Kawasaki KZ1000P

by Kevin Lenehan
(Flagstaff, AZ)

My Kawasaki KZ1000P ratted down: As municipal contracts run their course there are a lot of KZ1000 old police bikes out there; from what I remember they were one of the early muscle bikes - but what I like about them now is they're relatively cheap.

Limited by anemic finances, little patience, and next to no real skill, it was fun to take a hack saw to it, rip a few pounds of wiring out, lose the fenders, fairing, and all the other whim whams.

Never a fabricator, I had a blast making brackets for the headlight, tail light, and seat. I sometimes get nostalgic for the blat blat sound of the big V twin, but the sound of a manic sewing machine sound is starting to grow on me.