This article was probably best-timed for the first Top Gun film which came out in 1986, but hey, the internet was not born yet. But this author had just rewatched the film (for the millionth time) and felt compelled to write about the original Top Gun bike: Kawasaki GPZ900R Ninja.
Here are 5 interesting stuff you may not know about.
1. 6-year Top Secret Project
Kawasaki needed a bike to succeed the successful and iconic Z1. They needed something that is more powerful than what everyone else had in the market, as well as introduce a fresh design. The motorcycle world had headed into the early 80s by then, which was a decade of excess. Everything had to be more powerful and faster, and on top of that, with groundbreaking design.
Kawasaki worked on the bike over and over. No spyshots existed, especially since there was no internet back then. It stayed in secret better than the Darkstar aircraft.
Finally, it was released in 1984 to global acclaim.
2. The first Ninja
The GPZ900R was the first of Kawasaki’s bikes to wear the “Ninja” name to signify its handling and speed. Since then, all Kawasaki faired sportbikes and even sport-tourers from the ZX-250, to the nighty H2R utilised and utilises the Ninja designation.
3. The first DOHC 16-valve production bike
The engine followed the Z1’s 900cc capacity but it was given a DOHC 16-valve head – the first for a production motorcycle. It had liquid-cooling, too, but it was not the first bike to incorporate that feature.
The new features gave the engine a 115hp peak power output and took the bike to a 243 km/h top speed. That in turn earned the GPz900R Ninja the world’s fastest production bike title and laying down the gauntlet for other manufacturers to beat.
4. Tom Cruise wanted it in Top Gun
Ever noticed that Tom Cruise rides a bike in almost every movie of his? He had been a biker even before Top Gun and the Mission: Impossible series became famous. He knew about the GPZ900R and convinced the producers to include it in the movie which came out 2 years after the bike’s introduction.
5. Produced until 2003
The bike was so successful that it was produced until 1996 for the global market, but production kept going until 2003 for the Japanese market. That was a 17-year production run. Many classic bike aficionados are still seeking the bike.
Closing
The new Top Gun: Maverick movie had Maverick riding the Kawasaki Ninja H2, which is all good since it a continuation of the original Ninja and as the world’s fastest production motorcycle. But you just cannot take away the original Ninja’s clout, just like the first Top Gun movie.
