Kawasaki Z1
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The Z1 Kawasaki was a motorcycle introduced in 1972 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. It has sometimes been described as the world's first superbike. The Z1, along with Honda's CB750 from 1969, introduced the four-cylinder, across the frame, disc-braked layout to a wider public. The Z1 was groundbreaking in that it combined many different elements which previous motorcycles had used into one performance package.
[edit] History
The Z1 Kawasaki was developed in strict secrecy under the project name "New York Steak". Some years previously, Kawasaki, already an established manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles, decided to make a 750cc 4-cylinder 4-stroke sports motorcycle; they were beaten to the market place by the Honda CB750. Apparently, the bosses at Kawasaki disapproved and ordered their designers to come up with something better.[1]
Stone was an Australian film that featured several Z1s ridden by a post-Vietnam veteran's outlaw biker gang.
[edit] Design changes
The basic design of the Z1 remained relatively unchanged until 1975, when the 903cc "Z1-B" was introduced, with changes including power output, improved suspension, a stiffer frame, deleted automatic chain oiler, revised styling (essentially paint scheme and side cover nomenclature), and improved braking.
[edit] References
- ^ Margie Siegal (May/June 2006). "1973 Kawasaki Z1: King of the Road". Motorcycle Classics. http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/2006-05-01/king-of-the-road-kawasaki-z1.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
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