1983 Kawasaki KZ1000R Eddie Lawson Replica

Frame no. JKAKZCR16DA001255 Engine no. KZT00JE040448

• Eddie Lawson tribute bike
• Very limited edition
• Collector bike
• Original / NOS condition
Thanks to his four wins in the Motorcycle 500cc World Championship during the 1980s, Eddie Lawson is considered as one of the greatest motorcycle road racers of all time. Starting in dirt track racing, Eddie was showing his exceptional riding skills riding Shell Thuett Yamahas against the mighty Harley Davidsons of the time. While he was having some pretty decent results, he started in 1979 to intensify his road racing activity with Kawasaki, where he managed to finish second behind young Freddie Spencer at the AMA 250 GP Series. 1979 was also the year where Lawson gave a try at Superbikes, and by 1980 started his Superbike career. That year saw some great battles between the three titans that were Freddie Spencer (Honda), Wes Cooley (Suzuki) and Eddie Lawson (Kawasaki). In the end, after much controversies, Wes Cooley and his Suzuki managed to win the championship. By 1981, Lawson came back even more hungry, which gave again some great battles between him and Honda racer Freddie Spencer. That will be his first championship win before the next one in 1982. Before that, Lawson was also wining the AMA 250 GP Series with Kawasaki in 1980 and 1981. Thanks to these successes, Lawson was hired by Yamaha in 1983 to compete in the 500cc World Championship. After a first year discovering tracks, he won the 1984 championship for the first time before the three others in 1986, 1988 and 1989.
Eddie was given the name 'Steady Eddie' because of his capacity to be consistent, nearly always on the podium and never crashing.
In 1982 and 1983, as a tribute to Lawson's victories, Kawasaki decided to release 750 Eddie Lawson version of the KZ1000R using the colors of Lawson's winning bike. The 998cc inline-four produced 79hp for 543lbs. The bike notably featured a black engine, Kerker four-into-one exhaust system and Showa shocks. With its fairing and recognizable colors, the Eddie Lawson Replica was a very high-end piece and the time and a great collector today.
The bike presented here in all original or at least 'NOS'. Tires have been replaced by period correct ones. In 2018 it won 1st place for Best Kawasaki at the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show.