Kawasaki Motorcycles

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

2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT Review - First Ride

A perennial favorite gets a few upgrades. Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing A few years ago, I took a break from my lovely MO family and decided to get a real job, complete with an actual commute. Without the pick of the litter to choose from anymore, I had to actually buy a bike to get to work on.

2023 Kawasaki Elektrode First Look

Designed for kids ages 3 to 8 Kawasaki pulled the covers off its first ever electric vehicle, and as we expected, it is a new powered balance bike for young riders called the Elektrode. Designed for riders as young as three years of age, the Elektrode is positioned as an entry point for future motocross riders. The Elektrode is powered by a 250 W air-cooled, brushless motor mounted in the rear wheel.

Kawasaki Elektrode Electric Balance Bike Designs Leak Ahead of Reveal

Full details will be revealed June 7 Last week, Kawasaki dropped a teaser for a new electric two-wheeler, and we uncovered evidence that the teaser is for an electric balance bike called the Elektrode. Kawasaki is set to reveal the Elektrode on June 7 alongside some side-by-side models, but we’ve already got an idea what the balance bike will look like. Japan’s intellectual property office has published designs for a balance bike from Kawasaki, and though it doesn’t say it outright, the designs we can only assume will be for the Elektrode.

Kawasaki Teases Electric Model Expected To Be The Elektrode Balance Bike

Leaked developer page confirms Elektrode name Kawasaki has dropped teasers for its first electric two-wheeler, with an announcement date of June 7. The 15-second teasers released on social media channels show images of a young rider and a dirt course, ending with the tag line: “The Good Times are electric.” The Good Times are Electric ⚡️Stay tuned for June 7th. Sign up to learn more at: https://t.co/sNf6sioczE#GoodTimes #Kawasaki pic.twitter.com/T0qP6qmqJG — Kawasaki USA (@KawasakiUSA) May 18, 2022 The two-wheeler will be part of a larger launch event that will include several side-by-sides and ATVs, some of which may also be electric.

Church of MO: 1997 Kawasaki ZX-6

Twenty-five years ago, the 1997 Kawasaki ZX-6 had not yet grown an “R.” It came with a centerstand, dual exhausts, and weighed 430 pounds full of 4.8 gallons of unleaded fuel. The leaded stuff hadn’t been phased out until one year earlier, which may explain a lot about the mental condition of many of us Boomers. It was a great, inexpensive, do-anything motorcycle in other words.

Showdown: 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400 Vs KTM RC390 - At The Track

Does the updated KTM have what it takes to dethrone the class king? Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by: Sean Matic | Videos by Sean Matic It’s good to be the king. At least, that’s what it feels like to anyone racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS Review - First Ride

Retro-styling on a middleweight favorite. Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing “I’m not a fan of the Darth Vader looks.” It’s a line we hear often whenever we test one of Kawasaki’s sporty bikes, especially from the Z family of naked bikes. Internally known as the Sugomi design language, Kawasaki says “Someone, or something, possessing sugomi inspires awe, leaves an indelible impression, is daunting in stature or ability, and commands respect.” Maybe it does, or maybe it doesn’t, but angular lines and sharp creases also alienate a section of the motorcycling world who like the modern tech and power from Kawasaki’s Z line, but could do without the sugomi styling.

Showdown: 2021 Honda CRF300L Vs 2021 Kawasaki KLX300

Entry-level, exit-level, and all points in between Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by: Sean Matic | Videos by Sean Matic Honda’s first CL72 250 Scrambler was lashed to the bumper of many a Conestoga wagon as it made its way westward, and I’m pretty sure it was a Kawasaki KLX300 that I wheelied over backwards, circa 1997, that really dampened my enthusiasm for stunting. At least Honda’s had the decency to change its nomenclature over the years to give the impression of evolution. Kawasaki is standing pat with the 292 cc Single that’s powered its KLX since 1996, along with its KLX nomenclature.

Kawasaki Unveils 50th Anniversary Street and Neo-Classic Z900 and Z650 editions

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Z-Series, the Greens have prepared colorways for two families of motorcycles that replicate the look and feel of the legendary Kawasaki Z1 from 1972. At the same time, the color and graphic schemes of the neo-retro motorcycles - Z900RS and Z650RS - will be as close as possible to those of the historical Z1 model, and the Z900 and Z650 street will receive a creatively redesigned coloring, referring, nevertheless, to the roots of the Z-series.

Battle Royale: 7-Way Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout - Track

You think you know which bike is best on track? Think again. Credit: Photos by Dito Milan/GotBlueMilk, Evans Brasfield | Videos by Sean Matic, Jacob Canepa Twists.