Talk:Kawasaki GPZ900R

January 2007

I had always known this bike to be the GPz900R, but since the Kawasaki Heavy Industries museum calls it the GPZ900R, I guess that's what it is... Respectfully, SamBlob 23:31, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

My understanding is that "z" was used for the air-cooled models, and "Z" for the liquid cooled, with the GPZ900R being the first to use this convention 62.213.130.74 (talk) 14:20, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

The first couple of years production used the lower case Z, later ones Upper Case. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1.178.135.202 (talk) 08:35, 10 May 2016 (UTC)

Power figures from workshop manual

Some explanation about what's wrong with this edit:

It is helpful to have numbers from different sources even if they disagree with each other. It helps to show readers that not all sources agree, and when it comes to motorcycle horsepower, speed, and weight, disagreement is the rule rather than the exception.

The problem is that the edit is misleading as to which source was used. Example:

| power = {{convert|115|bhp|kW||abbr=on}} @ 9,500 rpm (1986 GPZ900R) {{convert|<b>100</b>|bhp|kW||abbr=on}} @ 9,500 rpm (1990 European models) {{convert|89|bhp|kW||abbr=on}} @ 9,000 rpm (Japan domestic) @ 9,500 rpm (1986 GPz900R)<ref name=Krens1/><ref name=KawasakiMuseum2/>The hp value for Euro models was changed from 108 to 100, but the citations <ref name=Krens1/><ref name=KawasakiMuseum2/>

This incorrectly tells the reader that the 100 bhp figure came from Krens and the Kawasaki Museum. We want it to say that Krens says 115, the museum gives 3 other numbers, and the manual tells us 100. The new number needs a separate citation. I have changed it to reflect this, but we still need more specifies for the workshop manual citation. I tagged it {{Clarification needed}}.

IchoTolotos, can you please provide the title, year, and page number from the manual you have? The publisher, ISBN, and so on are also helpful.

I hope that makes sense. Sorry this stuff has to be so complicated; don't let it get you down. Thanks! --Dbratland (talk) 20:47, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Page 1-5 of the German language workshop manual for the GPZ900R / ZX900-A1, which agrees with the figures given by IchoTolotos, quotes 74kW/100PS @ 9500rpm and 78.5Nm/8kpm @ 8500rpm. However, I'm not sure it can be trusted to be error free because the same page quotes the engine capacity as 901cc when it is obvious from the bore & stroke that the capacity is 908cc - and the latter is the figure given by other sources. --Biker Biker (talk) 21:15, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Digging through my unsorted Cycle Worlds, I found two articles, but both are claimed power only. Apparently they didn't dyno test it in their original review in 1984:

• Burns, John (May 2009), "Happy Birthday, Mr. Ninja!", Cycle World, vol. 48, no. 5, Newport Beach, California: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., p. 72, ISSN 0011-4286, Kawasaki claimed 113 horsepower at 9500 rpm
• "Doing more with less. (Kawasaki Ninja 900) (evaluation)", Cycle World, vol. 23, no. 5, Newport Beach, California: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., pp. 66–73, May 1984, ISSN 0011-4286, Test weight (w/half-tank full) 546 lb.
  Claimed power 113 bhp @ 9500 rpm
  Claimed torque 62.9 lb.-ft @ 8500 rpm
  1/4 mi. 11.18 sec. @ 121.65 mi
  0-60 mph 3.0
  0-100 mph 7.0
  Measured top speed in 1/2 mi. 145 mph
  Fuel consumption; Test loop 46 mpg; Range (to reserve) 212 mi.
  Braking distance from 30 mph 33 ft; from 60 mph 120 ft.

I have several other books and magazines I can check. It would be nice to cite an independent test figure and just ignore most or all of the claimed numbers. --Dbratland (talk) 22:05, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

• Brown, Roland (2005), The Ultimate History of Fast Motorcycles, Bath, England: Parragon, pp. 184–185, ISBN 1405454660, Top speed 155mph
  113bhp @ 9500 rpm
  Weight 502lb
  The 900 outlasted its intended replacements, the GPZ1000RX and the ZX-10, and even in 1990 was not replaced but merely updated. The front wheel grew from 16 to 17 inches in diameter; both wheels were widened to allow fitment of fatter tires; forks were thickened to 41mm; and front brake discs were enlarged to 300mm and treated to new four-piston calipers

This is an example of sources that say the GPZ900R continued after 1990, in contrast to Ker and Dowds just cited. Krens says it "remained in production for nearly 10 years" implying the end date was about 1993. Template:Kawasaki motorcycles says 1996 but I don't know where that's coming from.--Dbratland (talk) 00:34, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

More cites:

• Walker, Mick (2001), Performance Motorcycles, Amber Books, Ltd. and Chartwell Books (Book Sales, Inc.), pp. 152–153, ISBN 0785813802, Dry weight= 228kg (502lb)
  Power 115bhp at 9500 rpm
  Top speed: 254km/h (158 mph)
  There were no major changes until 1990, when a mini-redesign too place. The redesign included larger diameter fork legs and a switch from a 406mm (16in) to a 432mm (17in) front wheel. At the same time, the anti-dive was removed and there were new floating discs with four-piston calipers. In addition, a modified airbox was fitted which reduced both maximum power and top speed. …the last GPZR900 rolled off Kawasaki's production line in 1996.

• de Cet, Mirco (2001), The Complete Encyclopedia of Classic Motorcycles: informative text with over 750 color photographs (3rd ed.), Rebo, pp. 141–142, ISBN 903661497X, …its recorded top speed was over 150 mph and its 0-400 acceleration time was 10.976 seconds. …The Gpz900R yielded its flagship position to the ZZ-R1100 in 1990.

• Walker, Mick (2006), Motorcycle: Evolution, Design, Passion, JHU Press, pp. 174–175, ISBN 0801885302, Dry weight 228kg (503lb)
  Maximum power: 114bhp at 10,500 rpm
  Top speed 254km/h (158mph)
  Motor Cycle News recorded 254km/h (158mph)…

• Brown, Roland; McDiarmid, Mac (2000), The Ultimate Motorcycle Encyclopedia: Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki and All the Great Marques, Anness Publishing, p. 184-185, ISBN 1840388986, 113bhp at 9500rpm… top speed of over 150mph (241kph)… was still being sold almost ten years after having outlasted its supposed successor, the GPZ1000RX.

• Walker, Mick (2000), History of Motorcycles, Hamlyn, p. 168, ISBN 060060036X, The 908cc motor produced almost 114 bhp and was good for nearly 160 mph (258 kmh)

That's all I've got. None of these appear to be dyno tests; just varying reports (+/- a couple hp) of the claimed output. The 154 mph top speed sounds legitimate. It seems a couple sources mix up the end of the status as Kawasaki's flagship with the end of production, and it appears 1996 is probably the right year. --Dbratland (talk) 02:53, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

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