1981 Kawasaki KZ1000-J1 & KZ1100-A1 Brochures & Bonus

Two of the last big KZs for the USA. UJMCs as they are also known (Universal Japanese Motorcycle).

First we have the 1981 KZ1000-J1. This model lasted just another year in the USA (and one more in Canada).





Second we have the 1981 KZ1100-A1. This shaft drive model lasted two more years in the USA.





Also in the line-up through 1983 were the KZ1000-R2 Eddie Lawson Replica, KZ1100-D2 Spectre, and KZ1100-L1 LTD shaft drive. This is excluding the KZ1000-P Police bikes and any 750cc or smaller. From 1984 onward the models were in more defined categories like Ninja, Eliminator, Voyager, and Vulcan (and so on). Gone was that beloved UJMC styling that many of us still prefer. The style was revived in the 90s by Kawasaki with the ZR or Zephyr models (future post material).

The Spectre 1100 and KZ1100-L1 will also be featured in an upcoming post.

In case you are interested, as of this post there are still a couple copies of the brochures shown above available on my eBay page https://www.ebay.com/usr/kawasaki-yama-zuki.

Thanks for looking. Gary  /  kawasaki-yama-zuki

2021-10-26 Bonus / update:

As mentioned above, the KZ1000-J existed until 1983 in Canada. In a move that was somewhat of a tease by Kawasaki, the '83 Canadian model was used on the cover of the KZ1000/KZ1100 service manual--showing us in the USA a bike we could not have.