Z 1300

1979 Kawasaki Z 1300 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1979 Kawasaki Z 1300 touring motorcycle, Kawasaki relies on a 1285 cc (78.4 cu in) liquid-cooled in-line six, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 99 HP (72.3 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 77 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 1300 measures 322 kg (710 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.31 HP/kg (3.25 kg per horsepower). The 27-liter (7.1 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 217 km/h (135 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Kawasaki archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1979 to 1983, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.