A return to 28mm carburetors enabled a power increase to 90 bhp making this the most powerful Z yet. The engine of the Z1-R was finished in black and was very similar to the early Z1. The front mudguard was also finished in this colour. The kick-start pedal was considered redundant and fitted as an emergency measure under the seat. The Z1-R was finished in a light metallic blue described by Kawasaki as Metallic Stardust Silver. It was the first of the Kawasaki’s to feature the new angular look.
The Z1-R had twin drilled disc brakes up front with a single drilled disc at the rear. This was a factory customised motorcycle featuring a small handlebar fairing, cast alloy wheels the front wheel was reduced to an eighteen inch one and a four into one exhaust system. In 1978, Kawasaki introduced the first Japanese custom 'cafe racer' Z1000-D1, better known as the Z1-R. The hazard warning light switch was redesigned and incorporated into the left handlebar switch unit. The instruments on the Z1000-A1 and A2 were the same as those on the Z900. models were also available in Black with Gold stripes. The A2 was available in Luminous Green or Luminous Red, both with Gold stripes. The Z1000-A2, introduced in 1978, had the front brake callipers mounted behind the fork legs. In the wet, the older style drum brake offered more confidence to the rider.
The Z1000 had a rear disc brake in place of the drum brake that had been fitted to all of the 903cc variants. As with the Z900, the Z1000 had twin front disc brakes. The Z1000-A1 was available in Diamond Wine Red or Diamond Sky Blue, both with Gold pin striping. The Z1000-A1 retained the 26mm Mikuni carburetors, however, the increase in capacity enabled the engine to produce 83 bhp. This was obviously cheaper for Kawasaki to produce than the four into four system used on the Z1-Z900 series. It had a four into two exhaust system as standard. The first Z1000, known as the Z1000-A1, was introduced in 1977. Maybe it was the end of the glorious four into four exhaust system that did it, however the 1015cc motor was basically a progression of the same unit so these motorcycles are included in this website. Many enthusiasts mourned the passing of the original Z1 style motorcycles when Kawasaki increased the engine size from 903cc to 1015cc. This was achieved by increasing the bore of the cylinders from 66mm to 70mm. As the Kawasaki Z900 was starting to gain competition in the form of bigger motorcycles, Kawasaki had no option but to increase the capacity of the big four from 903cc to 1015cc.
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