Z 1100 ST

1981 Kawasaki Z 1100 ST Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1981 Kawasaki Z 1100 ST sport touring motorcycle, Kawasaki pairs a 1089 cc (66.5 cu in) air-cooled in-line four, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 97 HP (70.8 kW) at 8,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 89.1 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the Z 1100 ST measures 271 kg (597 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.36 HP/kg (2.79 kg per horsepower). The 18-liter (4.8 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 212 km/h (132 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Kawasaki archive, this model family spans 3 indexed model years from 1981 to 1983, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.