Comments on: Vetter Kawasaki KZ1000

By: Gaza

Gaza — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:58:50 +0000

I have the luck of being able to grab one of these Kz for a song, and am doing research to figure out what to do with it.
There seems to be a lot of talk about the oil-coolers mounting position, and all I can say is that it’s a really good idea.

I can grasp what the fellow was thinking about. In an effort to get cool air to flow past the fin’s, mounting it away from any heat source is the best option.
Mounting it behind the rider not only keeps it safe from debris, but also keeps a steady stream of air passing through the fin’s versus a constant blast of air. I can see where the possibility of down force might come in to play, but I do’t think it very likely.

This is a motorcycle in it’s truest racing form, before the massive aerodynamic carbon-fiber industry took off. Maybe even the end of an era? Let’s just say that I am getting even more enthused about picking this bike up.

By: manny

manny — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 02:00:37 +0000

This is one sweet bike id rather be riding this bike over a new style bike any day .this bike gave birth to the super bikes of today.

By: David Enfield

David Enfield — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:08:28 +0000

This might sound daft but was the oil cooler there for sneaky downforce ?

By: 4Cammer

4Cammer — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:08:05 +0000

Maybe I am just getting old, but this bike interests me more than anything currently on the MotoGP grid. As for the cooler, my Buell has the cooler mounted on the left side of the bike right below the frame/fuel tank out in the wind and incorporating a scoop. Always seemed like a good solution to me, and the XR1200 has it is the same location, minus the scoop and a bit more easily damaged.

And IIRC, the fella that owns this bike has a hell of a collection.

By: mingh

mingh — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:57:14 +0000

i’m with the Phantom on the oil cooler. In my novice mind i’d strap it either right under the number plate to the fork clamps, or between the fuel tank and engine head. But it sure looks cool and purposeful

By: J Goodison

J Goodison — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:10:55 +0000

This bike help cement the Kawasaki legend in the USA. An absolute fire breathing beast.

By: The Phantom

The Phantom — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:01:55 +0000

Brutal machine. The engine physically looks like it could glove up and knock the stuffing out of any of the modern engines : )

My guess is that the oil cooler worked in that position in spite of its location rather than because of it… the relatively upright riding position would not be conducive to good airflow over the tail and the oil cooler would have been working in turbulent air rather than an actual ‘airflow’. But happy to stand corrected if there’s someone with a better understanding of moto airflow out there.