Kawasaki

KAWASAKI

PREVIEW '89

KAWASAKI DOESN'T WANT ANYone stepping in on its performance image. That's the message sent by the new 750cc ZX-7. The company that brought the world performance milestones like the Z-1 and the Ninja 900 has introduced its latest and fastest 750 at Germany’s Cologne motorcycle show, and as predicted here earlier, it will be more than a little bit at home on the racetrack.

The ZX-7 is Kawasaki’s response to Suzuki’s GSX-R750 and, in markets outside the U.S., Honda’s RC30. As such, it promises to be the quickest and fastest 750 ever built. Based on the current Ninja 750 motor, the ZX-7's engine wears a new cylinder head that’s basically similar to the ZX-10 design. Semi-downdraft carburetors feed relatively straight intake ports, but unlike the ZX-10, the 750 uses bucket tappets instead of rocker arms. Horsepower (for the European version) is claimed to be an incredible 107 at the rear wheel\ Housing this monster is a twin-

beam aluminum frame very similar to Yamaha’s Deltabox design. Claimed dry weight is 445 pounds. Wheels and tires are sized for racing: a 3.50 x 17 wheel carrying a 120/70 tire on the front, and a 5.50 x 17 with 170/60 rubber on the back. Another racing-oriented feature is an eccentric adjuster at the swingarm pivot to allow the tuning of chassis attitude; this will surely be of most benefit at the track in compensating for the effects of different tire diameters and gear ratios.

The ZX-7 should be arriving in the U.S. by mid-March, though we suspect a few may trickle in a week or so earlier and end up on the grid at Daytona. As racy as the ZX-7 is, though, it will not be a replacement for the 750 Ninja, currently the best allaround 750 sportbike. Instead, the ZX-7 will be a more expensive alternative, probably closer in price to the ZX-10 than the 750 Ninja.

A few other Kawasaki models will not be returning for 1989, though in most every case, 1988 versions will

be available from dealer inventories. The models taking a vacation for 1989 include the 1000 Concours, the KZ305, the ZN 1300 Voyager and the Vulcan 88SE. The rest of the Kawasaki street line is unchanged except in paint and prices, which are generally a few hundred dollars higher than in 1988. a