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Final: Kawasaki Z 750 Turbo

MOTORRAD reports on the Kawasaki Z 750 Turbo

There are only a few production motorcycles with turbocharging. And even less successful. The Kawasaki Z 750 Turbo is arguably the most sophisticated and best-selling, and it cast a spell over technology fans and performance freaks in the 1980s. So does the editor Gerhard Eirich.

I discovered them in the bulky waste. The Z 750 Turbo was advertised in the newspaper for free classified ads with the bizarre, misleading name. Even while reading the magic word turbo spontaneously triggered mental salivation and awakened a lot of associations: barely controllable performance, a killer kick in the back with full boost pressure, flashes of flames from the exhaust, at night spectacularly red-hot turbochargers. The abbreviation was pronounced with awe at regulars’ tables, and those who knew how to tame a turbo-charged vehicle were secretly considered real men. The mind dared an attempt attempt to defend itself against the violently burgeoning, overpowering will to buy, but the fight was hopeless. The word "malfunction" After all, it was easy to ignore the term turbocharger.

Final: Kawasaki Z 750 Turbo

MOTORRAD reports on the Kawasaki Z 750 Turbo

Kawasaki borrowed from the GPZ 1100 and tuned to the 750 engine.

The basic features of the air-cooled four-cylinder came from the half-faired GPZ 750 Uni Track, but had been modified and equipped for the higher loads: the cylinder head of the Z 650 had narrower ducts, tamer control times and ensured better heat dissipation than the original head reinforced pistons and the compression reduced from 9.5 to 7.8: 1 should help to withstand the boost pressure of a maximum of 0.73 bar over the long term. The open foreign version of the two-valve engine produced 112 hp, officially only 100 hp in Germany. The spoiler was another chip in the injection control unit. And how many of the 100 horses would be left without loader support? I completed the first few kilometers home with a certain reluctance. After all, the first few kilometers of winding country roads turned out to be quite unusual in view of the elongated sitting posture, bent over the narrow, strongly cranked handlebars and the top-heavy, stubborn driving behavior. The good was certainly not particularly light and easy to handle with its 254 kilograms, flat fork and even more caster than the GPZ 1100. But noticeably stronger than my Yamaha XJ 550 with its 50 hp that I had ridden up to then. With the mounted accessory roaring pipes, however, it is also significantly louder. Fortunately, the original mufflers were included. Unfortunately, the Kawa did not have valid TÜV and approved tires in the ridiculously narrow original sizes, which should give me discussions at the TÜV ("You won’t get the 150 in the back from me").

A turbo motorcycle, but with a broken turbo charger? The roommates of my student flat shares didn’t save with stupid comments. But they should soon fall silent, the scoffers and bad guys. The luck of the brave was on my side: barely two weeks later, after scouring thousands of classifieds, I actually discovered the needle in the haystack: an accident machine approved for cannibalization. "Turbocharger? Yes, I think it’s still there. The box belongs to my brother, he’s on vacation." I had to react quickly. And stay cool. In a garage, leaning against the wall, stood the skeleton of the crashed Turbo. The short visual inspection revealed no damage to the loader. The price? "What would you pay?" Damn it, don’t gamble too high now. If I offer insolently little, he chases me from the yard. I risk it anyway. "Hmm, it’s not very fresh anymore. 150 marks?" "Recovered." I staggered blissfully back to my car.

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The charger of the Kawasaki Z 750 Tubro lies in the cooling airstream, well protected behind the fairing keel with an aluminum spoiler.

An hour later I peeled off my ailing turbo sweetheart to plant the loader that saved her and breathe new life back into it. But what was that? I rubbed my eyes: the connection between the charger and the intake tract was broken. A clamp had loosened, the connections had slipped and the turbo blew into nothing. Is that supposed to be the whole joke? Put them together, tighten the clamp, on to the test drive around the block. It was like Christmas, Easter and a birthday all in one day: the display in the cockpit indicated boost pressure, the popometer showed previously unknown thrust from medium engine speeds – the turbocharger reported back to duty. The 47 millimeter measuring compressor wheel of the Hitachi charger should no longer rotate for free at 200,000 rpm, and the power-enhancing pressure that builds up from around 5000 rpm engine speed no longer flows unused into the open, but only as planned after reaching the maximum pressure of 0, 73 bar hissing into the void via wastegate (pressure relief valve).

A sunny June day, full power on board, almost free motorway – now it was time to go. Man or coward? Carefully warm up, stroll along in the right lane at 120, the end of the 100 km / h limit in sight. An S-Class is shooting up from behind in the left lane, a truck with 80 items is parked in front of me, well: shift down, load, pull out and full throttle. The turbine forcefully presses air into the four-cylinder, the three-quarter-liter boiler almost seems to burst, the turbo angrily pulls my arms out. The engine revs up in a flash. Switch, head down, dive in and let the gas stand. The Benz has long since disappeared from the rearview mirror. A previously unknown intoxication attacks me – what a surge! Let go, speedometer 245 – crap, a left-hand junk dealer brings me back to the ground. There would certainly have been more.

It may well be that memories are transfigured. From today’s perspective, the Turbo is simply a strong bike. No less, but no more. The onset of thrust is cool, but not martial or uncontrollable. Horrifying usages also belong in the realm of fairy tales and legends. With six liters / 100 km, the Kawa is normal to drive, only with full throttle it is sometimes up to nine liters. We only danced one summer, Turbo and me. Then I was driven to new shores. Other manufacturers also have beautiful daughters. But of all exiles, I mourn the red and black lady the most. I’ll be scouring the classifieds just for fun.

Technical specifications

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The Hitachi turbocharger of the Kawaski Z 750 is small and compact, but delivers real superlatives with 200,000 rpm and an exorbitant replacement part price.

Engine:
Four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two valves per combustion chamber, controlled by bucket tappets, bore x stroke 66 x 54 millimeters, 738 cm3, 74 kW (100 hp) at 9000 rpm, 99 Nm at 6500 rpm, injection , electric starter, oil bath clutch, Five-speed gearbox, chain drive.

Landing gear:
Double loop tubular frame, telescopic fork at the front, aluminum two-armed swing arm at the rear, air-assisted central spring strut, double disc brake at the front with floating caliper, Ø 280 mm, rear disc brake with floating caliper, Ø 270 mm, cast wheels, 110/90 V 18 and 130/80 V 18 tires.

Measurements and weight:
Wheelbase 1490 mm, caster 117 mm, seat height 770 mm, weight with a full tank 254 kg, tank capacity 18 liters, top speed 225 km / h, price 11190 Mark (1983)

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