The Kawasaki Z1 Story

Just as Kawasaki was about to green-light the worlds 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 motorcyclings 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 Z1s 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 Z1s first race win of which even Kawasaki knew nothing. Here, too, is the full story of the epic three days at Floridas legendary Daytona Speedway when a trio of Z1s broke more than 50 speed endurance records.