FIREBALLS AND FIRECRACKERS
As far as iconic motorcycle models go, the Kawasaki Z1 is right up with the best of them. It’s a nameplate that’s endured through the decades, too, and this year reached a significant milestone of 50 years since its introduction.
A 50th Anniversary is worth celebrating, and Kawasaki are doing exactly that, not just at bike shows and other events, but also with the release of a batch of special edition motorcycles paying tribute to the golden anniversary.
Announced back in January and in Kawasaki dealerships Australia-wide since late March, the quartet of 50th Anniversary models are based on the Z650, Z900, Z650RS and Z900RS models, so if your tastes run to modern supenaked or retro sports styling, there’s a bike to suit. Of course, both the 650s are LAMSlegal, too, so you can start your motorcycling journey on something very cool.
Special colours and identifying badging feature on each model, and while the 50th Anniversary models will not be a numbered series, production and availability will be limited.
Those special colours cover two distinct chapters in the Z story. The Z650RS and Z900RS will both be offered in a two-tone red and dark brown that pays tribute to the Candy Brown and Orange that was one of two colour options available on the original Z1 in 1972 (Candy Green and Yellow was the other). Kawasaki calls that orange-over-brown scheme ‘Fireball’, but Aussies have always referred to it as ‘Jaffa’, after the famous confectionery.
For the paint on the Z650 and Z900 50th Anniversary models, Kawasaki looked to the GPz1100 from the early 1980s. What was known as ‘Firecracker Red’ back then was accented with black and
