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letter C in their frame number identifies these bikes. Models after 1981 were | letter C in their frame number identifies these bikes. Models after 1981 were | ||
known as the KZ1000-P. They were finished in white and fitted out in all the | known as the KZ1000-P. They were finished in white and fitted out in all the | ||
police gear. The popular seventies TV series 'CHIPS' brought them to everybody's | police gear. The popular seventies TV series '[https://motopixel.org/pixel/chips-2 CHIPS]' brought them to everybody's | ||
attention. Quite a few of them have found their way to Europe and there is even | attention. Quite a few of them have found their way to Europe and there is even | ||
an owners club for them, where owners dress up like Californian highway patrol | an owners club for them, where owners dress up like Californian highway patrol | ||
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In 1937, Meguro (merged with Kawasaki in 1963) manufactured 500cc single | In 1937, Meguro (merged with Kawasaki in 1963) manufactured 500cc single | ||
engines, and the engineers who developed this technology moved to Kawasaki. | engines, and the engineers who developed this technology moved to Kawasaki. | ||
These engineers played a major role in developing the 650cc W series | These engineers played a major role in developing the [[Kawasaki W1|650cc W series | ||
motorcycles. | motorcycles]]. | ||
This experience provided Kawasaki with the basic skills to develop four cycle | This experience provided Kawasaki with the basic skills to develop four cycle | ||
engines.In 1967 Kawasaki made a decision to develop a high-performance | engines. In 1967 Kawasaki made a decision to develop a high-performance | ||
motorcycle which would far exceed the 650W1, the largest motorcycles in Japan | motorcycle which would far exceed the 650W1, the largest motorcycles in Japan | ||
that time. | that time. | ||
As the United States was targeted as the main market for these high performance | As the United States was targeted as the main market for these high performance | ||
motorcycles, the development team was sent to the U.S. where they secretly | motorcycles, the development team was sent to the U.S. where they secretly | ||
worked out a plan for the new model. | worked out a plan for the new model.Finally, the displacement of the new model was set at 750cc and a mock-up was | ||
Finally, the displacement of the new model was set at 750cc and a mock-up was | completed in October 1968. However, Honda announced a new 750cc single-over-head-cam (SOHC) motorcycle at | ||
completed in October 1968. | the Tokyo Motor Show held the same year. The Kawasaki management staff realized it | ||
However, Honda announced a new 750cc single-over-head-cam (SOHC) motorcycle at | |||
the | |||
Tokyo Motor Show held the same year. The Kawasaki management staff realized it | |||
was meaningless to come out with a similar model after Honda had already | was meaningless to come out with a similar model after Honda had already | ||
introduced theirs, so all development efforts on Kawasaki's 750cc model were | introduced theirs, so all development efforts on Kawasaki's 750cc model were | ||
stopped. | stopped. | ||
In 1970, the Z1 (development code T103) developing project team was reunited | In 1970, the [[Kawasaki Z1|Z1]] (development code T103) developing project team was reunited | ||
with the best staff in all the fields joining the project. This group repeated | with the best staff in all the fields joining the project. This group repeated | ||
research and experiments to develop a better . | research and experiments to develop a better . |