The Z900 grew out of the Kawasaki Z1, launched in 1972 for the 1973 model year. Its 903cc four-cylinder engine set a new benchmark for production motorcycle performance and established Kawasaki as a major force in the superbike market.
The air-cooled, four-stroke engine features double overhead camshafts, with a 66mm × 66mm bore and stroke and an 8.5:1 compression ratio. On the 1976 Z900, four 26mm Mikuni carburettors feed the cylinders, with battery-and-coil ignition and a five-speed gearbox. Chain final drive and the distinctive four-pipe exhaust system complete the familiar layout.
Released for 1976, the Z900 continued the Z1’s development with revised styling, detail improvements and a stiffer frame. It retained telescopic front forks and twin rear dampers, with disc braking at the front and a drum at the rear. The following year, Kawasaki increased capacity to 1,015cc for the Z1000, closing the brief Z900 chapter while continuing the line it had helped establish.
