This unrestored Eddie Lawson Replica is a stunning example of the Superbike era, perhaps the coolest Kawasaki race replica ever. The KZ1000 series was the inheritor of and final development for the factory’s immortal Z1 model, introduced in 1972. The Z1 immediately set the standard for sporting fours, but by the late 1970s, the industry had caught up with Kawasaki and new models were on the way, including the new GPZ1100 of 1981. Kawasaki enlarged the Z1 to a full 1000cc in 1977, which became the KZ1000 and broke new ground in 1978 by restyling it as the Z1R model. The Z1R had a contemporary, squared-off styling with an integrated half-fairing flowing into the gas tank and seat unit, plus a four-into-one exhaust system, exactly what modern-day café racers added to Japanese fours for more power. The Z1R had 90 HP with triple drilled disc brakes to stop the 541-pound behemoth.

In 1981, Eddie Lawson took a factory-tuned KZ1000R (basically a restyled Z1R) to victory in the Superbike series, winning fully half the eight-race series using an improved frame with extra gussets and a longer steering rake to the steering head. Kawasaki’s Mike Vaughan suggested the factory capitalize on Lawson’s success with a race replica of his machine, and so it was that the KZ1000R became the Eddie Lawson Replica with the frame and engine of the KZ100 and the bodywork of the GPZ1100, along with its instruments, wheels and brakes.

To bring the ELR closer to his racing bike, the saddle was hollowed out for “hanging off” in corners, rear sets were added along with Lawson’s own design of Superbike handlebars, plus an oil cooler and Kerker four-into-one exhausts. It was all painted green to match the factory racers and became something of a legend among Superbike collectible motorcycles.

Eddie Lawson won the ’82 Superbike series as well, so the 1983 ELR models reflected that in their tank stickers—as on this bike.

Credit: mecum

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