Just as Kawasaki was about to green-light the world’s first mass-produced across-the-frame four-cylinder motorcycle, Honda pulled the rug out from under the project by unveiling the CB750-4 at the Tokyo Show in 1968, and lighting the fuse for what was to become motorcycling’s most explosive decade.In never before published interviews with the men responsible for the bike, code-named ‘New York Steak,’ Dave Sheehan relates the story behind the Z1’s development; the secret US testing programme in which a team, including Imola-race winner Paul Smart, rode pre-production bikes disguised as Hondas coast-to-coast across America.
The Kawasaki Z1 Story examines the myth, truth and legend surrounding the Z1’s first race win – of which even Kawasaki knew nothing. Here, too, is the full story of the epic three days at Florida’s legendary Daytona Speedway when a trio of Z1s broke more than 50 speed endurance records.
● An unrivalled account of the Z1's record-breaking feat in Daytona in 1973 ● From the author of ‘Superbike and the 70s’ – Vintage Motor Cycle magazine’s Book of 2013 ● Examines the myths and uncovers the truth about the Z1's first race win ● Over 100 photographs and illustrations, some never previously published ● Reveals not only the bike that shaped motorcycling, but also the era that shaped the Z1 ● Sheehan recreates Cycle magazine's seminal Superbike 'Big 7' road tests ● Foreword by Cook Neilson, former Editor of Cycle magazine ● Neilson on Sheehan's account of the editor's visit to Japan to preview the Z1: A great trip, well told ● ‘… it reads like a thriller’ – The Road, Motorcycle Action Group club journal
