Period Racer – 1974 Kawasaki Z1

In Japan, Race by AbhiLeave a Comment

Post Listing Update: The seller of this Z1 lowered the BIN of $12,000, but that wasn’t enough to get any action.


Per the seller, this combination of a ’74 frame and a ’73 engine was converted to a racer in the 1970s and retired from racing in the early 1980s. “The story is that this bike was raced in the AMA superbike series in the 1970’s. the previous owner found some markings and frame tags but unfortunately the evidence was lost during restoration. I did find in the bike’s records, a handwritten note. The note said that the bike went 156 MPH at Daytona in 1978 George Beavers III from Darien Connecticut. Some of the paperwork suggests it was called the Green Meanie.”

The bike was restored approximately 20 years ago with the goal of returning it to the condition it was in when it competed in AMA Superbike, but “a few things needed to be changed for it to be legal to race in the current vintage racing series. It was used from 2000 until 2005. The last time it was run in the track was at a track day at Thompson Speedway 2018.”

There’s lot of period goodies – frame bracing, Morris magnesium wheels, Fontana magnesium front brake calipers, oil catch can in the belly pan, 1,045cc Wiseco high-comp pistons (requires 105 octane), Megacycle cam, Lockhart oil cooler, Dyna III electronic ignition, Mikuni 28mm carbs, Pro-Cycle tach, Supertrapp exhaust, steel braided brake lines, Works shocks, Telefix fork bracke, KZ1000 forks, and plenty more.

Find the Green Meanie for sale in Lowell, Massachusetts with a BIN of $13,999 here on eBay.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob B!