Kawasaki Z1R-TC Turbo Motorcycle
August 15th, 2006 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"
Just when you think you know a few things about motorcycles, one pops up that you haven’t heard of, for me, the Kawasaki Z1R-TC Turbo, is one of those bikes. I noticed one of these on ebay the other day and now there’s actually two of them out there. Then, I was just perusing the September issue of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, and there’s an article on early turbos and they mention this bike, too. Maybe I should dig a little deeper.
It seems Kawasaki’s Z1 was getting a little slow in the sales department in 1978 and someone thought they needed a little boost, … literally. In much the same way that earlier musclecars had special non factory editions built with added performance like Yenko and Baldwin Motion, Turbo Cycle Corporation, run by a former Kawasaki marketing director, Alan Masek, bought up a bunch of RayJay turbos and added them to the Z1. These were then sold though a few select Kawasaki dealers.
They were on sale for only two years, ‘78 and ‘79. In 1980, California wouldn’t allow new motorcycles to be sold with modifications to the exhaust so the turbo Kawasaki was over. In all, about 500 were built.
The later turbo motorcycles which I was familair with, were, amazingly enough, all slower than the Kawasaki which Motorcyclist clocked at 10.90 seconds at 130mph, in 1978! How did I miss this? Interesting bike.
On ebay: Z1R-TC
Here’s another: Z1R-TC
Some turbo Kawasaki info:
Posted in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Business
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8 Responses to “Kawasaki Z1R-TC Turbo Motorcycle”
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February 19th, 2008 at 3:50 am
the picture you have there is a canadian model… the us model is the same color as a 1978 z1r. Grey/blue
They did not make a z1r in 1979… the were 1978 and 1980 models, 1980 being black with small yellow stripe. a few changes… front brake reservoir inside the fairing and other little stuff.
The papers on my z1r-tc stated 1979 this is the only model Z1R they made in 79 no non turbo, actually they were left over 1978 that did not sell. Also the only year they made the turbo z1r. Also these bikes were sold new at Kawasaki dealers with no waranty… The turbos were not added to Z1’s but to Z1R’s…
hope this helps readers know a little more about these great bikes.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Here are a few facts about the 1979 Z1RTC.
Kawasaki produced 5000 1978 KZ1000D Models.
In 1979 1000 were used for the Z1RTC and titled 1979 by Kawasaki. They were sent to a Company in CA for the Z1RTC Paint.
I purchased a 1978 Z1R new in 1979 and installed a kit made by ATP which was Identical to the kit installed on the Z1RTC. I still own it. It was an incredible performance Motorcycle and the fastest Bike that I knew of in my area.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I have owned 5 Z1R TC’s. The correct information is as follows:
Around 500 were made. First models (all were 78’s) were blue/silver with log pipe. ATP then switched to a spider pipe which was more responsive. The Z1R TCs that did not sell in 78 were sent to Molly Graphics’ (also designed the buick Grand National logos) to be repainted in black with red,orange, yellow strip and sold as 79s. ATP did sell kits. None were modified after 79 because of emission did not allow changes to the exhaust and to be sold by dealers.
Other facts:
Blue models had “tc” emblems added on the side covers under the kz1000 Z1R emblems.
There was 2 style of guages through the 500 bikes, all had ATP on the gauges.
They had a fuel pump as they would run out of fuel when gravity feed.
Many came with an alarm system.
They had an ATP sticker on the frame neck.
August 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
The one pictured above is not a Canadian model. It was a different paint job added later. My dad has a 1978 exactly like it. He rarely rode it because he always owned a Harley too. His has a little over 10k miles on it. I actually might list it on ebay for him very soon because he bought a new Harley.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Hi, Ryan, I live in Mexico and could be interested in the z1r tc. when selling it, please drop me a line at:
I used to have a z1r 1978. I changed all the turbo and body parts to a 1980 z1r, which I owned too, the result was amazing. It became a real making power monster. I have a pic of my z1r and I would be happy to share with you, but I don’t know how to upload it.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
brings back memories. cost me 2,195. bought at campion cycle center locayed on western and addison st. in chioago. . met art bozsi at a.b. engineering. he [put on extended swing arm 1200cc kit. extended swing arm. ran 18 p.s.i. boost.
fun fun, fun. then bought a 1979 cbx honda used and bored it. 6cyl…..another story. 1982 bought a kawi voyager. bored to 1520 cc 20 p.s.i. boost. lengthened, lowered w/ s.u. carb.
thanks for the memories…..rich
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Yeah my dad has one of these… they’re wicked fast for how old they are. his is around 1300cc’s now, with 25lbs of boost. Last time at the track it ran
9.30 @ 165mp/h. all nostalgic parts too.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:50 am
does any one know were to find a front master cylinder assy. for a 1978 Z1R 1000.