Honda Motor Company grabbed the initiative with the Honda CB750. Honda was first in the field but only just. Kawasaki had also been working on a high performance motorcycle with a large displacement multi-cylinder engine. Kawasaki were almost there, but Honda pip them to the post with the CB750. However, Kawasaki recovered, took stock of the vast potential of the American market and went ahead with development work to advance their ideas and outdo Honda. In August 1972 Kawasaki began mass production of their 900cc Z1. Though the 900cc was more powerful, Honda's 750cc motorbike was far more compact, and while Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki were already well established before Kawasaki began motorcycle production in 1961. It was the Mach III 500cc, that made Kawasaki became noticeable to the world. | | |
