The Frame number of mine is KZT00D-0166XX and Engine number KZT00DE-0166XX but 1979 models numbers start at KZT00D-017501. Quick Facts: Do I own a 1978 or 1980 Z1-R? - Frame # by Kawasaki's #'s indicate a 1978 - Engine # by Kawasaki's #'s indicate a 1978 - White label next to Frame # on stearing head colume indicate's a 1980 (11/79) but same white label also has the same # as the Frame that match perfectly. This shows the label was not taken off another bike or the frame # would not match. Label looks original and aged as bike is. - Bike is physically a 1978 model with no 1980 changed features and NO Mk II 94 hp engine. (Bike engine also matches frame #'s) - Bike has been checked and found not to be stolen (also I'm told people hiding identies of bikes alter the serial numbers not the date of manufacturing). Unlike a car, the serial # of a bike is stamped in the steel of the frame (very hard to change unless you change the frame and then the engine numbers don't match). - Bike is a North American Model. Details: Who puts on the white label with date of manufacturing (Japan or country importing bikes)? Is this done at the factory or later when bike is approved for that country? I've contact Kawasaki about it. They don't know what to think of it either. It's not a D2 (1979) or D3 (1980) model because it don't have a Mark II engine, 19 inch front wheel or any changes that was added to the 1979 or 1980 models. Yes, I know people can change frames, engines, etc but the #'s all add up to make this a 1978 model except the date of manufacturing. The Frame and Engine #'s put it as a 1978, the frame # matches the engine # so the frame was not changed and the label with the date of manufacturing of 11/79 which is November 1979 (I said September 1979 earlier but I was wrong) also has the number of the frame that matches this frame. I've checked with other people to see if the label was tampered with or the bike stolen and everthing checks out fine except the Date for the bike don't seem to match. What else could be going on here? I would like to know from other owners of the 1978 Z1-R what date of manufacturing they have on the frames. Do you know of anyone you could check and reply for them? Kawasaki did confirm the frame/engine #'s on several internet sites as correct but also stated that there seems to be a high # of 1978 models made and only 300 or less for 1979 models made. It looks odd to them. They did guess that the 1978 model may have been made up to 11/79 and the 300 bikes for the 1979 model could have been made in a month or two but they really don't know and the bike is old so they don't have much info on them now. I doubt this is the answer but they really don't know what is the answer? Who would be a real expert to talk to on the 1978 to 1980 Z1-R bikes. What about an english contact from Kawasaki Japan? It looks exactly like a 1978, it has engine/frame numbers that match it as a 1978 but it has a date of manufacturing of a 1980 (date of manufacturing label has same number that matches frame). Here are some questions that may clearup the confusion: 1.) What was the first month/year the 1978 models were made? What was the last month/year the 1978 models were made? Exactly How many 1978 models were made? 2.) What was the first month/year the 1979 models were made? What was the last month/year the 1979 models were made? Exactly How many 1979 models were made? 3.) What was the first month/year the 1980 models were made? What was the last month/year the 1980 models were made? Exactly How many 1980 models were made? 4.) Does the serial # include the month/year it was made? Any Kawasaki Z1-R owner data bases/registries on the Web with serial # and date of manufacturing? This is a real mystery here. If I go only by the date of manufacturing it's a 1980 but I know that's wrong in someway but how, should it read 11/77 instead of 11/79? Would a 1978 model be made from 10/77 to 10/78 for example or does the dates change from year to year so some models are made from 10/77 to 11/79 but the next year may be from 11/79 to 12/79, and the next 01/80 to 09/80, etc? Fixed or floating dates. Is the information incorrect about when the Z1-R changed to the Mk II engine and 19 inch front wheel, etc. so all 1979 and early 1980 models were made like the 1978 model but sometime in 1980 they upgraded it. No one seems to know much about the 1979 model of less than 300 made. What country(s) sold them? Would Kawasaki make less than 300 models on a production run of a bike unless it's a special edition model? The problem may be incorrect serial # info from Kawasaki and that the Mark II was never made until after 11/79. Bikes made upto 11/79 was in the original model, then they changed over to the NEW Mk II model. That could make more sense. It's a debate I'd like to find the answer to. Could Japan be the only source that would have the answer?
