Author Topic: Early 1972 Kawasaki Z1 disguised as CB750 (Read 5604 times)

Ted Nomura · « **on:** April 05, 2006, 12:21:53 PM »

Before the 1973 Kawasaki Z1 was released to the public in late 1972, they disguised at least one of their early pre-production Z1 built in 1972 to look like Honda CB750 and field-tested them on an endurance run between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, just like what Honda did with their CB750 in 1968 and Suzuki with their T500 in 1967. Anybody got a picture of the CB750 disguised Z1?

6pkrunner · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2006, 01:25:27 PM »

Ted, my memory is indeed fading, but I think there was a small black and white shot of what you are talking about in a fall month of Cycle Guide. I thought it may have been 1972, but I searched the web and came up with this

"The first prototype was completed in the spring of 1971. This prototype was ridden by
American test riders with minor adjustments made step by step. In the fall of that year, the final prototype was completed and after testing, the unit was approved for mass production. The first production model was completed in February 1972, and this unit was subjected to repeated severe road testing after which all parts, including even the nuts and bolts, were examined. After reworking all weak points, the first mass-production model was built in May 1972"

So it may have been a fall 1971 Cycle Guide. Again if I remember correctly the tank was close looking but the sidecases were really funky and the twin cam head stuck out like a sore thumb. I have a lot of bike magazines from the era so will try to see if it is in one.

6pkrunner · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2006, 07:42:52 PM »

Went through one slew from 1970 to early 1972 and nothing yet. But that's far from all of the searching. Things like this become quests.

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2006, 12:56:20 PM »

I remember seeing a photo of an early Z1 with different graphics than the standard 1973 model in one of the motorcycle magazines back then. It looked a bit like the Kawasaki graphics used on their 1973 model enduros but it may just be a repaint. It didn't look like CB750. Still looking.

Jeff.Saunders · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2006, 09:24:28 AM »

I've not seen that picture - although I've seen several articles alluding to the disguised bike.

Here is a rare shot of the FIRST design concept for the Z1 - this picture was take in 1968/69 as work commenced on the 1970 model year bikes.

Several things interesting about the picture - the design work was done in the USA not in Japan.

The engine resembles the MV Agusta 750's from that era - one of the first DOHC bikes.

Fortunately the styling changed a great deal from this early picture - I can't say I like the color or the look that much...

madbunny · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2006, 11:41:20 AM »

"Phase Two of Farnsworth's test consisted of an 8000-mile L.A.-to-Daytona-and-back flog, the same bikes cleverly disguised in Honda CB750 fuel tanks and badges to avoid detection. One young guy in Shreveport, Louisiana, was the only one to see through the Honda facade in the entire journey; "What the hell izzat? That ain't no Honda."

Rear tires were roasted at 6000 miles, and drive chains at half that. Otherwise, everything appeared ready for prime time after teardown back at Kawasaki HQ in California."

from here

nickjtc · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2006, 02:32:12 PM »

From that pic it looks like Kawasaki cribbed the idea of the original Triumph Trident/BSA Rocket Three ray-gun silencers. Thank goodness they ended up with 4 into 4's!

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2008, 01:55:28 PM »

That's a very interesting photo. The engine does look like MV type and the gas tank look like their later Z1R models of the late 1970s. The front end looke like the early H1s and the tail design probably influenced their 1973 S2 and H1 models. The bike don't look like the one I displayed in my own "Angels 750" comic book series. Someone can probably build a replica, using more later model Kawasaki DOHC 750 engine.

MRieck · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2008, 05:57:48 PM »

Quote from: Ted Nomura on July 11, 2008, 01:55:28 PM

That's a very interesting photo. The engine does look like MV type and the gas tank look like their later Z1R models of the late 1970s. The front end looke like the early H1s and the tail design probably influenced their 1973 S2 and H1 models. The bike don't look like the one I displayed in my own "Angels 750" comic book series. Someone can probably build a replica, using more later model Kawasaki DOHC 750 engine.

You need more bikes Ted.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2008, 08:20:35 PM »

Quote from: nickjtc on July 17, 2006, 02:32:12 PM

From that pic it looks like Kawasaki cribbed the idea of the original Triumph Trident/BSA Rocket Three ray-gun silencers. Thank goodness they ended up with 4 into 4's!

yeah....when I saw that pipe...I thought Wow!!!!...glad they ditched that idea!!!!!

Jeff.Saunders · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2008, 07:57:12 AM »

yes, the final 4-4 pipes looked a heck of a lot better...

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:42:30 PM »

I too agree that the final 4 muffler version looked a lot better through I still prefer the 1972 style tank graphics, of which I painted my original KZ900 tank to look like that. I first thought the production mufflers looked too much like the double version of the Honda SL350K1/K2 systems in chrome. Ironically I drew a picture of what I thought the new Kawasaki "New York Steak" should look like and I used the same SL350 mufflers but my version was 1100cc, thinking that the Honda would soon introduce the 1000 version of their CB750, which later turned out to be the GL1000 Gold Wing.
Interestingly the original "Ray Gun" mufflers of the BSA/Trimuph 750 performed better than their later systems.

Jeff.Saunders · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2011, 09:03:23 AM »

Dusting off this old thread... here's a picture of a pair of Z1's disguised as CB750's...

Z1 in disguise

mrbreeze · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2011, 09:45:07 AM »

Cool picture Jeff. Besides the side cover badge, there is no way to compare it to a Honda.....especially the rear section and pipes.

MRieck · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2011, 11:00:08 AM »

Lots of interesting pics of the good ole days.

Thanks!

TerryK · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2011, 08:37:17 PM »

Bryon farnsworth testing the Z1 in Japan. 1972 prototype pre production test bike.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2713668410102337541qMfhvA

736cc · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2011, 07:20:57 AM »

For your information, the prototype Z1 was secretly code-named "New York Steak"

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2013, 10:36:35 PM »

Just found photo

mrbreeze · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2013, 09:29:24 PM »

Wow!!!....the ole 69-71 tank stripe trick!! Looks hella weird on the Kawi tank.

HondaMan · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2013, 11:22:29 PM »

Quote from: Jeff.Saunders on August 29, 2011, 09:03:23 AM

Dusting off this old thread... here's a picture of a pair of Z1's disguised as CB750's...

Z1 in disguise

I remember seeing it in a cycle rag, but I think it was in about 1973? It was a story about "how Kawi tested the new Z1" or something like that. I laughed out loud, wondered what Honda thought of them using their logo on the tank as "camo".

736cc · « **Reply #20 on:** April 06, 2013, 05:01:11 AM »

Years ago in 70's in the Florida Everglades in the middle of nowhere there was some hard-core street racing where multiple motorcycles all raced at once, winner takes all. Not unusual for a half-dozen or more bikes all go at it at once from a standing start for a half-mile. One dude shoe-horned a worked Z1 motor into a CB750 chassis and with the Honda bodywork and badges, along with all kawasaki logos shaved-off, proceeded to clean-up. True story.

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Author Topic: Early 1972 Kawasaki Z1 disguised as CB750 (Read 5604 times)

madbunny