The story of the air-cooled 'big' Kawasaki bikes in definitive detail,
researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the
factory. This series of models put the company on the map during the
sixties and seventies, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw
hundreds of Japanese motorcycle makers reduced to just four. Successful
immediately, these models defended Kawasaki's honour on the tracks as
well as in the showrooms, handing the company numerous world
championship titles. The series was recently revived as part of a retro
boom, and a new machine has been launched, delivering the same thrill
and charm as its predecessors. The definitive history of the big
air-cooled Kawasakis, from little known machines hardly seen outside
Japan to the early Zs that took on the world. The Kawasaki air-cooled
models helped establish the Kawasaki brand as a top motorcycle maker.
Period Covered: 1965-1980 Models Covered: Kawasaki W1, W2 & W3
(1965-1974), H1 & H2 (1968-1976) and early Z-series, including Z1, Z2 &
Z1R (1972-1980). Also includes details on the retro W models (1998-).
