The Z1 story is one I never paid much attention to over the years. I found a reference to the NY Steak project, as Kawasaki apparently called it, on Reddit this afternoon and wondered if this poster was telling the truth. I can't find any pictures to verify his story, but there are many accounts out there about Kawasaki's plan to release a 750 four cylinder probably along the same timeline as Honda but they were beaten to the punch so they decided to up the engine size. (I later outran many of them with my first CBX, the most memorable of which was on I-4 on my way back from Bike Week one year against a Z1-R with a female passenger on my bike - 3 times in a row, the guy apparently didn't get the most out of his bike)
Here's the picture I found on Reddit.
The story seems to be backed up by a business called Paintworkz, who shows the bike on this page (7th bike down from the top)
http://www.paintworkz.com/customersZ1photos.html
And here are some links to stories about the project that eventually led to the first Z1, but none with any pictures that validate it being painted like a first year CB750
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/kawasaki-z1-new-york-steak-cooks-corner/
https://bikereview.com.au/history-kawasaki-legend-z1-900-new-york-steak/
and the Reddit post that led me down this rabbit hole
https://www.reddit.com/r/HondaCB/comments/10en8q5/my_favourite_honda_cb/
Here's the picture I found on Reddit.
The story seems to be backed up by a business called Paintworkz, who shows the bike on this page (7th bike down from the top)
http://www.paintworkz.com/customersZ1photos.html
And here are some links to stories about the project that eventually led to the first Z1, but none with any pictures that validate it being painted like a first year CB750
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/kawasaki-z1-new-york-steak-cooks-corner/
https://bikereview.com.au/history-kawasaki-legend-z1-900-new-york-steak/
and the Reddit post that led me down this rabbit hole
https://www.reddit.com/r/HondaCB/comments/10en8q5/my_favourite_honda_cb/