The ZX900A engine represented a turning point in Kawasaki production and, more generally, one of the reference models in the field of high-performance street motorcycles of the 1980s. Built to power the first series of the GPz 900 R, introduced to the market in 1984, the engine was the result of a completely new project, aimed at gaining a competitive edge over the main manufacturers in the motorcycle sector. To this end, various complex technical solutions were adopted, some of which were derived from racing competitions, including the head with four valves per cylinder with double overhead camshaft, an efficient cooling system and a counter-rotating balance shaft to reduce engine vibrations. Made with extensive use of light alloys, the engine has compact dimensions, which facilitated its integration, also from a structural point of view, with the motorcycle frame. The ZX900A engine was not only the heart of the GPz 900 R but also the element that helped define its innovative character. After 1985 it continued to be the subject of various technical updates to equip the subsequent series of the GPz 900 R until the early 1990s, as well as the development basis for new models with larger displacement.

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Technical specifications