Kawasaki Z1300 Custom
April 12th, 2007 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"
Most readers here are familiar with the Honda CBX, the inline 6 that remains popular in the classic market but another inline 6 you don’t see very often is the Kawasaki Z1300. Not only is it less common, when is the last time you saw one that’s gone the custom route, wide rear tire and all?
Mark Foulkes from sunny South Africa has been working on his big Z, vintage 1979, and sent along a few photos to show it off. I just thought it looked pretty cool. Yes, I know, the 330 rear tire isn’t going to make this a corner carver but no on ever said these Kawasakis were sport bikes to begin with.
Nice bike. Thanks, Mark!
Another photo below:
Posted in Motorcycle Builders, Vintage Motorcycles, Workshop & Tools
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16 Responses to “Kawasaki Z1300 Custom”
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April 12th, 2007 at 10:45 am
That thing is wicked. Bout ugly as sin but looks like it would be fun to mess with. The huge rear tyre looks a bit ridiculous, so do the bars. But, I would still ride the piss out of it!
April 12th, 2007 at 10:47 am
How about some more pictures of the other side of this beast.
April 12th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Wondered when one of these monsters would show up. They failed to establish the “cult bike” status that the CBX did, hence resale and interest went out the window.
This bike is kinda interesting. I’m with Pete, can we see the other side of it? How in the hell did they fit that wheel/tire to the bike. It’s registered and all so it must be fully streetable.
April 12th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
OK, I got interested enough to investigate. He’s a link:
http://www.freewebs.com/z1300riders/
What I think is, the side we don’t see, got a little ugly. It’s a ridig and has a coupla stock wheels wielded together to mount the 330 or whatever it is. The otherside of the swing arm has been zeroed along with the shocks. The centerline of the bike and the centerline of the wheel/tire may not be the same.
Who am I to be critical of somebody elses bike? If it was at the local biker bar it would attrach plenty of attention.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Funny, the moment I read that you don’t see them often in the USA, I thought I’ll comment that there’s a fair few in South Africa. And then I read that it is indeed from there.
I also saw one this easter in Amsterdam, strangely.
April 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
These were / are fairly common at least in California. I’ve always liked the looks of these (except the square headlight), at least as an alternative to a Gold Wing. My dad and I have often considered using the motor for a reverse-trike except the drive shaft direction almost dictates the orientation of the motor.
Interesting but I think a clean stocker looks nicer.
-todd
April 12th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Looks ugly as sin. Looks like it would ride as well is it looks. So why are we interested again? I love six cylinder bikes, especially the naked ones, but this one just seems wrong somehow.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I’d like to hear the 6-into-nothing exhaust!
April 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
meh - he’s got nothing on millyard’s Z-2600!
April 20th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
I always wanted one of these monsters… they are pretty scarce in original condition. The blokes seem to love messing with them.
July 9th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Greetings from sunny S.A.
It is very interesting to read the responses to “Kawasaki Z1300 Custom”
Yes she is a bitch to ride.
Yes she corners like a tractor.
Yes she is a one of a kind.
She’s mine,
And most of all she’s AWESOME.
(the centerline of the bike and the centreline of the wheel are the same)
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
man just seen the big Z my jaw just fell off awsome looking for a z13 myself rare as hell in the uk . bubs
March 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Wow finally found a web site with some serious metal! I bought a 79′ Z1300 at the weekend and i’ve found my true calling…….mid life crisis.
There is so much road presence with these bikes who cares how they corner,you crawl along for the pose factor anyway!
Does anyone know the model nos of the cone air filters to replace the orig airbox?
Cheers all
August 4th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I am a huge fan of Bulldogs work, cosidering iam the Gent who helped him on this project, and since, have had the pleasure and the help from Bulldog to build my own 280mm rear tyre conversion,GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!
August 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
That is really an attention getter…. I’m interested in some info on what was done to the rear wheel (wheels)…
August 31st, 2008 at 5:18 am
Way to go Bulldog, I saw some thumbnails of this some time ago and I love the way it turned out!! I have my 82 Z13 in Aus which I have had for 25 years and have clocked about 300,000 k’s on.
To the unbelievers, if you have to ask …..you will never know!!