Kawasaki Z 1000 Motorcycles, page #22

Moto blog

Kawasaki Issues Recall on Unauthorized Concours 14 Police Models

Kawasaki announced a recall on 44 2012-2013 Concours 14 potentially faulty motorcycles allegedly converted for police use without the manufacturer’s consent. Back in early 2012, Kawasaki announced a recall on 278 2009-2012 Concours 14 police motorcycles because the add-on equipment installed by Idaho-based Beaudry Motors suffered electrical problems. According to the recall documents, the electrical system installed by Beaudry could overload the charging circuit between the regulator and the two batteries and eventually blow the main fuse.

Öhlins USA Cirkus of Speed Is Saturday, September 28

Rain or shine, the second annual Öhlins USA Cirkus of Speed is Saturday, September 28, 10:00am to 3:00pm, in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Need reasons to come? First of all it’s free, including “Police Rodeo” star Ben Wolfe, of Lock & Lean, performing precision motorcycle riding.

Tested: Drift Ghost HD onboard lap

We met up with Adam Extance motocross champ and son of five time Dakar finisher Mick Extance, whilst on one of their Kawasaki Motocross Experience days in Mansfield. Adam took the Ghost for a lap chasing Bridgestone sponsored 15 year old Rob Yates, a motocross rising star for 2014. Full camera review to follow.

2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Spied in Norway

Spy photographers have captured images in Norway from a video shoot for what appears to be an updated Kawasaki Ninja 1000. The images show two riders on an updated Ninja 1000 (or Z1000SX, as the bike is known in Europe). The saddlebags indicate this is the Z1000SX Touring variant offered in Europe, but the rest of the motorcycle is otherwise similar to the Ninja 1000 (which, by and by, won our 2011 Gentleman Sportbike Shootout over the Suzuki GSX1250FA and Yamaha FZ1.) The new Ninja 1000 doesn’t look much different from the 2013 model, apart from the new paint job.

Kawasaki Reports Q1 2013-2014 Sales Results

Kawasaki reported net sales of 67.4 billion yen (US$686.5 million) from its Motorcycle and Engine division for the first quarter ended June 30, 2013. That represents a 26.2% increase from the net sales of 53.4 billion yen reported in the same period of 2012. According to Kawasaki’s first quarter report, the Motorcycle and Engine division (which includes Jet Skis, ATVs and UTVs) saw sales of 127,000 units over the quarter, up from 115,000 units in the same period last year.

Kawasaki Entering Chinese Market

Kawasaki announced the start of operations in the world’s largest motorcycle market, China. The company actually established its new subsidiary, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Management (Shanghai), in April but the subsidiary will begin importing and selling motorcycles Aug. 18.

2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Recalled for Engine Stalling Issues

Transport Canada has announced a recall for the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 because of a risk of the engine stalling during deceleration. No recall has yet been posted for the U.S. though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, though members of the KawasakiNinja300 forum report they received letters from Kawasaki Motor Corps.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days A Rousing Success

AMA members and motorcyclists from across the country celebrated the people, machines and sport of motorcycling at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, over the July 19-21 weekend. The annual gathering of tens of thousands of motorcycling enthusiasts participated in vintage racing, took in numerous bike shows, met their motorcycling heroes, purchased vintage parts and motorcycles in the massive swap meet, spent time with old friends, and met new ones, all at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The AMA and the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, extend their appreciation to AMA members, racers, enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, fans, clubs, companies and others who supported the three-day celebration of motorcycling’s history and heroes.

2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Recalled for ABS Modulator Issue

As we expected, a manufacturing error for a Nissin anti-lock brake modulator has led to a recall in the U.S. for the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300. (UPDATE: Transport Canada has also issued a recall for 745 units, in addition to the 1,083 units recalled in the U.S.) Kawasaki had already issued a recall in Japan for ABS-equipped versions of the 2013 Ninja 250, so it was no surprise that the 300, which uses nearly all of the same parts, would fall victim to the recall as well.

Nissin ABS Modulator Recall Explained in NHTSA Documents

Earlier this month, we published news about an issue with certain Nissin anti-lock brake system modulators that have been connected to recalls in Canada and Japan from Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki, with the possibility of it expanding to further models and manufacturers using the same component. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has now released documents from American Honda’s recall of ABS-equipped CTX700 and CTX700N that shed some more light into the issue. According to the documentation, a manufacturing error may have resulted in Nissin ABS modulators being contaminated with aluminum chips.