1972 WAS NOT ROSE-TINTED. THE
Watergate scandal hit President Nixon leading to his resignation, we had constant headlines of car bombs and murders with the Northern Ireland conflict, OPEC got together to push oil prices up, and American troops finally left Vietnam. All in all, we’ve had better years.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki Motorcycles was trying to build its brand in the USA. Honda had 51% of the market share at that time; it had seen the power of the American sales market and got over there early with its smaller bikes, then the CB450, double-overhead cam twin in 1967. By contrast, in 1972 Kawasaki’s share was just 15%.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries had to make money after the war. Motorcycles were just a small part of this huge industrial company, with submarines, shipbuilding and even the Bullet train showing just how diverse its products were. But people didn’t know who it was; they needed an identity which would only come from products for people, hence motorcycles. Japan also needed to bring in money, just like
