BACK in 1984, Kawasaki launched what turned out to be a motorcycle that defined an era the GPZ900R, or Ninja as it was named in the United States.
Though Kawasaki had already toyed with a liquid-cooled motorcycle in the shape of the giant Z1300 straight six, this was the first liquidcooled mainstream model, the first 16-valve four-stroke, and for the time a serious sports motorcycle.
The GPZ900R was produced in various forms from 1984 to 1996 and ended up being sold alongside other Kawasaki hero bikes such as the ZX-7R and GPZ1000RX.
It claimed a healthy 86kW (115hp) in a package that weighed 228kg dry. Top speed nudged 250km/h.while its best recorded quarter mile time was a blistering 10.55sec.
This story is from the Issue 493 edition of Unique Cars.
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This story is from the Issue 493 edition of Unique Cars.
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