Honda started the “Turbo Wars” with it’s 1982 CX500 Turbo. An 80 horse 500cc Twin was indeed impressive. 1982 marked a lot of first for Honda and the industry. Many of the models introduced were innovation leaders like the 1982 CX500 Turbo and the all-new Honda V45’s (750’s) with water-cooled V-4 engines with 4-Valves and shaft drive in the Sabre not to mention it’s Fiber Optic security cable and Instrument Cluster that gave more data than any car of the time. This flashy Technology stuck around and much of the electronics are still in use today. Sadly though, the Turbo Charging went away and quickly.
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Kawasaki 1985 GPZ750E Turbo
12991420 • Jan 10, 2016
The 1985 Kawasaki GPZ750E Turbo
The 1985 Kawasaki GPZ750E Turbo was what many consider to have been top of the food chain in 1984/1985. Only 2,200 of these 1985 models were built and were among the very last of all the factory turbos to be offered by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, or Yamaha. Kawasaki was late to the Turbo party when they introduced the first model in 1984, but like Thor – they arrived with the biggest and meanest hammer when they did.
By 1984, all of Japan’s manufactures had their own turbo bike, but every model was dropped by 1986. I’m still surprised they disappeared almost as quickly as they were introduced, by 1986 there were all gone and to this day have never returned. I am not aware of any factory models made with Turbo-Charging in the world since those 1980’s bikes. It’s a shame too, because I really love the way they ride and perform, especially the GPZ750 Kawasaki model with it’s factory delivered 112 horsepower.
These photos are of my 1985 Kawasaki GPZ750E Turbo restoration. Riding a factory turbo charged bike is different. Imaging if you will, a very mild-mannered 750 Four that could idle and run flawlessly around town, get you 50+ mpg all below 5,000 rpm. Then, If/when you wanted more – it was there! All you had to do was simply let the rpm go to 5,000 rpm and open the throttle. The GPZ would rocket to 10 second 1/4 miles! Yes – I tell folks that it would take you to church like a saint on Sunday morning and then chase the Devil anytime you wanted it – who says you couldn’t have it all in 1985?
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