Z1-R Rerun

Z1-R RERUN

Kawasaki’s legendary 1978 Z1-R cafe-racer is back, reincarnated as the 1997 ZRX1100. You may recall the ZRX’s predecessor, the retro-looking 1993 ZR1100. Part of the poor-selling Zephyr family, the big ZR lasted just one year in the U.S. But the Zephyrs found a home in Japan, where a cottage customizing industry sprung up around them.

Building on that popularity, and owing to Japan’s new less-restrictive licensing laws, the sportier ZRX1100 will rival similar models from Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha.

Based on the liquid-cooled, 1052cc 16-valve GPz1100 engine (itself derived from the ZX-11), the ZRX is said to produce even more lowto midrange torque, precipitating a change to a five-speed transmission. Cylinder-head finning gives the

engine a classic look, while aluminum muffler canisters lend a modern flair. The bikini fairing, by the way, is optional.

Kawasaki says the ZRX is “built for today’s spirited mountain riding with a hint of yesteryear nostalgia.” But the bike won’t be experiencing any of America’s purple mountain majesty. For Kawasaki USA, standards were an experiment that didn’t work.