The Turbocharged Motorcycle Revolution

Feb 14, 2022 — There’s just something about the 80s. Behind the grey mask of corporate life, the untamed spirit of pop culture soared to new heights. Everything had to be bold, fast, propelling itself into the future.

These were the days to experiment, and with motorcycles in particular, turbochargers came along to daringly challenge the status quo. As if the danger of being on two wheels wasn’t enough, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki all entered a race to create the perfect killing machine, while providing one of the most exhilarating riding experiences seen at the time.

Neon Dawn

The first to lay claim to the horsepower war was Kawasaki’s Z1R-TC in '78, when a thrill-seeking Kawasaki dealership decided to take the surplus stock Z1R models lying around, and outfitted them with a Turbo Pak compressor.

Basically, an already dangerous bike was turned into a ticking time bomb. Naturally, no warranty accompanied the purchase, and you even needed a witness present before signing off.

Looking at its coffin-shaped gas tank, nothing could be more suitable to what the TC had in store for the average rider. It was ultimately destined to be upstaged by models yet to come, though its rarity today still makes it a sought-after collector’s bike.

Revolution

Enter the challengers: the Honda CX500 Turbo, the Yamaha XJ650 Seca Turbo, the Suzuki XN85 Turbo, and the Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo.

In the red corner, we have the Honda CX500T, and it just screams 80s with its blocky frame, and bright colours. It is a definite step up from the TC: here we see a water-cooled v-twin, the first production Honda bike to have programmed fuel injection, along with many fail-safe mods that made it shine on the open road.

In the blue corner, the Yamaha XJ650 Seca Turbo, which is more of everything minus liquid cooling: cylinders, displacement, valve area, twin mufflers. The power delivery is spread out, and with twice the pistons, you’ve got a more reliable bike for the average rider. The Honda is to thrill seekers what the Yamaha is to businessmen, I guess.

So, what if the thrill seeker met up with the corporate guy and decided to make something to suit both their needs? In a way, you would get the Suzuki XN85T, with its slick race frame, clip-on handlebars, and 16 inch front wheel. It roars on the back roads while not being overwhelmingly snappy. Sure there’s some turbo lag, but you won’t blast off to outer space when it kicks in.

Now if you’re feeling particularly ready for space travel, then there’s the Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo. This time, they had the common sense to strengthen the gearbox, and mod the engine to handle its staggering 200 horsepower potential. For its time, it was the fastest and most ambitious turbocharged motorcycle ever made.

Revival

For admirers of innovation, the good times would not last. With State Farm Insurance boycotting a total of 29 motorcycle models in the late 80s, it was clear that these neon demons would not find wide-spread acceptance on the road.

Some might say that this tech was never meant to be, though a clear resurgence of more refined supercharged bikes today — like the Kawasaki H2 — proves otherwise.

Turbo bikes were ahead of their time, and now that the tech is catching up, their future is only brighter. Like the Terminator, turbo bikes promised they’d be back... Let’s hope they’re here to stay.