Kawasaki Z1 900 Performance Portfolio 1972-1977

Ben Inamura and his team could not have possibly foreseen the reaction of the world to their creation back in the late sixties an early seventies when project New York Steak was under development. The Z1 image and presence was such that early reports of poor high speed handling, frames cracking, and drive chains being devoured at ridiculously low mileages did nothing to tarnish it's reputation - if anything it was enhanced, after all, Only real men ride Kawasakis said the Tee Shirt. The Z1 was always a show off, always a crowd-puller. Stop in any car park, leave the bike on the side stand and let it sneer at passers-by. Before long there will be onlookers, those who once owned one, always wanted one, or whose friend or neighbour owned one. Even in the company of today's hyper-bikes, a Z1 will always attract attention. It is only good manners to say thankyou to people who have made the Z1 and its early descendants into the legend we all love. Firstly to Kawasaki and Ben Inamura for having the imagination and courage to carry such a revolutionary design from the drawing board to the showroom, and most of all to Honda and its CB750, because without the sting of the CB750's launch, it is possible that the Z1 would have been a lesser machine as a 750. Let the good times keep rolling! 29 articles cover Kawasaki's great Z1. Road tests, new model intros, performance data, engine rebuild & long-term reports. Models covered: Z1, Z1-A, Dunstall Kawasaki, Z900 & KZ900 LTD. 140 pages, approx. 250 illus. SB.