For 20 years, Team Green brought the Kawasaki GPZ900R to motorcyclists around the word, giving eager two-wheeled fans a potent street bike, which would eventually launch the “Ninja” name and help create the sport bike segment.
The unofficial star of the movie Top Gun, the Kawasaki GPZ900R was made famous by the Hollywood hit and actor Tom Cruise, and now with a sequel set for 2020, this iconic motorcycle could be making a return as well.
That is the rumor from Japan, at least, which is being fueled by a curious video posted by Kawasaki, which shows the evolution of the GPZ900R over the years – spoiler alert: not much changed in its 20-year run.
While, the Kawasaki GPZ900R was the first DOHC inline-four sport bike from Kawasaki, one could make interesting use of the the four-cylinder Z900 platform to make a throwback model of the GPZ.
This has of course already been done to a certain extant with the Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe, but instead our idea sees Kawasaki taking a page from Suzuki (of all places) and mimicking what was done for the Katana – another throwback to the 1980s.
To this end, a stripped-down version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R could be used as the basis for a more street-focused street bike with a full fairing.
Add in some retro styling, a four-cylinder superbike engine tuned for street use, and some basic rider aids, and Kawasaki could have an interesting and affordable sport bike with a pedigree (and interesting story).
That would certainly tickle our fancy, though this fantasy hinges on something actually brewing in the ranks of Iwata, Japan.
After all, Kawasaki could just be stoking fires for the upcoming Top Gun reboot, which is certain to feature another Kawasaki motorcycle in it, and playing to a certain bit of nostalgia.
As we are fond of saying, time will tell. But, the idea of a GPZ900R rebirth isn’t as crazy as it sounds. And besides, the 1980s look is set to be the next trend in the motorcycle space…just you wait and see.
Source: Young Machine & Canada Moto Guide
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