Prototype Kawasaki 1970 750cc Z1

I copy and pasted an older article I stumbled on. I found this interesting and thought I would share.




Kawasaki's legendary Z1 was a fast and hugely popular bike made for the U.S. market. Everyone knows it displaced 903cc. What many of you may not know is the original design work on the Z1 was for a 750cc version to be released in 1970, which, due to the Honda 750's introduction, was then changed to the larger 903cc displacement and brought out in 1972.

This photo of the appearance prototype, done in 1968 or 1969 by a small design firm in California, McFarlane Design, later Bartlett Design Associates, shows styling cues that would later appear on Kawasaki's other legendary bikes, the 2 stroke triples.

As our source suggests, this could mean, "the styling of Kawasaki's whole lineup of bikes through the 70s was actually developed right here in the good-old USA, not Japan AND that the Z1 was always intended to be DOHC, even in 1968 or 1969 when this photo was taken at Mcfarlane's in Santa Barbara."

This bike is also NOT related to the later 750cc Z2 sold only in Japan.

Interesting ...

Thats a nice piece of New York Steak

Shades of Buck Rogers

[Click on image to get a better load of those classy mufflers.]

Tank and sidecovers look similar to the later Z1R in a way. And that DOHC engine bears a striking resemblance to MV Agustas 4 cyl, both the 60's GP bike and the later 600-750 street bikes. And as Patton pointed out the lovely RAY GUN exhaust of the Rocket 3....hmmmm, looks to be only a left hand pipe and dual carbs on the prototype 750, wonder how things would have turned out if Honda hadnt beat Ma Kaw, to market with thier SOHC.

That prototype was a very handsome bike IMO, maybe not as pleasing as a Z1, but pretty sweet...FAR better looking than the bulbous Honda SOHC 750's thats for sure ( those ealy SOHC's remind me of whales lol )

i'm sure most of us know the early oversea z1's were 750cc's.
i even have a block and pistons w/ hollow cams somewhere.