Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo
Encyclopedia
The Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo was a sportbike manufactured from late 1983 to 1985, with two model years - the 1984 E1 and the 1985 E2. Differences were minor, a twin "push/pull" throttle cable for the E2 and different brake caliper stickers. The bike was manufactured in Japan, with parts also shipped to the US and assembled in Kawasaki's Nebraska plant for the US/Canada market to bypass the import tax levied on bikes over 700cc at the time by the US government, a protectionist move designed to save Harley-Davidson who had financial problems at the time.
Although carrying GPz badges on the engine covers, it was only referred to by Kawasaki
as the "750 Turbo" - the GPz tag wasn't mentioned. It is also referred to as the ZX750E. Development started in January 1981 as a turbocharged 650, then as a 750 from November 1981. When finally released, the stock bike made a claimed 112 hp, had sports bike handling (for the day) and looked good – especially next to the other factory turbo bikes which were already on the market such as the Suzuki XN85
, Honda CX500 and CX650 turbos, and the Yamaha
Seca Turbo. Performance was on a par with the GPz1100
, at around 11.2 seconds at 125 mph (55.9 m/s) for the quarter mile and 148 mph (66.2 m/s) flat out. One magazine even branded it the fastest bike they had ever tested, and Kawasaki ran some ads claiming it to be "The Fastest Production Motorcycle in the World". Jay "PeeWee" Gleason also recorded a 10.71 second quarter mile for Kawasaki to show that the turbo had genuine performance and was ahead of the other factory turbos.
It is widely considered to be the "best" factory turbo produced by the Japanese manufacturers.
The Kawasaki turbo was not simply the addition of fuel injection
and a turbocharger
to a standard GPz750
motorcycle engine
. Almost every component was changed or strengthened for this bike and few major parts are interchangeable. The GPz Turbo used a Hitachi HT-10B turbocharger, positioned close to the headers, and digital fuel injection.
Although carrying GPz badges on the engine covers, it was only referred to by Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
as the "750 Turbo" - the GPz tag wasn't mentioned. It is also referred to as the ZX750E. Development started in January 1981 as a turbocharged 650, then as a 750 from November 1981. When finally released, the stock bike made a claimed 112 hp, had sports bike handling (for the day) and looked good – especially next to the other factory turbo bikes which were already on the market such as the Suzuki XN85
Suzuki XN85
The Suzuki XN85, released in early 1983, was a turbocharged motorcycle. It was designed as a sportbike. The name came from the fact that it produced 85 hp. It featured the first factory 16-inch front wheel, which was previously seen only on race bikes...
, Honda CX500 and CX650 turbos, and the Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
Seca Turbo. Performance was on a par with the GPz1100
Kawasaki GPZ1100B1/B2
The Kawasaki GPz1100 B1 and B2 are motorcycles that were manufactured by Kawasaki in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Both models featured a four-cylinder, two-valve air-cooled engine design with a capacity of 1,089 cc producing in the B1 and in the B2. This engine was an evolution of the...
, at around 11.2 seconds at 125 mph (55.9 m/s) for the quarter mile and 148 mph (66.2 m/s) flat out. One magazine even branded it the fastest bike they had ever tested, and Kawasaki ran some ads claiming it to be "The Fastest Production Motorcycle in the World". Jay "PeeWee" Gleason also recorded a 10.71 second quarter mile for Kawasaki to show that the turbo had genuine performance and was ahead of the other factory turbos.
It is widely considered to be the "best" factory turbo produced by the Japanese manufacturers.
The Kawasaki turbo was not simply the addition of fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
and a turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
to a standard GPz750
Kawasaki GPZ750
The Turbo version of this bike is found here: Kawasaki GPz750 TurboThe Kawasaki GPz750 was introduced in 1982, and then underwent some significant changes in 1983. The original was based on the 1981 KZ750, which was the quickest machine of that year. Kawasaki retired the KZ750 in 1983.For 1982...
motorcycle engine
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle.Motorcycle engines may be two-stroke or four-stroke, reciprocating or Wankel, single-cylinder or multicylinder , or single-rotor or twin-rotor . The engine typically drives the rear wheel, but some small bikes such as the Velosolex have a...
. Almost every component was changed or strengthened for this bike and few major parts are interchangeable. The GPz Turbo used a Hitachi HT-10B turbocharger, positioned close to the headers, and digital fuel injection.