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Post by floog on May 4, 2006 12:12:57 GMT
This was an 'Interim' model, designated and badged the Kawasaki GP1100, which slotted between the Z1100 and GPz1100 :hmm: It was only produced as seen in red with white and blue stripes, and used the Z1100 chassis (with new styling) and the GPz1100 engine. It was an 1189cc in-line-four producing 109BHP and 70.2ft/ibs, running an 8:9:1 compression. Air and oil cooled with a 5 speed gearbox and weighing in at 236kgs. I'd never heard of one?
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Post by BADGER on May 4, 2006 12:58:22 GMT
and was owned by John Wayne, by the look of that seat.....
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Post by lightspeed on May 4, 2006 19:04:45 GMT
Looks identical to my 84 KZ1100R (which is the stock silver/grey colour), but dressed in red.
That one does not have any stripes on the fairing which leads me to wonder if someone had repainted an 1100R and forgot to do the fairing stripes.
Stripe pattern is similar to the Z1000R, but the stripes look thinner. Makes me wonder about the authenticty of its origins. Any source documentation?
Never seen one in red before.
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Post by floog on May 4, 2006 19:30:05 GMT
Looks identical to my 84 KZ1100R (which is the stock silver/grey colour), but dressed in red. That one does not have any stripes on the fairing which leads me to wonder if someone had repainted an 1100R and forgot to do the fairing stripes. Stripe pattern is similar to the Z1000R, but the stripes look thinner. Makes me wonder about the authenticty of its origins. Any source documentation? Never seen one in red before. It comes from a genuine site, and I scoured the internet and found a completely unconnected report from an owner who had one back in 1982 and rode around London scaring himself witless on the thing It used to reach 150mph on the clocks and he seemed most impressed with the beast I even found some sites listing parts for the GP1100......strange It must be a genuine but rare beast as I can't find any other photos. The badging also looks very genuine, and very Kawasaki. Most intriguing :hmm:
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Post by lightspeed on May 4, 2006 23:37:04 GMT
Found that article about the guy in Britain and running around at 150 kph. He refers to it as an import from Canada. Haven't found anyone around here that remembers anything like it at all.
Hmmmm . . . .
Most other web searches bring up a Yamaha watercraft with the GP1100 designation.
Any other pictures? Did you find some of this on a Kawasaki site?
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Post by floog on May 6, 2006 19:11:15 GMT
Found that article about the guy in Britain and running around at 150 kph. He refers to it as an import from Canada. Haven't found anyone around here that remembers anything like it at all. Hmmmm . . . . Most other web searches bring up a Yamaha watercraft with the GP1100 designation. Any other pictures? Did you find some of this on a Kawasaki site? It's really strange. This is the page for Harry Wilson who owned one and crashed it....... www.umgweb.com/94bigz.htmlThe photo I show is the only one I can find anywhere?? And this is the site I found the photo and full spec on..... www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasaki_z_1100_gp_1982.phpOther than that, I can't find ANY other pics or details?
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Post by lightspeed on May 7, 2006 3:48:59 GMT
I had found and read the first URL. The second one seemed to insist that I load some kind of "registry cleaner" so just shut it down. I'm going to see if I can track down my old Kawasaki mechanic (he was in the business in the early/mid 80's) to see if he's ever heard of a GP1100. Can't imagine Kawasaki putting out a bike with incomplete striping. Quite strange, but very intriguing!
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on May 7, 2006 11:41:47 GMT
lightspeed. You probably don't have a popup blocker installed or properly enabled if that second URL won't load for you. All you've really missed is the pic that FLOOG has already posted and a table of information about the bike which I have "stolen" and hosted myself for you. GP 1100 table (Don't click any links within that table because they don't go anywhere.)
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Post by floog on May 7, 2006 12:26:41 GMT
1) GP1100 from 1982 USA/CANADA 2) GPz1100 B1 UK model Same stripes as GP 3) GPz1100B1 naked.....Different exhaust system and stripes now reversed. But none look like the GPz shape I remember............ Which was like this 1982 GPz1100 with the swooping looks and the Unitrak suspension, as per the GPz550 and 750 I believe.... Somebody had come up with some pretty darn good details or...... THE CUTE 'LIL PUPPY GET'S IT....... :shoot: :shoot: :rocket: :rocket:
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Post by lightspeed on May 8, 2006 1:26:37 GMT
Thanks guys. Did chat with my old Kawa mechanic - he said he'd never heard of a GP1100 (didn't mean there wasn't one, just that he'd never heard of one).
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Post by floog on May 14, 2006 11:23:06 GMT
OK, I ve been ferreting about like a pair of kittens in a potato sack, trying to track down some answers on this .....and from several sources, here's what I have found..... Kawasaki launched the Z1100GP model in 1980, the first model in their Supersport line-up and featuring and oil cooler and DFi. Kawasaki themselves list this model in their historic line-up.... It was still around in 1982, as the articles I dug up prove, because a guy had one in London and crashed it In 1982 Kawasaki launched the Z(kz)1000R1 as a limited edition replica commemorating Eddie Lawson's '81 AMA championship victory The Z(KZ)100R1 model was based on the Z1000J model and sold approximately 900 units in North America with the famous Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust system. Look at the Z1100GP bike which came 2 years before the Eddie Rep, and tell me that it didn't inspire the graphics on the ELR. Also in '82 came the limited edition (30) 'S1' model..... ***EDDIE LAWSON was presented with one of the very first Z1000R1 models as a gift**** In 1983 came the Z(KZ)1000R2 model which sold approximately 1060 units in North America and 430 in Europe.... (Last picture is a European model 83 R2) Then between 1984 and 1985 1300 Z(KZ)1100R1 models were made for Europe and Canada....Eddie had defected from Kawasaki...the little bugger!! SO....... KAWASAKI themselves state that the mysterious Z1100GP bike came before the Z1000R1 ELR....look at the styling.....there are lot's of similarities......I am tired now........ I'll end with a diagram.....because I can........if nothing else, it lists the elusive Z1100GP bike again..
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Post by bikesnoopy on May 14, 2006 19:13:31 GMT
Have a look at this site www.thekwaksownersclub.co.uk (which i used to be a member of in my GPz days). Theres some useful Kawasaki history here
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Post by lightspeed on May 15, 2006 17:30:18 GMT
Outstanding research there Floog! The diagram certainly helps sort out what is related to what. BTW, other than a Yoshimura 4-1 pipe, the photo of the '84 KZ1100R is just like mine. ps. a little Karma coming yer way for the effort
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