Description
Additional photos of this 1997 Kawasaki ZX-7R are available here for your perusal.
A remnant of the good ol’ days when World Superbike (and therefore, motorcycle manufacturers) focused on 750s, the Kawasaki ZX-7R looks the part and rides like a dream on the track or on the street.
1996 marked a major update both with the name and the bike itself. In years prior, Kawasaki used different model designations in different countries (ZXR750 or ZX7). For ’96, they standardized it across the world with the ZX-7 name. The engine was given shorter stroke and a bigger bore to emphasize midrange power, while a second ram-air intake was added to increase power throughout the rev range. Keeping the claimed 123 horsepower in check were 6-pot (up from 4) Tokico brakes and a suspension upgrade that yielded full adjustability both front and rear.
Currently located in Houston, Texas, this Kawasaki ZX-7R (VIN: JKAZXDP13VA013538) was originally sold in California and it’s claimed to be entirely OEM except for the period-correct Second Look seat covers. It currently has 12,750 miles and it’s being offered by the third owner. The original owner put the bike in storage in the early 2000s, and the second owner immediately put it back in storage after acquiring it. He never started or rode the bike during his ownership from 2012 to December 2018. The current owner started to bring this ZX-7R back to life in the early summer of this year.
He installed a bevy of OEM parts, including the air filter/screen, oil filter, fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel pump relay, junction box, spark plugs, battery, and miscellaneous bolts/washers/screws/etc. Maintenance included an oil change, carb clean, cooling system flush, clutch fluid flush, and brake system flush. The fuel pump/relay and junction box were replaced as preventative maintenance – the originals still work and they are included as spares. There are also new parts included as spares: ignition switch with key, key blank, left and right ignition coils, and various bolts/screws/washers. The sale also includes the owner’s manual and factory tool kit.
There are a few things that still need to be addressed if you want to add to the minimal mileage. The clutch safety switch is intermittent, the fork seals should be replaced, the carbs were cleaned but they could still use a sync and possibly a rebuild, the tires are almost two decades old, and the throttle cable should be adjusted for proper idle. The seller also recommends replacing the chain due to age, though there’s nothing visibly wrong with it.
The left fairing was damaged and imperfectly repaired (photo above) by the original owner due to a claimed driveway drop – paint work would be required to make it pristine. In addition, the nose fairing and windscreen have abrasions, both of which unfortunately occurred during shipping from California to Texas when the current owner acquired the machine. If you would like either issue perfected, our White Glove service would be happy to help.
As you can imagine considering the work the owner put into this Kawi, his plan was to keep it in his collection but he’s “come across another Kawasaki and Ducati that he wants to have, so…you know how that goes.” Indeed we do!
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