 70 horsepower or so.

  • @andreferro4618
    @andreferro4618 2 роки тому +1

    Sixty two year old man.
    First mtorcycle I was eleven years old.
    I always dreamed of one, since 1984.
    I found mine back in october 2003.
    Still my motorcycle, today...
    Before her, H1 500 and H2 750.
    I had all the other Japanese brands but, nothing compares to KAWASAKI.
    Nice tribute to a wonderful machine!
    Let the good times roll forever!
    Greetings from Brazil.

  • @ashleylee5445
    @ashleylee5445 2 роки тому +3

    I was 20 years old when I got my hands on a 1988 A5, at that time for me it was the best. Hit 150 going to work one morning and nobody believed me. They were great days.

  • @shane35fowler
    @shane35fowler 2 роки тому

    Hi..... 1984 Honda Here..... Reminding everyone that the VF1000 was first to 150MPH sooooo stawwwppp it

  • @paula7140
    @paula7140 2 роки тому

    ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥KawaLegend❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

  • @hotchihuahua1546
    @hotchihuahua1546 2 роки тому +5

    I owned one and out of the many (39) I have owned this one does stand out not only as a sport bike but good enough to have been dubbed today a sport touring bike . Others that come to mind are the Yamaha FJ1100 and the Suzuki 1200 S .

    • @standhd
      @standhd 2 роки тому

      I wanted an FJ1100 back in the day SOOO BAD! My brother ended up getting an original Ninja, and I got an FZ750. He sold his Ninja, and got a Suzuki GSXR750, and I sold my 750, and got an FZR 1000 which I still have to this day.

    • @calvincooley1074
      @calvincooley1074 2 роки тому

      Concourse was the sport touring version.

  • @philhawley1219
    @philhawley1219 2 роки тому

    Had one in 89. Fuggin mind blowing.

  • @RealBobLoblaw
    @RealBobLoblaw 11 місяців тому

    I just acquired an 84 Ninja for 500$ .Im not sure if it ever been cleaned, the grime around the front sprocket was like pavement. Got it to run, it had been sitting for years

  • @bluemax1990
    @bluemax1990 2 роки тому +1

    I owned a GPZ900R,A2,for two years ,it was a do it all bike,but,I'm not sure why the producer of this ,says Yamaha opted out,?,I'd hardly call the FZR1000,then the EXUP,later,the R1,?,those 3 models where as ground breaking in their time,as the GPZ900R was.TheGSXR750,1000,or,the Honda Fireblade.

    • @standhd
      @standhd 2 роки тому

      I have a 1988 FZR1000. You are right; Yamaha was very much in the fight with the FJ1100. The FZ750; which I once also owned, was a ground breaking bike with the Genesis engine which paved the way for the FZR, and the YZF series of bikes. I just found out Yamaha has a R7 available, but it is an inline 2; 689cc. I looked the bike up on UA-cam for vids on how it sounded. Ahhhh, I’m not that impressed. It is maybe a great bike for beginners; I like inline 4’s much better.

  • @frios011
    @frios011 2 роки тому +1

    That was a badass video!

  • @JohnRichardson-dd4he
    @JohnRichardson-dd4he 2 роки тому

    Goose was a Lieutenant (JG), pay grade O-2. He was "junior grade"! Mav was the Lieutenant. Just keepin' it finely machined!

  • @maverick1685
    @maverick1685 2 роки тому +1

    Nice.

  • @sylvainfilion3822
    @sylvainfilion3822 2 роки тому

    1985 zl900 Eliminator , i'm in love with it, like the first day!!

  • @johnkelly5621
    @johnkelly5621 2 роки тому +2

    You're simply amazing. This was unforgettable!

    • @tesmith47
      @tesmith47 2 роки тому

      Gpz500

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому +1

      Thank you. If you like this, you're in for a treat as this channel grows

  • @izzojoseph2
    @izzojoseph2 2 роки тому

    “Fresh GUM on your converse”
    I didn’t hear gum the first time around

  • @Chris-ml8hs
    @Chris-ml8hs 2 роки тому

    The bike was actually toms in first movie .. he owed it

  • @clifblake
    @clifblake 2 роки тому

    Great video, thank you !

  • @cjjones2981
    @cjjones2981 2 роки тому

    Had an '84 Red/Grey one and sold her in 1995. Regret it to this day.

  • @budgiecat9039
    @budgiecat9039 2 роки тому

    In Japan they have some weird law forbidding motorcycle movie /tv footage takes on public roads or whatever.
    Its why you no longer see a lot of motorcycles in Japanese shows like Kamen Rider.

  • @kenlane6655
    @kenlane6655 3 роки тому +8

    Loved mine. took it from Melbourne to Adelaide, doing over a ton old (160 kph) a lot of the way. Faster you went, the more solid it got. It was like riding a wing on its side, hehe.

    • @ampassionstruck9138
      @ampassionstruck9138 2 роки тому +1

      ...Dohc, 16 valves, inline 4 cylinder compact and light weight high performance engine combined with top quality components and above all a super sexy design which still steals our hearts !!! What a feat attained by kawasaki , all thanks to the super smart japanese brain !!😍😍.....

    • @Jupiture00
      @Jupiture00 2 роки тому +1

      Got mine to 220 on a couple of occasions during my ride from Sydney to Adelaide. It was very stable. Different story on twisties though especially when pushing it, the tyres I felt struggled with the bikes pace and wobbled on occasions especially in the low down sweeping bends, but such good fun! I had nothing to compare it to as it was my first and only bike. I loved it! Test rode a Gsxr1100 but stuck with the 900r it did everything so well back then. I think I would most likely have another one now, even though the modern day bikes are better in every way, but doesn't have the magic this one has. My sentiments.

  • @Z06C5
    @Z06C5 2 роки тому +1

    Bought my 1st one in 1984. Great bike. Fast as hell. My favorite is the Ducati 916. Sexy bike Good times!

  • @uhtred7860
    @uhtred7860 3 роки тому +9

    Here in NZ and Australia, production racing was real big in the 70s and 80s, especially long distance endurance production racing, I remember seeing GPz900R's out pace Honda VF1000s with ease, they had at least 10-15 Kph on them down the back straights, they had a problem with overheating in the long races i remember that.

    • @georgemooyman7155
      @georgemooyman7155 2 роки тому

      I still got the ZL900 and ZL1000 in Auckland.
      Would love a GPZ900r

    • @uhtred7860
      @uhtred7860 2 роки тому

      @@georgemooyman7155 The local vintage & classic bike club put on a show last summer and Graeme Crosby brought down 1 or 2 of restored Z900/1000s that his outfit had restored, they were gorgeous.
      I would love another GPz900, had one in the 90s, but have enough 80s bikes to keep me bust at the moment.

    • @georgemooyman7155
      @georgemooyman7155 2 роки тому

      @@uhtred7860 Hi I know what you mean I have a garage packed with old Hondas all pre 1985 a couple of Goldwings and CB750's a few small twins and MB100'S.
      I've been on Graeme's workshop and he is a gifted restorer.
      The ZL's I have are Eliminators, not many were made but there maybe 10-12 in NZ.

    • @uhtred7860
      @uhtred7860 2 роки тому +1

      @@georgemooyman7155 Wow havent seen a Eliminator in years, last one i saw was a 900cc one back in 86/87. I have a 83 CX650, 86 Suzuki GSX-R1100 which has had a refresh, and a 87 Yamaha FZR1000 which is about to get a full restore. Plus a 2001 Yamaha R1 that i have owned since new. I'm getting a bit old for the race replica riding position, so it doesn't get ridden as much as it used too :-)

  • @shawnmungur4875
    @shawnmungur4875 2 роки тому +9

    I brought my GPZ900R to Kawasaki once and met an employee that was around when those came out. Part of the promo was "if you can't reach 150mph, you get your money back!"

    • @Crashed131963
      @Crashed131963 2 роки тому

      My shaft drive 1980 Yamaha XS 11,000 special did 130 mph I hope the Ninja did 20 mph faster.

  • @mrmatt7210
    @mrmatt7210 2 роки тому +1

    I remember well the first time I saw a GPZ900R or as we called it a "Ninja900" on the showroom floor. This bike looked fast even sitting still. The first year the Ninja was in production, the competition sold bikes based on name recognition rather than being performance equals. Soon enough the rest of the Japanese motorcycle companies released their own bikes in which compete with the Ninja 900 and in so far as top speeds and 1/4 mile performance the Kawasaki was dethroned. However, in regards to being a sporty bike which was a thrill to ride there probably was not better choice than the Kawasaki. In time the big bore bike wars calmed a bit and the hot 750's took the spotlight. Kawasaki released an excellent offering, but it never gained the fond affection of the original Ninja 900. To this day, if you lived through the late 80's, a Ninja 900 will bring back fond memories regardless if you were a fan of Kawasaki or the other three Japanese manufacturers.

  • @Glenrsi
    @Glenrsi 2 роки тому

    Kawasaki forever. ❤❤

  • @woooster17
    @woooster17 2 роки тому +1

    Still a great bike.. I have 2 Kawasaki's in my garage.. a 1990 ZXR750 H2 & the 9Rs grandkid, a ZX12R. Legendary bike

  • @numba1stunna4269
    @numba1stunna4269 2 роки тому

    SWEET RIDE!

  • @flobeeonekinobee2353
    @flobeeonekinobee2353 2 роки тому

    wasn't it knicknamed the perculator

  • @brutter602
    @brutter602 2 роки тому +1

    I had two of them from new back in the eighties. An A2 then an A3.
    The GPz900r was a fast but sure footed quality bike, that was a pleasure to ride and more than enough for everyday riding. It never failed to please.

  • @elwoodbluesmorris2120
    @elwoodbluesmorris2120 2 роки тому

    back in the 80s i was 19/20 yrs old , a hell of a bike compared to the z 900 i had been riding, eventually snapped a con rod and exploded the engine, maybe it was a good thing to happen because i went back to a slower bike.

  • @randyfender6122
    @randyfender6122 2 роки тому +2

    I bought my new Ninja 900 in late summer of 1984. I was 19. It replaced my first street bike, a 1970 Kawasaki H1 500. I loved that 900, and finally sold it in 1989 to get a new ZX-7, which I raced through the first half of the 90's. I am a Kawasaki fan, and still think they've made the best motors in motorcycling. Nice piece.

  • @RealBobLoblaw
    @RealBobLoblaw 11 місяців тому

    I'm 72 and pushing my c1400 to its limit

  • @thumperjdm
    @thumperjdm 2 роки тому +2

    I owned a 1984 air-cooled GPz750. I always lusted over the Ninja 900. Why, all these years later, I never acquired one, I'll never know.

  • @johndew8947
    @johndew8947 2 роки тому +1

    Still hates a corner 😂😂

  • @0Zolrender0
    @0Zolrender0 2 роки тому +3

    When Topgun 2 trailer came out I was silently happy that they H2 was the bike of choice. It was so fitting after the GPZ900R.

  • @basiljun808
    @basiljun808 3 роки тому +1

    Amazingly awesome!

  • @mysaculik
    @mysaculik 2 роки тому +1

    Had a few bikes as a kid but the favorites were 78 ZIR and 81 GPZ1100, both way faster than I had business going.

  • @Crashed131963
    @Crashed131963 2 роки тому

    They capped the speed war to 200 mph , then began the war of who can get to 200 mph the quickest.

  • @tombickel7955
    @tombickel7955 2 роки тому +1

    I'm thinking the 83 84 VF750F liquid cooled v 4 was the forerunner to the modern super bike

    • @billyzee261
      @billyzee261 2 роки тому

      Those were my initial years of raising hell! About in 1986+, I had a good friend with the '84 VF750 but it really was no match for the Ninja 900 nor my own FZ750. The honda's acceleration was simply no match whatsoever. At that time period, the very fastest sport bikes were Kawasaki's and Yamahas. I remember the GSXR750 was pretty fast (because it was light). Once you had a second person on the bike, it's lower horsepower was very noticeable. Manufacturers at the time were playing leapfrog with performance, those were forefathers of the modern superbikes. Soon came the generation of the FZR1000, GSXR1100, Ninja 1000, etc that were noticeably more powerful than those mentioned previously.

    • @billyzee261
      @billyzee261 2 роки тому

      I don't know if I mentioned Frank...Frank Joe Biden.

    • @billyzee261
      @billyzee261 2 роки тому

      We used to go to the drags, the cost was $10 per entry and you got to race all night. On our 750s, we'd mostly pull very low 12's. Our best runs were (not very often) in the high 11's. A bad launch resulted in 13s. All of us were at least 190lbs. We had a short/thin friend on a Kawasaki zxr 750 who was always pulling upper 11's and always faster than our best. That was super fast considering cars at the time were pulling upper teens in the quarter.

    • @tombickel7955
      @tombickel7955 2 роки тому

      In the 750 I had the 80 cb750f that was really quick... faster than I should have had lol now my project is an 83 vf750f

    • @standhd
      @standhd 2 роки тому

      Yes, you are correct. I had the pleasure of riding one back in 86. The Honda Interceptor.

  • @mikedroze3799
    @mikedroze3799 2 роки тому +1

    Bought mine with cash, in 84, off the dealers floor in South Florida. Drove it to Cincinnati, then to Denver (in January) Slept on a park bench with my arm through the fork tubes in St Louis. Rode from Denver to Sacramento. No issues. It ate chains and back tires but that was to be expected. Finally snapped a rod just below the small end at 90 mph on a first date. The 3/4's of the rod still attached to the crank was God's own weed eater string, and carved up the cases Enter the junkyard motor and a ton of goodies. Took three quarter mile passes, with a best of 10.03. It was a high 9 second bike and I will miss it forever. Lost it in a storage unit. Sad story. I'm looking for another one. I love this bike. Oh, got my motorcycle license on a '70 H1 with Denco Killers and a Barnett clutch. Kawi's rule!

  • @MrPotatochips4
    @MrPotatochips4 2 роки тому +2

    ..... as soggy as a Whole Foods hot bar" It's all relative then. Show me the way to the next hot soggy bar, oh, don't ask why. haha 2:26 blueprint looks like a '74 Norton 850 frame. Which was about 60 some HP and good lowend torque, at 420 lbs. wet. May be it was just the right size for me, just big enough to kick it over, and sometimes over and over, but that was the most fun bike I ever road. Maybe I was a fool then, and I'm still a fool, and maybe I'd get into even more trouble if I had 100 plus HP. Do like the Suzuki SV electric start.

  • @kirkwilson5117
    @kirkwilson5117 2 роки тому +1

    GPZ900R...... I Have had 4 of them..... Very cool, and I have had a lot of bikes, but these were great. Super smooth engine, power was very linear.. = good down low, in the mid, and a good top end hit. I think i hit around 150 MPH right in there. Oddly enough my bike with the most miles 69K was the best runner, and it sounded like it could blow up any second and had been thrown in a ditch at least twice... Once right before I bought it.... I pulled clumps of grass and dirt out rom under the carbs and in the rims... Yeah.. these were bad ass bikes.

  • @wallyr.7854
    @wallyr.7854 2 роки тому

    This is actually a really good informative video, sadly the narrator, who is trying to sound like a tough-robot, kind of ruins it for me 🙄Having said that, the Kawasaki GPZ900R will always be one of my favorite bikes. By the way, if you haven’t watched Top Gun:Maverick, do yourself a favor and go watch it.

  • @izzojoseph2
    @izzojoseph2 2 роки тому

    Dude!
    Great video!
    Subbed on the strength of this video

  • @alialigator9432
    @alialigator9432 3 роки тому +2

    super

  • @mrperecz
    @mrperecz 2 роки тому

    Goosebumps :D Nice job! :)

  • @poxyzaid5282
    @poxyzaid5282 2 роки тому +1

    iam sitting on my dear z800, while listen to berlins take my breath away...sooo topgun,..make my eyes glittering and give an eye sight of my z800,..."man your ancestor is the gp Z900 , iam proud of youu Z800 baby"😘

  • @markw6586
    @markw6586 2 роки тому +1

    I was a 2nd year Apprentice in the 80's and i was working on a Saturday, i was offered a ride to work from a soon to be tradesman on a GPZ900R. He picked me up and i told him straight up take it easy please, he said no problem and off we went. He just went through the gears normal as anything, then we got to a straight stretch of road about 5 k's from work and he dropped 2 gears and absolutely caned it. Never been so scared so alive and so enthralled in my entire life. Thought to myself, that is a fair bit quicker than my KZ80 F1 lol

  • @tunuitjapanunga3586
    @tunuitjapanunga3586 2 роки тому +1

    Had one should never of sold it one of the most amazing bikes ever

  • @aao331
    @aao331 2 роки тому

    This is a really nice video!

  • @Steiger04
    @Steiger04 2 роки тому

    I have one …….1989

  • @dougiequick1
    @dougiequick1 Рік тому

    Top Gun 2 cruise should have Full faired V4 Aprillia But Kawasaki will likely pay anything for product placement and pretty sure theyll want to stick him on the H2 or be cheesey as hell and use a Turbo Hayabusa pumping 275 at the wheel

  • @kenweis7913
    @kenweis7913 2 роки тому

    I had one until a couple years ago....good bike

  • @UrbanoModa
    @UrbanoModa 3 роки тому +3

    The new retro styled 2020 900RS did very well and is still doing extremely well, contra too your comment in your video.

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому

      Extremely well is relative. My point was that they're prone to churning out unimaginative motorcycles rather than paying proper homage to their legacy. I'm glad they did with the H2R

  • @RoodeMenon
    @RoodeMenon 2 роки тому +1

    Great humour!

  • @smaze1782
    @smaze1782 2 роки тому

    I lived in San Diego in 1986 and this bike showed up on CycleTrader after the movie was done filming. I knew I should’ve bought it.

  • @westboundbadger
    @westboundbadger 2 роки тому

    900R and the H2 feature in Maverick !

  • @photographerjonathan
    @photographerjonathan 2 роки тому +7

    I owned the very first 900 Nina in 1984, and if they made a new one in 2022 with a similar design I would buy it again. it didn't have extreme racing ergonomics like todays sport bikes that are track oriented and brake your back and your ass after a half hour on the street. and the passenger seat wasn't a mile high and a half inch thick. the bike had a low seat hight and felt stable and planted at any speed. and I could ride it for a few hours at a time. when I first bought it. everywhere I went people couldn't take there eyes off of it. I would come out of a 7/11 and there would be five people standing next to it just drooling over it. Please Kawasaki make a new version of the original bike. that has similar but more modern looks, with the same ergonomics and seat hight. but with a modern engine and tec and cut a 100 pounds off the weight.

  • @christopherhughes8402
    @christopherhughes8402 2 роки тому +1

    This was a really amazing piece you put out. Seriously this was awesome. You've got a new subscriber and I'm really interested to see where you go. Great stuff!

  • @boejiden5933
    @boejiden5933 3 роки тому +6

    Wow the energy and tone for this whole vid was fucking perfect. How are you only on 45 (now 46) subs?

    • @finelymachined5281
      @finelymachined5281  2 роки тому +1

      This is what I did in my spare time - thankfully, it's doing better now

  • @dougiequick1
    @dougiequick1 Рік тому

    I think the better answer was 3 cylinder as bikes neeed be stay narrow and lightweight The twin makes good torque but did not like revving and the 4 does but it is nust not needed ....THREE is the answer! Maybe 1100cc of crossplane three could give us the ideal street power

  • @davehoward22
    @davehoward22 2 роки тому +1

    when i was a teenager everyone had rd 350s then dreamed of one of these...(they were still pretty cheap second hand till recently)

  • @paula7140
    @paula7140 2 роки тому

    ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💯❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

  • @lorangajapp8086
    @lorangajapp8086 2 роки тому

    A black one was my dream bike in the eighties :)

  • @harrothepilot
    @harrothepilot 2 роки тому +6

    I owned an A1 version. Great bike, but it did have some issues. It would get hot tooling around town on a warmish day, and the 16" front wheel was a bit finicky as to what rubber you put on it. The anti dive was a bit mehhh also. I think the A7 and A8 versions were better with their bigger front wheel. Nice power and sound. My ZRX1200S engine can trace its roots back to the GPZ900R.

  • @MrNufzed
    @MrNufzed 2 роки тому

    ,rode it,tracked it,modded it,20 bikes ago and still stands out fondly in memory,20 bikes later.

  • @TheJoshuaJames
    @TheJoshuaJames 2 роки тому +1

    I had a 1986 zx1000R and it had a really cool system that would used brake fluid pressure to pre load the front forks to keep the front from diving under heavy sudden braking and it worked really well

    • @ZXLNT
      @ZXLNT 8 місяців тому

      The 900 Ninja/GPz900R did as well AVDS

  • @ericwilson178
    @ericwilson178 2 роки тому

    I know I had one before they did. :)
    I started a roadracing career on mine in 1984.

  • @Teacher-lj6in
    @Teacher-lj6in 2 роки тому +1

    This came out in '84...bought a zx1100gpz at the time of 900Ninjas...grief everyone bought one at the time...they went like hell, all my mates bought one!Even the Suzuki okes changed brands and left their Katanas...only question now is where are the Ninjas now?The old z1300s are still around but no 900Rs to be seen nowadays...now the H2 monster is the bike...

    • @ZXLNT
      @ZXLNT 8 місяців тому

      Plenty of 900's around if you look.

  • @raynic1173
    @raynic1173 2 роки тому +2

    It's pretty funny that the H2R is called "track only." the only track series it would qualify for is some drag racing classes.

  • @crafter170
    @crafter170 2 роки тому +2

    I owned an 83 gpz1100 .It was crap .Big front wheel .poor fork rake .tubular bendy frame..Handled like a barn door.

  • @raynic1173
    @raynic1173 2 роки тому +2

    I had the Tomcat, what a great all around bike that was...I didn't know they continued the 900 series after '87.

    • @ZXLNT
      @ZXLNT 8 місяців тому

      84-85-86 in the USA much longer in Europe

  • @Wirefox1
    @Wirefox1 2 роки тому +4

    Always loved the thought of owning a GPZ900R. Then in the early 90's I rode a friends and I was quite underwhelmed by it. I still love the look of them though and they were the dogs bollox in their day.

  • @raf900foss9
    @raf900foss9 7 місяців тому

    It is a great bike, I have a 1986 zl900..It is quicker 0 to 60 .
    same 908cc motor Campbells x pipe
    catch me if you can.

  • @jordizee
    @jordizee 2 роки тому +2

    Loved this bike..always thought the way the fairing protrudes around the bottom of the headlight was how darth vaders mask was shaped.