About kawasaki
Kawasaki motorcycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The Kawasaki Company was founded in 1896 by Shozo Kawasaki as a shipyard meant for building oceangoing steel ships. At the beginning they constructed marine steam turbines, locomotives, freight cars, passenger carriages and bridge girders. In 1918 the Aircraft Department is established and after prolonged research Kawasaki succeeds in building Japan's first metal aircraft. Then came 1949 and they turned towards the motorcycles industry by making engines suited for motorcycles.
Kawasaki Aircraft initially manufactured motorcycles under the Meguro name, having bought out an ailing motorcycle manufacturer called Meguro Manufacturing Co. Ltd with whom they had been in partnership earlier, but later formed Kawasaki Motor Sales. Some early motorcycles display an emblem with "Kawasaki Aircraft" on the fuel tank. Kawasaki motorcycles from 1962 through 1967 used an emblem which can be described as a flag within a wing.
Kawasaki came out with their first bike in 1954, called Meihatsu. This bike had Kawasaki's own KB-5 engine. An improved model of the Meihatsu, called Meihatsu 125 Deluxe, was introduced in 1956.
Kawasaki was producing bikes for a while without much popularity, but technically progressing. Kawasaki started to be noticed as a big player on the motorcycles market due to the release of the 500cc H1 model (also known as Mach III). In 1973 Kawasaki introduced their first superbike, the Z1 which had a 903cc engine.
One of the most notable bikes in Kawasaki history, the GPZ900R came in 1983. This was the first model ever produced by Kawasaki to have a liquid-cooled engine and to reach 250 km/h. A year later they started to sell this bike in the US and they renamed it Ninja, thing which proved to be very benefactor, registering huge sales.
Their first ever motorsports victories were obtained by Dave Simmons in the FIM World Road Racing 125cc Championship. He won the West German and the Isle of Mann TT races and the series championship riding a KR-1. Then came 1981 and Kawasaki won the manufacturer's title in the FIM World Road Racing 250cc Championship, courtesy of A. Mang who was riding the KR250. Kawasaki's most notable win in their motorsports history was the Le mans 24-Hour Race back in 1983. The model which participated in that race was the ZXR-7.
Moto blog
Wed, 17 Oct 2012
The International Motorcycling Federation and the Superbike Racing Commission released a number of amendments to the 2013 World Superbike Championship rulebook including pitstops, fake headlights and a revised starting grid alignment. We’ve already seen the fake headlights with Kawasaki getting a jump on the new regulation earlier this season with headlight decals on Tom Sykes‘ and Loris Baz‘s ZX-10R. Starting in 2013, all superbikes will have fake headlights to resemble their homologated production models.
Tue, 16 Oct 2012
This is ThunderChunky. What do you think to it? It's motorcycle clothing manufacturer, Icon's project, designed to go hand-in-hand with their Icon 1000 clothing collection.
Mon, 15 Oct 2012
The semi-futuristic 1987 film, “RoboCop,” starring actor Peter Weller, told the tale of fatally injured Detroit cop effectively resurrected to life, but in the form of mostly metal, cyborg-like being. RoboCop was the ultimate crime-fighting tool, and the public loved the premise of the movie to the tune of two sequels, lots of merchandising and even a short-lived television series. “RoboCop” has been resurrected again, the film that is, and is currently shooting in Toronto according to the Daily Mail. And as you can see by these images from the Daily Mail, RoboCop is now fighting crime on two wheels.
Thu, 11 Oct 2012
Australian rider Alan Kempster lost his right arm and leg in 1990 when an intoxicated truck driver crashed into his motorcycle. The accident changed Kempster’s life, but what it did not do was dampen his spirit and his love of racing. The determined Kempster rigged a racebike and returned to the track, not only competing against abled riders, but also winning.
Tue, 09 Oct 2012
American John Hopkins announced he is taking a sabbatical from racing for 2013 to recover from a number of significant injuries. Hopkins’ once very promising racing career has been hampered by both a series of bad luck and injury. It seems so long ago that Hopkins finished fourth overall in the 2007 MotoGP Championship with Suzuki.
Tue, 09 Oct 2012
Americans reported 46,667 motorcycle thefts in 2011, a 6% decrease from 49,791 stolen motorcycles in 2010, reports the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Despite the drop in reported thefts, the non-profit organization representing nearly 1100 property and casualty insurance companies says the theft rate still averages out to one motorcycle stolen every 11 minutes in the U.S. The numbers were published in the NICB’s 2011 ForeCAST Report which examined theft reports as well as recoveries.
Tue, 09 Oct 2012
You would think carrying a 30.5 point lead into the final round of the 2012 World Superbike Championship would be a safe enough margin to win the title. Aprilia‘s Max Biaggi made it interesting, inexplicably crashing out of the first race at the finale in Magny-C0urs before scoring a fifth place finish in Race Two to give him a 0.5 point margin over Kawasaki‘s Tom Sykes to win the title. The 358 to 357.5 point difference is the narrowest finish ever in WSBK.
Fri, 05 Oct 2012
Actor Keanu Reeves is getting into the motorcycle business, starting up the Arch Motorcycle Company with Gard Hollinger of L.A. County Choprods. The new company will build motorcycles based on the KR GT-1 prototype pictured above, with production set to begin in 2013.
Thu, 04 Oct 2012
Motorcycle.com would like to announce the latest member of our forum network: KawasakiNinja300.com! The all new KawasakiNinja300.com community is the home of owners and enthusiasts of the new Kawasaki Ninja 300. Share pictures, learn maintenance tips and discuss aftermarket upgrade options with other Ninja 300 fans.
Wed, 03 Oct 2012
As expected, Kawasaki unveiled a new mid-sized model to its Z lineup at the 2012 Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The new 2013 Z800 slots into Kawasaki’s European lineup replacing the Z750 below the Z1000. The Z800 also arrives as Kawasaki celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original Z1.
Kawasaki 04-11 VN2000 VULCAN/CLASSIC LT(1)
Kawasaki 100G4(1)
Kawasaki 1400 CONNIE(1)
Kawasaki 1500(2)
Kawasaki 2000 Classic(1)
Kawasaki 350 S2(1)
Kawasaki 500 Triple Mach 2723(1)
Kawasaki 750 - H2(3)
Kawasaki 750 H2B Mach IV(1)
Kawasaki 750 Spectre(2)
Kawasaki A(3)
Kawasaki A1(1)
Kawasaki A1 Samurai(1)
Kawasaki A7 Avenger(1)
Kawasaki Adventure(2)
Kawasaki All(22)
Kawasaki Ar80A(1)
Kawasaki Avenger(1)
Kawasaki avenger A7(2)
Kawasaki Bobber(2)
Kawasaki Brutforce(1)
Kawasaki C2TR(1)
Kawasaki CB, CT, YAMAHA, RT, DT(1)
Kawasaki Chopper(5)
Kawasaki Concord(1)
Kawasaki Concour 14 ABS(1)
Kawasaki CONCOURS(23)
Kawasaki Concours 14(14)
Kawasaki Concours 14 abs(8)
Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS ABS(2)
Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS Sport Touring(1)
Kawasaki Concours 1400 ABS(2)
Kawasaki CONCOURS 1400 ABS CLEAN **SHIPPING STARTS AT $199(1)
Kawasaki CONCOURS ZG1000(4)
Kawasaki Concours14(4)
Kawasaki Concourse(2)
Kawasaki Concourse 1000(1)
Kawasaki CONCOURSE 14(2)
Kawasaki Concourse 14ABS(1)
Kawasaki Concourse ZG1400CEF ABS(1)
Kawasaki Concours™(20)
Kawasaki Concours™ 14 ABS(5)
Kawasaki CR(1)
Kawasaki CSR 650(1)
Kawasaki Drag Bike(2)
Kawasaki DRIFTER(4)
Kawasaki Electric(1)
Kawasaki Eliminator(6)
Kawasaki Eliminator 900(1)
Kawasaki EN450 454 LTD(1)
Kawasaki EN650BGFBL(1)
Kawasaki ER-6N(6)
Kawasaki ER6N(3)
Kawasaki EX 500(1)
Kawasaki EX250(1)
Kawasaki EX650(1)
Kawasaki EX650NINJA(4)
Kawasaki F11(2)
Kawasaki F2(2)
Kawasaki F21M(1)
Kawasaki F7(4)
Kawasaki F7-C 175(1)
Kawasaki F8 250(1)
Kawasaki F8 250 Bison(1)
Kawasaki F8 BISON(1)
Kawasaki Full dresser(1)
Kawasaki FZ(1)
Kawasaki G3SS(2)
Kawasaki G3TR-A(1)
Kawasaki G4 Trail Boss(1)
Kawasaki G5 100(2)
Kawasaki G7(1)
Kawasaki GPZ(8)
Kawasaki GPZ 1100(1)
Kawasaki GPz 750 Turbo(2)
Kawasaki gpz1100(4)
Kawasaki gpz1100 gpx1100 zx1100(1)
Kawasaki GpZ550(3)
Kawasaki GPZ750(1)
Kawasaki H 1(1)
Kawasaki H1(15)
Kawasaki H1 500(8)
Kawasaki H1 500 KH500(1)
Kawasaki H1 500 F Mach III(1)
Kawasaki H1 500 TRIPLE(2)
Kawasaki H1 500cc AUTHENTIC barn find!(1)
Kawasaki H1 500F(1)
Kawasaki H1 MACH III 500(2)
Kawasaki H1F 500(1)
Kawasaki H2(11)
Kawasaki H2 750(2)
Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV(1)
Kawasaki H2 Mach IV(3)
Kawasaki H2C(1)
Kawasaki H2F triple(1)
Kawasaki H2R(1)
Kawasaki K-Series(7)
Kawasaki Kawasaki(7)
Kawasaki Kawasaki ninja 250r(1)
Kawasaki Kawasaki H2C(1)
Kawasaki Kawasaki KZ750(1)
Kawasaki Kawasaki Z1000 Trike(1)
Kawasaki KD(1)
Kawasaki KD125(2)
Kawasaki KDX(65)
Kawasaki KE(1)
Kawasaki KE100(2)
Kawasaki KE175(2)
Kawasaki KH400 S3(1)
Kawasaki KL 250(1)
Kawasaki KLE 650(1)
Kawasaki KLE650A Versys(2)
Kawasaki KLE650CBF Versys 650(1)
Kawasaki KLR(683)
Kawasaki KLR 650(2)
Kawasaki KLR650(8)
Kawasaki KLX(1106)
Kawasaki KLX 300r(1)
Kawasaki klz(1)
Kawasaki KLZ1000BFFA VERSYS 1000 LT(1)
Kawasaki KM(1)
Kawasaki KT 28(1)
Kawasaki KV75(3)
Kawasaki KX(1876)
Kawasaki KX 125(1)
Kawasaki KX 450f(1)
Kawasaki KX420(1)
Kawasaki KXF(117)
Kawasaki KX™65(1)
Kawasaki KZ(17)
Kawasaki kz 1000(3)
Kawasaki kz 1000 ltd(1)
Kawasaki KZ 1000 police(1)
Kawasaki KZ 1100(1)
Kawasaki KZ 400(2)
Kawasaki KZ 550(1)
Kawasaki kz 650(1)
Kawasaki KZ 650 Custom(2)
Kawasaki kz 900(5)
Kawasaki KZ 900 LTD(1)
Kawasaki KZ-1(1)
Kawasaki KZ-750 N(1)
Kawasaki KZ-900(1)
Kawasaki KZ100(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000(19)
Kawasaki KZ1000 A(1)
Kawasaki kz1000 LTD(6)
Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD B3(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000 Police(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000 Police KZ1000P(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000 WISECO 1105CC(1)
Kawasaki kz1000 Z1-R(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000-B4(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000-D1 Z1R Cafe Racer(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000A(3)
Kawasaki KZ1000P(2)
Kawasaki KZ1000st(1)
Kawasaki KZ1100(3)
Kawasaki KZ1100 A(1)
Kawasaki KZ1100 A2 Shaft(1)
Kawasaki KZ1100 SPECTRE(1)
Kawasaki KZ1100D(1)
Kawasaki KZ1300(5)
Kawasaki KZ1300 - Z1300(2)
Kawasaki KZ1300 6 Cylinder(1)
Kawasaki KZ1300A(1)
Kawasaki kz1300a3(1)
Kawasaki KZ200(1)
Kawasaki KZ250(1)
Kawasaki KZ250LTD(1)
Kawasaki KZ400(6)
Kawasaki Kz400D(2)
Kawasaki KZ400S(1)
Kawasaki Kz440(1)
Kawasaki KZ440A LTD(1)
Kawasaki KZ550(4)
Kawasaki KZ550LTD(1)
Kawasaki KZ650(5)
Kawasaki KZ650 3,100 original miles(1)
Kawasaki KZ650C(1)
Kawasaki KZ650H(1)
Kawasaki KZ650H3(1)
Kawasaki kz700(1)
Kawasaki KZ750(6)
Kawasaki KZ750B(1)
Kawasaki KZ900(21)
Kawasaki KZ900 LTD(4)
Kawasaki KZ900 Z1(2)
Kawasaki LTD(3)
Kawasaki LTD 440(1)
Kawasaki LTD1000(1)
Kawasaki Mach 2(1)
Kawasaki MC1 90(1)
Kawasaki Mean Streak(1)
Kawasaki Mini Trail(1)
Kawasaki Monster(2)
Kawasaki Ninja(6133)
Kawasaki Ninja 1000(1)
Kawasaki Ninja 300 special edition(1)
Kawasaki Ninja 650(2)
Kawasaki Ninja® 300 ABS SE(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-10R ABS(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-10R ABS KRT Edition(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-14(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-14R ABS(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-6R(1)
Kawasaki Ninja® ZX™-6R ABS(1)
Kawasaki nomad(3)
Kawasaki Other(7496)
Kawasaki Other KZ550 GPZ 550(1)
Kawasaki Pro Street(3)
Kawasaki Raptor 850 ZX-RR SUPERBIKE(1)
Kawasaki Rickman(1)
Kawasaki Rickman Kawasaki CR 900(1)
Kawasaki Road Runner 120 Tr(1)
Kawasaki S1 250(1)
Kawasaki S1 250 Triple(1)
Kawasaki s2(2)
Kawasaki s2 350 tripple(1)
Kawasaki S3(2)
Kawasaki Spectre(1)
Kawasaki Spectre Z750-N1(1)
Kawasaki Sport Touring(2)
Kawasaki Sport Touring Concourse C14(1)
Kawasaki SPORTS(1)
Kawasaki SR 650(1)
Kawasaki SS ROAD RUNNER(1)
Kawasaki SUPER SHERPA(2)
Kawasaki Touring(4)
Kawasaki Turbo ZX750E(1)
Kawasaki V Star(1)
Kawasaki V8B(2)
Kawasaki VAQUERO(4)
Kawasaki Versys(24)
Kawasaki Versys 1000(6)
Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 KLZ1000(1)
Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 LT(1)
Kawasaki Versys 650(5)
Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS(5)
Kawasaki Versys 650 Sport Touring(1)
Kawasaki VERSYS 650LT ABS(1)
Kawasaki Versys KLE650ABF(1)
Kawasaki Versys™(9)
Kawasaki Versys®(4)
Kawasaki VN1700DEFA NOMAD 1700(1)
Kawasaki VN750(1)
Kawasaki VN800 Vulcan(1)
Kawasaki VN800CL(1)
Kawasaki VN9000C7F(1)
Kawasaki VN900CEFA VULCAN 900(1)
Kawasaki Voyager(10)
Kawasaki VOYAGER 1300(1)
Kawasaki Voyager XII(6)
Kawasaki Voyager XIII 1200B(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan(4913)
Kawasaki Vulcan 2000(2)
Kawasaki Vulcan 500(1)
Kawasaki VULCAN S 650(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 abs(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 1700 Vaquero™(4)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 500 LTD(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Classic LT(5)
Kawasaki W 650(1)
Kawasaki W1(1)
Kawasaki W1SA(1)
Kawasaki W650(12)
Kawasaki W650 W 650 EJ650A Velorex(1)
Kawasaki Y1(1)
Kawasaki YZ TC G4 trail boss(1)
Kawasaki Z 1000(3)
Kawasaki Z-1(2)
Kawasaki Z-1B(1)
Kawasaki Z1(10)
Kawasaki Z1 900(13)
Kawasaki Z1 900 Z1B(1)
Kawasaki Z1 KZ900(1)
Kawasaki Z1-900(1)
Kawasaki Z1000(15)
Kawasaki Z1000 ABS(2)
Kawasaki Z125 PRO(23)
Kawasaki Z1B(2)
Kawasaki z1r(7)
Kawasaki Z1R t/c(1)
Kawasaki Z800 ABS(3)
Kawasaki Zephyr(1)
Kawasaki ZG 1000 Concours(1)
Kawasaki ZG1000(1)
Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours(1)
Kawasaki zg1200(1)
Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII(1)
Kawasaki zg1400(1)
Kawasaki ZG1400A9FL ABS(1)
Kawasaki ZL 1000(1)
Kawasaki ZL 600 Eliminator(1)
Kawasaki ZL600(2)
Kawasaki zl9(1)
Kawasaki ZL900 Eliminator(2)
Kawasaki ZN 1300(1)
Kawasaki ZN1100(1)
Kawasaki ZN1100 LTD(1)
Kawasaki ZR1000(1)
Kawasaki ZR1000DBF Z1000(1)
Kawasaki ZR750H(1)
Kawasaki zrx(1)
Kawasaki ZRX 1100(4)
Kawasaki ZRX 1200R(3)
Kawasaki ZRX 1200R !!(1)
Kawasaki ZRX1100(2)
Kawasaki ZRX1200(1)
Kawasaki ZRX1200R(7)
Kawasaki Zx 1400(1)
Kawasaki ZX 1400 - Concourse® Ref# 000253(1)
Kawasaki ZX 600(2)
Kawasaki ZX10(1)
Kawasaki ZX1000-M(1)
Kawasaki ZX1200-C4(1)
Kawasaki ZX1400C Concours(1)
Kawasaki ZX14R(1)
Kawasaki Zx6-r(1)
Kawasaki ZX600(1)
Kawasaki ZX600 ZZR600(1)
Kawasaki ZX750-A1(1)
Kawasaki ZX900(1)
Kawasaki zzr(1)
Kawasaki ZZR 1200(2)
Kawasaki ZZR 400(1)
Kawasaki ZZR 600(3)
Kawasaki ZZR1200(5)
Kawasaki ZZR1200C(1)
Kawasaki ZZR600(4)
Kawasaki ZZR®(1)
Kawasaki ZZR® 600(1)
Kawasaki Z®(3)