Before superbikes became common in movies, there was the Kawasaki GPZ900R from Top Gun. Forty years later, people still remember that iconic Kawasaki more clearly than most vehicles from the film. The scene where Tom Cruise’s Maverick races alongside a fighter jet helped turn the motorcycle into a pop-culture icon almost overnight. Back in 1986, sportbikes were nowhere near as mainstream as they are today, which made the GPZ900R stand out even more. For Kawasaki, the movie ended up giving the motorcycle a level of recognition that went far beyond the usual biking audience.
The Kawasaki GPZ900R Was Seriously Fast For Its Time
When launched the GPZ900R in 1984, it was not just another sportbike. It was one of the fastest production motorcycles in the world. The bike came with a 908cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine making roughly 115 bhp, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
What made the motorcycle important was not only the speed, but also the engineering underneath. Kawasaki positioned the engine lower in the frame to improve handling and balance, something that later became common in modern superbikes. The GPZ900R also crossed the 150mph mark, with top speed figures touching around 241 kmph. In the mid-1980s, that was a huge number for a road-going motorcycle.
The bike also featured dual front disc brakes, anti-dive forks as well as a 22-litre fuel tank. Compared to many motorcycles from that era, the GPZ900R felt far more modern and performance-focused.
Kawasaki GPZ900R
Top Gun Changed The Motorcycle’s Image Completely
The movie took the GPZ900R from being a fast motorcycle to becoming an instantly recognisable one. Maverick riding the Kawasaki next to fighter aircraft became one of the defining visuals of Top Gun.
The motorcycle used in the film is widely identified as a 1985 Kawasaki Ninja 900 finished in black with red graphics. For many people watching the movie at the time, it was their introduction to the Ninja name itself.
Interestingly, reports later suggested the filmmakers had initially looked at using a Honda before Kawasaki entered the project. But once the GPZ900R appeared on screen, it became impossible to separate the bike from the movie.
Even now, the GPZ900R has a cult following among collectors and older superbike fans. Clean examples are increasingly difficult to find, especially motorcycles finished in colours similar to the Top Gun bike.
The connection became even stronger when Kawasaki brought restored GPZ900R motorcycle back during the production of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. That alone showed how closely this motorcycle is still tied to the franchise after four decades. For those who don’t know, Tom Cruise also rode the Kawasaki Ninja H2 in the sequel.