The Kawasaki Z-bikes in pictures

The original Z1 had a 903cc, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine that was not only the most powerful of its time, it was as tough as nails, giving Kawasaki an enviable reputation for reliability.

The original Z1 had a 903cc, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine that was not only the most powerful of its time, it was as tough as nails, giving Kawasaki an enviable reputation for reliability.

By 1977 the Z had grown to a full litre and it had gained an angular coffin-style fuel tank, a sharp-edged handlebar fairing and a reputation for wayward handling that did nothing to diminish its mystique.

The 1978 Z1300 had six cylinders and liquid cooling but it was as indestructible as the air-cooled fours and had even more attitude.

The 1089cc GPz1100 was one of the first mass-produced bikes with electronic fuel-injection.

In 1981 Eddie Lawson won the AMA championship on a factory Z1000S. The factory followed up with the Z1000R in 1982, finshed in Lawson's signature shamrock green, a colour that was to became synonymous with Kawasaki.

The Z was reborn as a naked street-bike in 2003 with the release of the Z1000, emphasising usable power rather than race-track performance, just like the original Z1.

The Z was reborn as a naked street-bike in 2003 with the release of the Z1000, emphasising usable power rather than race-track performance, just like the original Z1. This is the second-generation 2007 version.

In 2010, for the first time, rather than borrow a previous-generation superbike frame, Kawasaki started from scratch to built a contemporary urban warrior that could live up to its engine.