Test of the Kawasaki Z 1000 EFI
Reprint from MOTORRAD 9/1980
Content of
The Kawasaki Z 1000 EFI broke new ground with its petrol injection. In an article in issue 9/1980, MOTORRAD illuminated the new technology. And we add an assessment from today’s perspective.
The 5-page test of the Kawasaki Z 1000 Fuel Injection from MOTORRAD 9/1980, you can see and read in the picture gallery. Simply click on the first page and enlarge it.
Test of the Kawasaki Z 1000 EFI
Reprint from MOTORRAD 9/1980
The Kawasaki Z 1000 Fuel Injection from today’s perspective
Explorers, visionaries and inventors often share the same fate: At first they are ridiculed, not taken seriously, they are not given the respect or even the fame they deserve. The Kawasaki Z 1000 Fuel Injection also somehow belongs to this species of geniuses that were initially misunderstood. Although it caused quite a stir among technology enthusiasts and the consistent implementation of injection technology in a motorcycle earned cautious applause, in 1980 there was still not a broader understanding of the benefits and necessity of injection. Especially since with a nominal 97 hp it was exactly on the level of its card-driven sister Z 1000 ST and also had no really serious advantages to offer compared to the carburetor versions ST and (the chain-driven) MK II in terms of performance.
Just a gimmick for technology connoisseurs? Not at all. Only gradually did we all realize how important the first step was, which was to lead to the injected GPZ 1100 B1 in the following year and from 1982 with the B2 to the further developed models with DFI (Digital Fuel Injection). Reducing consumption, but above all, as we know today, reducing pollutant levels in exhaust gas should be the issues of the future, and that is where FI dared to take the first decisive step. The homologation of a new vehicle with carburettors? Practically unthinkable today. Almost every new 125 today throws the carburetor overboard in favor of injection.
And I admit, I also devoured the test of the Z 1000 FI as a teenager, was enthusiastic about the design and dreamed of being able to drive such a bullet one day. But I was also a little puzzled that the Fuel Injection did not do much better and did not work that much better than a carburetor MK II. Today I not only take my hat off to the pioneering work of the developers, but also consider the one that is now due to push a not inconsiderable sum over the counter in box one of the rare copies of the Fuel Injection should be offered for sale. Alone to show her the respect it deserves, a good 35 years late.
The technique of injection
What is right for the automotive sector should be cheap for the motorcycle sector. This is what Kawasaki thought at the end of the 1970s and finally presented the first production motorcycle with fuel injection for the 1980 model year. The technical basis for this is provided by a license from Japan Electronic Control System Co. Ltd. (JECS) manufactured Bosch L-Jetronic. The advantages and goals were a much smoother, rounder engine running from low engine speeds and more spontaneous reaction to gas commands, better exhaust gas values, more uniform, overall higher power output and lower consumption.
This is made possible by the basic advantages of injection compared to the carburettor, i.e. the separation of air and fuel flow and the more varied options for taking into account the operating state of the engine. Five pieces of information, some of which are recorded by sensors, are processed by the control unit, which Kawa also mockingly calls “the lunch box”: cylinder head temperature, air volume, throttle valve position, engine speed and intake air temperature. The amount of fuel and the duration of the injection are calculated from this data. A fuel pump supplies the fuel pressure required for this. Due to the large amount of space required by the many components – the voluminous air flow meter already takes up a lot of space – the control unit had to make way: for the European version under the rear bumper, for the American version under the seat.
Related articles
-
BMW R 1200 RS and Kawasaki Z 1000 SX in a comparison test
BMW R 1200 RS and Kawasaki Z 1000 SX Sports tourers in the comparison test The BMW R 1200 RS is the sport touring leader. Therefore, in the course of the…
-
Comparison test between Kawasaki ZX-9R and Suzuki TL 1000 R
Comparison test between Kawasaki ZX-9R and Suzuki TL 1000 R How you take it Finally: the Suzuki TL 1000 R wants to make V-Twin fascination affordable….
-
BMW F 800 GT, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX and Honda VFR 800 F in the test
BMW F 800 GT, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX and Honda VFR 800 F in the test Sports tourers in comparison Travel sportily or drive comfortably fast – these are the…
-
BMW S 1000 XR, Kawasaki ZZR 1400 and KTM 1290 Super Duke GT in the test
BMW S 1000 XR, Kawasaki ZZR 1400 and KTM 1290 Super Duke GT Power touring bikes put to the test Content of With the BMW S 1000 XR , Kawasaki ZZR 1400 and…
-
Comparative test of evergreens against current top models BMW R 1100 RS versus R 1100 S. Kawasaki ZZ-R 1100 versus ZX-12R Yamaha YZF 1000 Thunderace…
-
Comparison test Honda VFR 800 F, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX and BMW R 1200 RS
Honda VFR 800 F, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX and BMW R 1200 RS Sports tourers in the comparison test Klaus is out of the woods. The children are out of the house,…
-
2019 Versys 1000 test: (r) evolutions for the Kawasaki GT Maxitrail The Versys 1000 undergoes a new stylistic evolution in 2019. Launched in 2012 and…
-
Versys 1000 test: the Kawasaki trail almost on target ! Derived from the fierce Z1000, the maxi trail Versys 1000 radicalizes the concept of the Versys…
-
All Tests – Versys 1000 test: the Kawasaki trail almost on target! – A Versys XL for 2012
Versys 1000 test: the Kawasaki trail almost on target ! Derived from the fierce Z1000, the maxi trail Versys 1000 radicalizes the concept of the Versys…
-
All Tests – Versys 1000 test: the Kawasaki trail almost on target! – A formidable trail on the road
Versys 1000 test: the Kawasaki trail almost on target ! Derived from the fierce Z1000, the maxi trail Versys 1000 radicalises the concept of the Versys…
Related articles
-
MotoGP – Moto GP USA Race: it’s America for Stoner! –
Kawasaki Versys 1000 in the test Old against new For 2015, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 will not only get a new outfit and the color orange, but also changes…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP: Bridgestone claims their tires were OK in Austin –
Test, Harley-Davidson VR 1000 Harley-Davidson VR 1000 The sun is still smiling in Japan and Italy. But something fast is brewing in the USA: Harley’s…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP: Czech and mat for Karel Abraham … –
Technology Triumph TT 600 and presentation of the Triumph Bonneville Four and against Triumph ?? up to now the name has stood for strong character and…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP Misano Warm-up: Lorenzo replica –
Top test BMW S 1000 RR What can the BMW super sports car do? BMW has built a strong super sports car. Hardly anyone expected that it would soon become…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP Spain – FP2 practice: Lorenzo contains Marquez –
Review Kawasaki ER-6n New update for ER-6n Few inconspicuous changes, but a lot of stylistic updates make the ER-6n a refreshingly new motorcycle. Is it…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP: Crutchlow dominates post-race test in Catalonia –
Honda VTR 1000 test V-Lenz Spring is all about the new two-cylinder. In the spotlight: Honda’s VTR 1000 F. You didn’t like to read it, those responsible…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP race in Brno: Marquez bends his rivals –
Kawasaki Ninja H2 in the top test 218 hp put to the test The Kawasaki Ninja H2 has a 1000cc four-cylinder with supercharger, and this hurricane inside…
-
MotoGP – Moto 3 race in Germany: Rins puts the brakes on Salom –
Catalog: New Items 2006 (Part 2) Innovations 2006 S. uzuki Bandit 1200 / S Everyone can be happy here. Own an old bandit happy that the 2006 model hasn’t…
-
MotoGP – Moto 3 race in Australia: Cortese confirms –
Catalog: New Items 2006 Innovations 2006 With the exception of a few models that are still shrouded in mystery, the new additions for the coming season…
-
MotoGP – Moto GP race in Sepang: Pedrosa, even in the rain! –
Kawasaki Versys 1000 in the driving report How sporty is the new Versys? Content of So far, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 has not been a hit, at least not in…