The Kawasaki Z1300 is presented to the Paris salon in October 1978. The machine is equipped with a 6-cylinder engine as the Honda CBX 1000, but the comparison stops immediately. If the Honda seeks to dominate the category of sports machines, the Z1300 is clearly establishing itself as the queen of the road. Kawasaki has hit very hard to compete with Honda and Yamaha 1000 Gold XS 1100. His proposal: a 6-cylinder water cooled with a transmission cardan a power of 120 hp, the top at that time. This is decidedly the most powerful and fastest road.

The shape of the engine very surprised when leaving the machine. Indeed, Kawasaki completely integrated liquid cooling in the design of the engine and therefore has removed the traditional cooling fins of the cylinder block and cylinder head. The enormous power, as the couple (over 11 kg) remains controllable through the creaminess technology proposed by the 6-cylinder engine.

If the engine breaks new ground, the cycle for its part remains very classical. The engine is housed in a double steel cradle designed largely to absorb his power. The dress is honest without being outstanding (the machine is not a sport).

The weight of the machine is up to its engine, over 300 kg in running order. Despite this significant weight, performance is very present and the machine easily exceeds the 200 km / h. Unfortunately, though qu'équipée Series 3-disc brakes, braking is weak.

The machine will undergo some minor changes throughout his career.

1978 - Version A1: This is the original model.

1980 - Version A2: increase the amount of engine oil and replacement Shock (springs harder and increased travel).

1981 - Version A3: introduction of the electronic ignition, further increase the amount of engine oil, replacement oil shock by combined air / oil.

1982 - Version A4: Changing the transmission (primary and secondary), moving the ignition behind the alternator.

1983 - Version A5: increase the amount of oil the fork.

1984 - The Z1300 becomes ZG1300 and adopt the electronic injection. The power of the machine goes to 130 hp (but 1000 trs / min above)

The machine is marketed until 1988. No machine will take the baton. The machine still has many followers throughout the world.

In 1984, the Z1300 Voyager is marketed for the U.S. market. It will never be imported into France.