Kawasaki Z1 vs. Honda CB750 - Japan's Superbike Rivals

No story of the Kawasaki Z1 can be told without a starring role from the Honda CB750. If it wasn’t for that iconic motorcycle, the Kawasaki Z1 wouldn’t exist.
This is the story of what many argue is the first true superbike of the seventies and its relationship and rivalry with its main competitor - the Honda CB750.
Shot at Paul Brace's Proper Bikes: properbikes.co.uk
A Brightside Media production brightside-medi...
カワサキZ1＆ホンダCB750　〜スーパーバイク・ライバル〜
カワサキZ1の歴史とその最大のライバルであるホンダCB750との関係を描いたストーリー。

[@BrightsideMedia]

Check out our newest film about the Honda CB750: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npTHhpqLqptpmM0

[@kramrollin69]

Nice presentation. Great bikes. Nice to see a little guy riding these beasts too. Unfortunately, at 6'2" and built like Arnie (old Arnie that is), I look like a gorilla sitting on a mini bike, on my mint K1 750. In fact , Arnie rode a cb750 in T1, yes it looked small. Lucky I have a CBX 1000 Prolink, minus fairing, to get that big bike feel. Heaven help what I will look like on my 74 T150. Might have to sell them both and buy a Valkerie or something. I can still remember petite young women in the early 70s, riding Z1s, and having to stand on tippy toes at the traffic lights.....Do women actually ride real bikes now?

[@MrPepper312]

Bought mine in 1973 when they first came out and I just turned 20 years old. Man I was on top of the world. Best time of my life.

[@Unknown-bv7lv]

I was 9 then . Drooling over these bikes

[@cynthiaayers7696]

Which bike..?

[@spacecoastz4026]

My CB 750 was my first big bike....bought it new in Nov 1974 and I was 22 years old. Traded in my CB350 which was also a great bike.

[@Flenderr]

I have them both and I also love them both. Fantastic legendary bikes which even today are perfectly happy on the road... after 40 years!

[@dannymccune1888]

June 6, 1973 - I bought my Z1. Still have it. Stopped riding it at 107,000 mile. All stock except for the seat and top end motor mount. Still have November,1972 CYCLE magazine. Front cover, Kawasaki Z1903, "Every inch a king."

[@chrismoody1342]

Proud owner of a 75’ Z1b. My buddy had a CB 750 which was a nice bike. Until I showed up on a Z1. Z1 styling was and still is one of the beautiful bikes ever made. My Z1 ate his 750 up. I could do in fourth gear his top speed. I’ve had mine which is still in stock; form other than a 4/1 header exhaust to a 145 mph indicated and almost 2 sec quicker in a quarter. I will never sell it ...... well maybe when I’m 85. 😎

[@amateurastronaut5006]

I got a 78 xs11 that'll eat your z1s lunch.

[@auggie803]

-So your Z1 moped could do 125 in 4th gear. If so,,That is Fast !

[@llewvirtue861]

That sound brings back so many memories to so many people

[@NewtonWashinton]

I owned both these bikes I bought a new CB750 in 1971, I bought new in 1974 the Z1 900, I loved both these bikes, In 1983 i bought new a V65 MAGNA very fast at the time. Thank you for the video! Great memories for me.

[@kimhorton6109]

I went to a Z1 from a Honda CB500 and the Z1 was a beast to keep on the road. Chains and sprockets were an annual item. Every other year all the pipes had to be replaced. I didn’t have many brake pad changes. Loved the bike but I should have saved my $ and fixed up the CB500. It was easier to maintain, less heavy and handled better.

[@tedecker3792]

I worked a deal with the shop I bought the bike from. In subsequent years everyone wanted a header. So I would buy the header if they traded me their new stock pipes. Headers were about $150, and new pipes were $100 each. And you’re right, the stock pipes would rust out in about 2 years.

[@papatorr3669]

Z1 pipes only good for 2 years? My cb750 pipes are good for 20 and no sign of rusting out.

[@Spartansrule118]

@@papatorr3669 how reliable is a CB750? I’m thinking of getting a 1978 CB750K. Any thoughts?

[@Ron52G]

@@papatorr3669 That’s what they made Kerker 4 into 1 headers for.

[@Ron52G]

I road a Honda 500 cb once. Most boring bike I ever road. It would rev like mad, but nothing was really happening. Would take my 1975 900Z1B any day.

[@remonfelix6511]

I just can't get enough of this video! Coming from a 22 year old driving a Suzuki GS550E from 1980 :)

[@1941392]

Maybe you’re boring?

[@jimclarke1108]

I owned the Honda CB750 new back in the day, traded it on the New Z1 900, hard to choose the better looking bike, but the Z1 900 was the better choice, for me

[@toycollector10]

I own a stock '73 Z1 and a '69 CB750 K0 diecast amongst other classic Japanese bikes. Both restored by myself so I actually have an emotional investment in them.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Long may they remain in your stewardship :-) The sandcast K0 is worth a fair bit now and will only keep climbing. Nice!

[@Sincity4me]

I have a 1975 Z1 sitting in my garage right now that I've been meaning to restore but just haven't done it yet. Reason being it is hard to find anyone that knows how to work on the motor of the classic bikes such as this one. I've logged many miles on it and it is a pure joy to ride. Leaving it sitting for 3 years without proper storage has cost me dearly. Would love to hear the roar of those 4 cylinders again.

[@alansmilealot]

Jim M. Can u upload a video of it? Good luck as well, it deserves to be reborn

[@tanktankerson1042]

Would love to have both of them, thanks for taking the time to share this video with us. Brings back a lot of memories of my youth.

[@Charon58]

The CB-750 came out in 1969 and while the Z-1 was "introduced" in 1972, you couldn't really buy one until 1973, 4 years after the Honda. That isn't "a whisker" ahead as the video describes. Honda crushed the industry with the release of the CB-750. The Honda was a better all around bike, even though the Kawasaki had been able to use the bike as a template for the Z-1. Honda probably could have just bored and stroked the CB and competed directly on performance with the air cooled Z-1. Instead they developed the GL-1000, water cooled, triple disk wonder, and developed the twin cam air-cooled series that eventually displaced 1100 cc. The Z-1 was not a better bike but, because we're talking American riders, faster was the deal. Kawasaki actually detuned the H-2 so the Z-1 would have a faster quarter mile time and Kawasaki knew that the 2 strokes were on the way out. As for styling, at the time all the young men liked the flared tail piece of the Z-1 but the Honda is a timeless classic and has aged way better.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Kawasaki was ready to release launch their 750 well before 1972. It took them a while to lick their wounds and properly develop the new project 'New York Steak'.

[@sarobinson56]

I owned a 76 CB750 Four, same color. My buddy had a blue one. On the freeway, at 70 MPH together those motors would produce a rhythmic hum that was amazing to hear and feel. So cool....later, I upgraded to an 82 Kawasaki LTD1000, and that was an astoundingly sweet machine, the only bike I ever owned that could scare me everytime I rode it. Still, the CB750 had a power train that made you feel like you were superman.

[@blindfredy6128]

I've had a lot of bikes over the last 50 years, including Harleys, Hondas, Suzukis, Yamahas and Kawasakis. A BSA 2 Bridgstones, Honda CBX 6 cylinder. At present I have a 96 Sportster 1200S and a CBR Super Blackbird 1100xx BUT I still drool over these bikes.

[@itsshalevfromtaxidashcamer9390]

I love old Japanese motorcycles!

[@jgibson111]

My first introduction to a CB750 was through the sound of one whizzing by in 1969. Even as a kid I was mesmorized by the sound. My dad was a European auto mechanic and what I heard was more Ferrari than motorcycle. When I was older and had the money I bought a like new 1973 K3 750 and I was the coolest kid on the block....until the next kid showed up on a Z1 900! A few years later I got one of those. Cool kid on the block again...till the Suzuki GS 1000 showed up! Then I got some of those and worked my way to the drag strip. Did well there but none ever had the soul of my Honda or Kawasaki.

[@cedricletourneur5980]

J'ai vu une CB 750 Four et ENTENDU ce son UNIQUE pour la 1 ère fois en 1972... à 10 ans. Aujourd'hui encore, ce son est pour moi resté incomparable et inégalable. En attendant le jour béni où je possèderai enfin une "4 pattes", j'ai même trafiqué les lignes d'échappement de ma T120 afin de lui donner un son approchant celui de la Honda... pour toujours la moto de mon cœur.

[@BamaRider]

In 1974 my father owned a 1974 CB 750 K4, and I was riding a 1973 350 Four, looking to upgrade. I was 19 years old. My brother bought a 1974 Z1, that at the time I refused to believe could be better than the Honda. After riding the 2 bikes, I had to accept the truth. The Z1 was better than the CB by any metric. Faster, stopped better, handled better (although I wouldn't call either bike a good handling machine). It decimated the Honda in roll on contests. I wish I had each bike in my collection.

[@angargoy7181]

When Venezuela was a rich country in the 70s in the city of Caracas was one of the best-selling bikes at that time I had a Honda 750cc motorcycle and sold it to buy the Kawasaki 900cc was a very fast motorcycle for its time I I put an exhaust pipe 4 en1 was very beautiful the sound the problem of this motorcycle Kawasaki was his engine was very delicate for five years gave me many problems with the engine after I sold it and I bought a Ducati 900cc ss that also had engine problems In those days the engines of these bikes were not like those of today. At this moment I live in Spain and I have a Yamaha Facer fz6 that has 98 hp and weighs very little now I am 66 years old and I still enjoy motorcycles after many years. Greetings to all

[@protectorh9167]

I bought a cb750 with a rickman fairing 2 months ago, the bike is built in the 70's and still in his original color thats mean it is very blabla look here; www.blauweplaat.nl/motor/honda-cb750-k6-1976-caferacer-uit-de-70s/ And very easy to drive I am back in the 70's 😁😍😀, the owner before me had this bike for 40 years in posession and had to sold it sadely because of his age. So enjoy when you still can.

[@kramrollin69]

@@protectorh9167 Mien Got!!, Looks like something out of the first Mad Max....:).

[@ramishrambarran3998]

I live in Trinidad, West Indies. I visited Caracas in 1976 for the first time. I could not believe the amount of motorcycles on the streets ! In those days there were all makes of motorcycles sold there. Alas, Venezuelans found out quite recently that "socialismo no funciana". There are now a handful of cheap Chinese clones !

[@freeconfederate]

Rode a 1972 Honda 750 every day for two years. I loved it! Sold it for the same price I had paid for it two years earlier! That says alot about the value and appeal.

[@amateurastronaut5006]

Should have never sold it. They are only going up in value now. Well provided that it's as stock as possible.

[@milojanis4901]

2 of the greatest bikes made in the 20th century. I worked at a Honda shop when the Z1 was introduced. Yes, it was bigger and faster than the CB 750. BUT-The 1969 and 1970 Honda Four bikes were both pretty close to the Z1 in the 1/4 mile. A friend had a 1970 K0 that ran in the 12s, 12.90 to my 1975 Z1s 12.75. The early Hondas were much more powerful that the K2 models, and each year thereafter.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Indeed. We couldn't agree more. You're also right that despite the difference in displacement, they were pretty evenly matched on the road.

[@heraghanessian7017]

My first bike was a 1979 GS 750. Loved it

[@imrebakos5576]

The 79 Suzuki dual overhead cam was so much more smoother than the single cam Honda 750

[@TerryPorterElectronics]

I owned both bikes and this article is very accurate, the Honda was very nicely made, but a very heavy slug. A lot of kids were killed on them because they took ages to wind up and ages to stop. Both bikes had terrible handling and suspension, but the Z1 had immense horsepower and torque which utterly murdered the Honda. I used to easily blow the CB750 into the weeds with my Kawasaki 500 Mach 3, then later I annihilated them with my Z1B. I always think of the original CB750 as a old geriatric English gentleman, so polite and distinguished, and so slow with his walking cane ;-) I love Honda tho, and have owned several, including the one in my garage right now, a 1994 CBR900RR which I've owned for the last 20 years. It's definitely not slow. Now I'm the one getting geriatric, ain't life grand!

[@Bo_Bo_the_KLoWN]

I own the zephyr 750 tribute bike kawa came out with in the early 90s and I love it better than my 2018 z900

[@BrightsideMedia]

That's a cool bike!

[@timrogers2045]

Had both of them. Good bikes. Couldn't fault them for their day.

[@bernardmeyre]

Both bikes are breathtakingly beautiful Superb Japanese design. And conception.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Yes they are!

[@heretohear8662]

Love both of these bikes, but that "kawi" is a good looking bike!

[@disyokerr]

I drive a Z900 for first time when I was 16/17 circa 1978,I returned inmidiatly to my friend a Venezuelan Guy,I had like diarrea when that monster start goin down in a curve...to long for my short experience .Even back then I had tryed GT 750 Suzuki and CB 750 and RD400 .Any of those scared me.GT was more agresive than the Z but was not that long and big...Lot of respect for Z 900 .years later I treated Z1000 almost the same bike little smoother and faster . probably I was older and experienced.Who knows.I just wanted to share that memories. Thanks

[@delaguiar]

The z1 has the better looks but the cb 750 is the better bike overall.

[@glengerdes2447]

I was so glad to be there when they both were released. Never forgot the first time I rode both.😃

[@davemoore5842]

Bought a late '73 (titled '74) Z1 900 brand new for $2,300 and change . Probably more bike than my inexperienced 19 yr. old ass needed - what a great learning curve though ! Rode that thing through snow , rain , sleet and around the Great Lakes , to Florida and across Texas wide open , to California . Had later bikes ('76 Kaw 750 and '82 Kaw 1000 shaftdrive) and while they were good , nothing like that first love ! :) :)

[@MrPepper312]

Same here bought mine at 20 yrs old in "73" and I weighed about 130 lbs. The dealer watched as I got on to ride off. Probably thought I was gonna drop it. My previous bike was Honda CB 350. Man that was a step up. Will never forget that feeling.

[@LinuxGalore]

it is a shame Kawasaki doesn't make a retro naked 4 cylinder anymore. I notice Honda is making the CB1100 in a retro design now.

[@RandomVideos11100]

heard they are bringing a z900rs in a retro design, along with a triple h1 retro in 2018.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Richard Neal Mate last year i bought a 2016 z1000 and i love her! My gf is not happy....

[@nolascopereira5519]

Honda Cb 1100 RS or EX OR Kawasaki z 900 RS

[@robbalinski1606]

Kawasaki hit it out of the park with the new z900rs, best looking retro bike made in the last 30 years

[@tanktankerson1042]

I agree, I am over only being able to purchase an inline 4 on a Tupperware Torpedo. Nothing beats the power and grace of these earlier bikes!

[@iodineclip]

need more retro designs with modern tech, need more 4 cylinder screamers.

[@MrJesus-jp1zv]

The new retro z900 is awesome

[@quomofo1]

The Honda CB1100EX is a great modern retro.

[@SergeyPRKL]

You don't need anything else than Z900RS and CB1100EX :)

[@mirandabri834]

After breaking the v4 crankcase apart, the ONLY thing screaming is MY BACK!!

[@disyokerr]

@@SergeyPRKL CBF 1000 or 1100 1981 my love

[@rumo201]

Kawasaki 900 one of the best looking bikes ever! Love it much

[@briansilver6196]

Totally agree

[@44357514]

I'd love to buy either one of these bikes. My First bike back in 1980 was an Orange 1971 Honda CB750-Four. A few years later I purchased a Black 1981 Kawasaki 1000-LTD. Both Bikes were awesome. One of the things that were great about these bikes is that they had the "Standard" style foot peg relationship to your feet and not the fully rearward foot peg position like the modern "Crotch-Rocket" style bikes. The Kawasaki might have been a bit faster, but the Honda was a more Stable Ride.

[@txrick4879]

44357514 Wow i had the same bikes.Thank god i sold them to my younger brother and get to ride them now and then.Tried to buy the Z back but he wont sell.Well now i have a bike he wants and might swing a deal.

[@The123ewq456]

did you guys ever get post cards from a guy or two in California ? He was offering an amount of cash offer on anyone with a Z1 straight frame. name i recall was Fallsberg or similar?

[@The123ewq456]

I got the first one around 1995 . I had one registered . And the last one around 2005. and 4 or 5 postcards all total.

[@dualdanman816]

Man!! I miss my 73 Z1 900 I remember cruising to southaven Michigan,just riding up and down the coast line with my girlfriend on my fatman seat fun days 🤙😷,God bless you for the video 👍🤩

[@BrightsideMedia]

Thank you so much :-) Glad we've been able to bring back some good memories for you.

[@LesWG5]

I'd love either one of these bikes but as a former S3 400 triple owner I'd have to go for the Z1😎

[@davidmacphee3549]

I am fascinated by the '72 S2 350 red. That's what I wanted as a novice. "Oh, We won't have those, for another 4 weeks. ""Okay, Can I have the 500? Was that Guy doing an upsell? Bastard!

[@JETZcorp]

As a CURRENT owner of an S3 400 triple, I'd also definitely take the Z1 out of these two. But if we're honest, I'd do an H2 before either!

[@txrick4879]

Honda 750 the bike that changed every thing.

[@ericgeorge5483]

No, the Vincent Black Shadow did that.

[@Farweasel]

Misses the point Greig .......... Vincent showed what was *possible* with vision. 'Tho you could argue Brough paved that way for Vincent. But that doesn't in any way detract from what Honda (and to be fair Kawasaki given they were neck & neck with Honda to launch a 750-4) achieved. It was a game changer.

[@dannyruble5488]

Farweasel unless l miscomprehended what you wrote, it seems that you’re agreeing with the original post that the Honda changed everything... You’ve said it was a game changer... the Vincent hardly was in the game. Just because it was earlier doesn’t mean that it changed much of anything. Honda came out with the 750, and at the time, thousands of people, riders, dreamers and those in the industry witnessed, or were jaw dropping. There were a few bikes before the Honda that had a few details that the 750 sprung on the world all together in one incredible machine. Disc brake, four cylinders, overhead cam, four carburetors, four pipes, etc etcetera... NO ONE had done that. The way that people were buy the mini Ferrari engine sounding by the thousands and how it became ubiquitous as the VW bug , and was The genesis of the UJM, is proof that it is, and was the machine that changed everything... Just as op said. That is fact. Kinda cute that you might think of the Vincent being even of considered of such an honor that the Honda alone deserves. Sorry, the case is closed.

[@mickbrown8249]

CB 750 Honda even standard was better handling ,esp high speed corners two up ..SAfrica 75/77 ...

[@marvinsamples8236]

Actually one could argue that the little honda 50 was real what changed everything, before it you road a harley or an indain, or a British bike, and in general men road them, the little honda opened up the door for the average joe to be on a motercycle, it was little, cheap easy and forgiving, with out that little bike there would be no honda 750 ,

[@robertyoung73]

Bikes from my era, really like your videos, cheers.

[@scrumpymanjack]

I haven't ridden either of them but, on pure looks, I'd go with the Honda every day of the week.

[@Tyrone1sg3y]

I ride a CB750. It owns the road. Makes a beautiful rumbling growl, and is a darn sight cooler than I’ll ever be.

[@BrightsideMedia]

They're awesome bikes and still really look the part today. Arguably even cooler than they were back in the day.

[@oldman9164]

i had a CB 750 ,bought it in 73 new ,built it twice . 1st as an 811 2nd was 836 both times it was crazy fast. rode it across country..only chain lube and gas. how can you beat that ? . liked the Z but never bought one . the built honda was faster and i think more reliable . just my opinion .

[@llewvirtue861]

One is not better than the other, I have owned them all, they were all great for theire time

[@EvilTwin123]

Currently own the 93 CB750 with 4 /1 exhaust for throatier sound and geared for punch off the line. The cruiser positioning with sport bike power is a great combination. Gotta Love a bike If you can cruise 85 in 5th gear with throttle to accelerate. But if you were to drop it to 4th gear and twist the throttle, that's when you might hear the throat-clearing sound of that single exhaust pipe whir a high pitch banchee cry of acceleration.

[@amateurastronaut5006]

I have a 78 750k. Might go with a 4 into 1 but I don't wanna lose that stock look. If I wanna go faster I have a 78 Yamaha xs1100 race bike that's built to the hilt. It'll do the quarter in 10 seconds.

[@Titan500J]

I've ridden then both and I've got a soft spot for both. The Kawasaki is just more in a good way. While the Honda is sophisticated. If you ever get the chance to ride the Honda just listen to it idle then blip the throttle. It sounds like a Farrari. What I remember from a article in the 1969 Cycle magazine (I think) road the bike down on Sunset Blvd and revved the engine, it almost stopped traffic. You see there was only single and twin engine bikes at the time. Nobody had heard that sound before. Thanks

[@BrightsideMedia]

Check out our latest film about the BMW R90S - a bike that went to the moon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZWXZ6efabadZ5o

[@JD1976]

Do a video on the 70s kawasaki cafe style KZ1000 and z1 bikes. I notice most american kz bikes are not like the ones i seen in japan. In japan the z1 had a fairing and straight handlebars. They also had the foot pegs about 12 inches behind the normal foot peg location, much like a modern zx bike. The bikes on mad max 1979 resembled them alot.

[@SergeyPRKL]

Im totally Hondaguy. Except: Z1, ZRX1200R (green one) and the new Z900RS. They just nailed it. Z1 lines are so great.

[@BrightsideMedia]

It's a pretty striking bike :-)

[@jurgentreue1200]

I never owned a CB750/4 but I did own a Z1. I did have a CB500/4 though, my first big bike. Looking back, I loved the Honda more than the Kawasaki.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Bigger isn't always better, it's all down to the character. The 500 was a really great bike too.

[@robertplant55]

Honda CB 750 Four Urknall des Jahrhunderts - Ja, bereits 1969 kam das Kultmotorrad auf die Welt. Damals, als die Verkaufszahlen von Motorrädern alles andere als rosig waren, weil jeder lieber ein Auto fahren wollte. BMW dachte sogar daran, die Zweiradproduktion komplett einzustellen. Zu dieser Zeit begeisterte Honda schon auf den Rennstrecken der Welt und mit diversen Serienmotorrädern. Vorgestellt wurde die CB 750 Four im Jahr 1968. Mit Details, die aufhorchen ließen: Vierzylinder-Motor, 67 PS, 736 Kubik, Scheibenbremse und ein Merkmal, dass bis heute noch alle Motorradfahrer begeistert: die 4 in 4 Auspuffanlage.Die ersten Modelle der CB 750 Four hatten einen Motor, dessen Gehäuse im Sandgussverfahren hergestellt wurde. Dies sind heute die am meisten gesuchten und auch teuersten Modelle der Baureihe. Für eine Sandguss werden schon mal Preise von mehr als 40.000 Euro aufgerufen, je nach Zustand und Originalität auch weit darüber.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Wir hätten es selber nich besser sagen können. Wir haben auch einen neueren Film über die CB750 gedreht: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npTHhpqLqptpmM0&t

[@ericynot]

I've owned a lot of different makes and models of motorcycles over the years, but the Z1 I bought in 1974 remains my favorite. Sure wish I still had it. I sold it ten years later to a guy who traveled the country buying up old Z1's to sell back to Japanese buyers -- it seems that in the beginning all the Z1's were shipped to the U.S., so, due to their rarity in Japan, had become expensive collectors items there.

[@MrCaptcash]

ericynot t

[@Sincity4me]

Too bad I didn't hear of the guy buying them up. I've still got my 75 although it would have been difficult parting with it back when it was running.

[@hugq14]

ericynot They weren’t all shipped to the US!! Europe got a big chunk of them. I bought 3 of them in the early 80’s and I still have them!

[@ajax700]

@@hugq14 Please make a video.

[@mr1bienvenu1]

I'd love to have both those bikes.

[@winkeemanley1820]

I had a 1970 K0 Honda 750 and a 1978 Kawasaki Z1000. Both good reliable machines. Regret selling them.

[@michaelpuntillo3500]

Both motorcycles are absolute beasts. Gorgeous bikes. Both are beautiful.

[@sesquashtwo]

Just seeing these bikes being ridden, brings up the fact that the late 60's the full 70's were the best years to live as a bike rider. For so many reasons other than merely the models available. The culture was so much different from today. The 'all' of it.

[@BrightsideMedia]

No doubt, there was much more variety in terms of concepts. You had air and water cooled two-strokes, big fours, rotaries, six cylinder superbikes, you name it!

[@blipco5]

Kawasaki was late to the party. The same is true of the 2017 z900. But as was true of the Z1 and the new z900...they were worth the wait.

[@samrit123in]

*Z900rs

[@winkeemanley1820]

For the Z900RS to be a true retro like the Z1, it must have a 4 into 4 exhaust system.

[@simonodell2103]

My 2 favourite classic bikes of all time

[@mikeo7221]

I love both, but the Z1 speaks to me.

[@alanrix5344]

Had a new z900 and put 4 into 1 pipes on it .Absolutely awesome sound

[@100inthewind]

I had that Z1. Great bike. Fun and fast. But handling was dangerous. It would wobble and do scary things. People tried changing swing arm bushings and things like that. But it went straight pretty good. So I did 4 into 1 exhaust and rejetting carbs. Ended up going to Harley. Still ride my Harleys but have Busa too!

[@BrightsideMedia]

It does go straight well, that's for sure. Handling isn't as bad as it's made out to be, but obviously can't be compared with more modern machinery.

[@sangpenikam7882]

Bring back the good old days.. Great teacher onizuka bike.. 😂

[@dancooper3806]

Kawasaki's engineering department was having a picnic on the side of the road when a CB750 blew by them. Holy sh!t Ralph, did you see that ? Those basdirds, were gonna get em for this. Both bikes are great.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Hahaha, that's probably what happened :-D

[@Reduxalicious]

That's actually not far from the Truth, Kawasaki was weeks away from releasing their own 750 when Honda beat them to the punch, Thus back to the drawing board and the start of New York Steak Project for the Z1.

[@hareshdaryanani5726]

Watching this video and the two legendary bikes is pure bliss ❤ Kawasaki & Honda changed men's riding to pure joy 😹

[@cynthiaayers7696]

My husband had his 1971 750e model built to an 836cc with a three-quarter race cam. These could be built to a 1000cc. He had it on a Denver chopper frame. Could do 135 mph. You could only do it to the 750e because the cases & cylinders walls were thicker. Later models could not be bored out.

[@robertbagley9199]

Thanks for a brilliant video Brightside Media, two gorgeous excamples of motorcycling icons, gotta love the sound of that Z1 when you open it up, no need for after market pipes! Is there a video showing what else is in that building??

[@BrightsideMedia]

Glad you enjoyed it :-) Check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX2Vdp2mj6l-ic0

[@billh4301]

Both great motorcycles! As a mechanic back in the day and working on both the Kaw was much easier for major work, but Honda easier to tune. Even though the Honda was smaller engine and one cam you had to pull the motor to do top end work/gasket leaks etc. Top end can be pulled in frame on the Z1. When Honda went to twin cam 750 it still required engine pull for top end.

[@pdark3930]

Great video and made me realise even more that I made the right decision because I just bought 2020 z900rs

[@BrightsideMedia]

That is one of the better retro reissues, agreed. Especially around the rear end, you'd be forgiven for squinting and thinking it was a Z1 :-)

[@michaelpuntillo3500]

I would choose one of these over a Harley Davidson or Indian any old day of the week. Japanese motorcycles are the best! 💪🇯🇵💪

[@svendura1]

Great work! Thank you, guys for this stunning video clip. I love the sound of the Z900, Frankenstein's daugther :-)

[@winkeemanley1820]

Honda CB750 1969 the first King, Kawasaki Z1 900 1973 the second King. I had a 1970 Honda CB 750 and a 1978 Kawasaki Z1000 Great bikes from these manufacturers.

[@BrightsideMedia]

That's a good way of putting it, actually :-)

[@winkeemanley1820]

@@BrightsideMedia Thank you. Looking at these machines that's in the video , they have different size engines and are 4 years apart concerning manufacturing dates. I should have kept my Honda & Kawasaki. No use crying over spilt milk now. Made bad decisions during my youth. GRRRRR !!!!!!!!!

[@BrightsideMedia]

Don't worry about it - everyone's got a story like that when it comes to bikes, cars or houses

[@nimbly1693]

I love those 4 into 4 pipes.

[@dr.detroit1514]

The '91 Honda 750 Nighthawk was the best all purpose motorcycle I ever owned. 100% reliable until I sold it in 2016 with 50K miles. Comfortable for longer rides with a change to better rear shocks, a plexifairing, and velour covering on the seat. Most powerful bike I owned was an '85 Suz 1200 Madura. I was no racer, but I read a story once of a guy who tuned his up, some minor mods, and would park it outside of Yamaha shops looking for V-Max's to race, with a $100 bill taped to the handlebar. Most fun bike I had was a '74 Kaw H2. After my brother got it, he tuned it up, did some other minor mods to the exhaust and such, and could ride it much better than I could. A screaming, smoking, raging, radical handful, it could beat most other relatively stock bikes of the time. A heavily modified Triumph Trident beat it. It would take a stock Z1 off the line and through the gears, but the Z would slowly catch up and walk away. He beat me on my next bike, a '75 Suz GT750, no sweat at all. My best trail bike, a Yamaha '90 TW200 Trailway. No speed demon, but dead reliable, comfortable, and would go through anything. My best touring bike, an '83 Honda Aspencade. Magnificent on the highway, ponderous off the freeway.

[@jimclarke1108]

Great looking bikes, both of them

[@begood2050]

i like both kawasaki & Honda bikes.. But i Prefer always HONDA i Love its Making & Finishing.❤️Recently i bought HONDA CB350 in India .. thanks for the wonderful video to know about these two..

[@BrightsideMedia]

Good choice :-)

[@begood2050]

@@BrightsideMedia thanks buddy.. ur efforts and interest in classic bikes really 👌 amazing..

[@BrightsideMedia]

Thanks :-) Glad you like the channel. Feel free to subscribe if you like.

[@begood2050]

@@BrightsideMedia ok.. Subscribed .. now 😊

[@scottmatzeder9162]

in december of 18 i inherited a 76 kz900, a survivor of the ef5 tornado that tore up OKC. in the process of a partial restoration. Cant wait till its done. engine has been fired(1st attempt after fuel system cleaning and conversion to electronic ignition)...anxiety is tough. I love my 09 Concours 14, but the KZ is my lifelong dream.

[@thai620]

Honda 750 was the first bike I had that went 100mph.....

[@glengerdes2447]

Amen to that brother

[@64fairlane305]

far from beeing true

[@johncrowley5612]

@@64fairlane305 How do you know? He is merely stating that the previous bikes he owned were not capable of 100 mph. Shut up.

[@Bellathebear777]

I ride that Honda 750 four alonnng time....I agree the Kawasaki was & Still is Beautiful"""💕☮️⚠️🌎

[@BrightsideMedia]

It really is!

[@ultimobile]

ah yes - the sound of the Z1 takes me back - to around 1972 when it was THE new King of the Road - THE Superbike in Australia - a guy I knew bought one, then strangely found God and decided it was not meek to own such an outrageous motorbike - so arranged a buyer in Melbourne and asked me if I would ride it from Brisbane to Melbourne for him - over 1000 miles - I hesitated for half a second and agreed ! My main memory of the two-lane blacktop was coming up behind 6 cars in front of me doing maybe 50mph, pulling out to overtake, winding on the throttle in top gear, and hanging on for dear life as the acceleration threatened to pull my hands off the grips - by the time I passed the sixth car in front the speedo would be reading 100mph. All I paid for was the fuel - for the thrill of a lifetime - oh, except for the speeding ticket when I was doing 120mph, saw the radar trap, and braked in time to get a ticket for 80mph ...

[@rob.1963]

I still think that the Z1 is the best looking bike ever made.

[@BlownHeadGasket]

Oh definitely, the new one is nice but the liquid cooled engine just ruins it a bit for me, has to be the classic air cooled

[@heriminakk]

Agree

[@SPfg3388]

I knew both these bikes very well. I owned a 72 h2 750. It would easily chew up and spit out out the honda's but the 900 was a different story. Very fast, predictable and safe. They always gave me a run for my money.

[@glengerdes2447]

Loved my cb900f. Sorry I sold it . Damn good bike.

[@mohuckmedshishkeblob1712]

I purchased one Late 73 for about $1900 Australian, My mate had a K2 CB750 we were on the Sydney to Newcastle expressway he was flat out at about 125 MPH I came up beside him in 4th then clicked 5th and left him behind, he was not happy Har Har I was, he purchased a Z1 some time later :) Good times the 70's.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Lucky man. We're actually working on a new film about the Z1. It's out next week.

[@gm16v149]

I remember when the Honda CB 750 first came out, it blew everyone’s mind. I’ve got a Z900RS now, it’s far superior to the original Z1 in every way, it even looks a lot better in my opinion, but there are a lot of electronics on it. Really great bike to ride, but you have to wonder what if even a small part of the electronics failed.

[@kwakaj14]

Beautiful.

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

had half a dozen different CB's in my time but I always wanted the Z1 900. It still makes me feel the same all the years later. (BTW: the testing of the prototype in the States was called Project New York Streak, not Steak!!)

[@BrightsideMedia]

According to Yoji Hamawaki, former Chairman of Kawasaki, the reason it was called 'New York Steak' (not streak, as you say) was that they knew that in the States, the best thing on the menu in a restaurant was New York Steak. And that's what they wanted to create: the best motorcycle - the only choice on the menu.

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

@@BrightsideMedia well I'll be jiggered! Always thought it was Streak!

[@BrightsideMedia]

I could see why, as that would actually make more sense in some ways.

[@Biggles-gm6tm]

@@BrightsideMedia I guess so, I need to get used to the steak idea. I firmly think that the Z1 900 is still the best looking bike ever produced. Still fills me with longing when I see one.

[@salvatorelodico5956]

Moto bellissime piene di fascino cromature , moto che negli anni 70 anno fatto sognare ed impazzire i giovani di allora e che comunque anche oggi vedendo qualche esemplare da subito all'occhio x la sua particolarità estetica

[@BrightsideMedia]

Grazie :-)

[@rohithsasi5925]

Really good video, please upload more..waiting for new

[@dirkrieger8783]

i`m a Honda man, always have been and always will be....but god damn that Z1 sounds SWEET!!!!

[@BrightsideMedia]

It does, doesn't it? :-) The CB750 does give it a run for its money though.

[@glen6945]

BOTH GREAT BIKES

[@geodez2959]

I have an 82 1100 Kawasaki kz. And it's a rocket!!!

[@robertkabatoff817]

I would have drooled if I owned either one of them😁😁😁😁

[@georgeharrod7805]

Honda's Beatles to Kawasaki's Rolling Stones.

[@thejerseyj9422]

Oh how I remember these two ! There was an M C clubhouse down the street from where I worked and these guys were into mainly Japanese bikes. Jones street (where the clubhouse was situated) was in an industrial area of Newark and was about a half a mile long straightaway stoplight to stoplight. Needless to say, perfect for drag racing. I'll never forget sitting behind a Honda 750 and a Kawasaki 900 at a stoplight on Jones st. And when it turned green, BAM they were gone ! PS, I miss the 70's and the bikes then.

[@BrightsideMedia]

Great story! I reckon the Z1 might have had the CB in that race, but who knows for sure? ;-)

[@kencohagen4967]

Suzuki had one as well. Any one of them would have been a great ride!

[@greyarea3804]

I would like to see the 900 up against the H2 of the same years. I felt the H2 was a bit quicker than the 900 having own both

[@oldman9164]

there was a tuner in calif named shoemacker ...prolly spelled wrong..if he got his hands on a K2 it would keep up other wise might as well leave it at home the big 900s and built hondas with a set of kerkers just pulled away . the rock store in the canyons every sunday was the place . i miss it still .

[@freesoul85vis]

beautiful video!!

[@alexnano4146]

That z1 looks sexy for such an old bike. I will get em in my 93 750 nighthawk 😇 but that z1 sounds great.

[@allenhuckleberry9031]

I had the k 750four..my buddy had the z1 900 ...i would drop from 4th to 3rd and take off fast...he would pull back on the z1 and stay side to side with me then smile at me dump the throttle.. and leave me in the dust....but I loved the 750.even though....I rode the z1 a few times was I thrill to say the least thought the honda handled better, it had 16 inch rear wheel,rear shocks were 2 inches lower,front tubes lowered 11/2" sat low,blue and chrome everywhere .....at 59 I want another.

[@HOVREDDY]

Picked up my first bike just after turning 21 years old... restored to close original first then learned to ride after; ‘75 CB360T. Selling the ‘ol girl and picking up a ‘75 CB750K5 this weekend. Now I’m 23. Time to see what all the fuss is about.

[@glen6945]

THANK GOODNESS FOR DISC BRAKES

[@fingerlakesdiet560]

Great video great editing! Cheers from the Finger Lakes!

[@BrightsideMedia]

Thank you very much!

[@dylanyates6331]

But damn does the Z1 sound good!

[@julian7615]

indeed!

[@Burn269]

The growl starts at 3500 rpm and winds quickly.

[@joebutlersnr7017]

The Honda was my first " big " bike , I had the sports version the cb750 f1 , the thing I remember most about it wasn't its speed but its low speed stability , you could roll up to a junction very slowly and stop and sit there for a second or two and wait to see which way the bike leaned before putting a foot down this was time and time again , if it was clear , you could stop then go with no foot down , I've had many bikes since but non that was as stable as the Honda.

[@BrightsideMedia]

That's a big part of the appeal - the sheer usability and the knowledge that you could also go really fast if you wanted to

[@billh.1940]

Hi Joe, I had a 1980 Honda 750f. Silver bike, not many f around, it was a new design and engine, handled like nothing else, great low speed, but better just racing! It could out run and out handle kz1, Norton, great little known bike, always confused with 750k and earlier models!

[@buddhastaxi666]

rode a mates Dunstall with a 750 honda motor....handled like a dream. That was 1975. Now riding a zx14r. In my mind a retro bike must have low down grunt. A 4 cylinder really pushes the power into the back wheel like the heavy hand of jeohovah

[@danmoore3224]

Honda was going to release the CB K1 750 in 1971! But Kawasaki gave us the Tire smoking fire breathing dragon H1 500 from Japan in 1969 forcing Honda to do an early release calling it the Pree K model in 1970 & in 1971 we saw the H2 750 triple. 1974 the Z1 900 double overhead cams with shim cups & no tappets to constantly adjust & a 9,000 r.p.m. redline, setting the standard for all Japan's super bikes!

[@ewoe21]

Let The Good Time’s Roll

[@BrightsideMedia]

Absolutely!