Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycles in Winterset, page #21

Moto blog

WSBK 2013: Laguna Seca Race Report

Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty each came away with a victory as the World Superbike Championship made its return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The first race featured two red flags, ironically caused by AMA Superbike regulars Danny Eslick and Roger Hayden, the two men with the most recent experience at the famed track. The second race was a much cleaner affair, with a dramatic finish, setting up the final two rounds of the championship.

Scorpion silencer for Z800e

PERFORMANCE exhaust manufacturer Scorpion has launched a silencer for Kawasaki's Z800e which it says adds 4.9bhp while shaving 5.4kg off weight. The Z800e is Kawasaki's A2-friendly version of the Z800, with claimed power reduced from 111 to 94bhp. A2 licence holders limited to 47bhp can ride a machine which has been restricted but it must not have made more that 94bhp to begin with, making the Z800e eligible.

Öhlins-Equipped Special Edition 2014 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R Announced

A few days ago, Kawasaki revealed several 2014 models including a new Ninja 1000 updated with ABS, traction control, multiple ride modes, monobloc calipers and optional luggage. Among the model announcements was the 2014 Ninja ZX-14R with three new color options: Golden Blazed Green and Metallic Spark Black, Candy Burnt Orange and Metallic Spark Black, and Flat Ebony and Ebony. But that’s not all Kawasaki had for its 1441cc behemoth.

WSBK 2013: Nurburgring Race Report

Tom Sykes has taken over the lead in the 2013 World Superbike Championship standings after splitting race victories with Chaz Davies at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit. Both races ended prematurely however with red flags during the final laps. Pata Honda‘s Jonathan Rea and FIXI Crescent Suzuki‘s Leon Camier both crashed on the 18th lap of Race One after running into oil spilled on the track from Pedercini Kawasaki racer Federico Sandi‘s ZX-10R.

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.