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
Mon, 13 Feb 2012
Ryan Villopoto captured his second straight victory, winning the San Diego round of the 2012 AMA Supercross championship. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider now has three wins on the season, two more than anyone else, but his hold on the championship points lead has only increased to six points. Villopoto took the lead on the second lap of the main event after overtaking Brett Metcalfe of Yoshimura Suzuki who took the holeshot, with Villopoto‘s teammate Jake Weimer also in the lead group.
Mon, 06 Feb 2012
The 2012 AMA Supercross season is shaping up to be a tight one, with four racers and former champions healthy and jockeying for position on top of the points standings. Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart have all claimed wins in the first four rounds. After the second Anaheim round, the four contenders, representing four different manufacturers, are separated by just 13 points.
Sun, 05 Feb 2012
Is the current weather causing your commute a bit of problem? Sounds like a job for the Snowjob. Pictured here using a Kawasaki, the Snowjob conversion system turns your motorcycle into a jumping, wheelieing snowcycle in less than four hours. Derek Hine designed the Snowjob back in '73, but it looks like it could be just as handy today.
Wed, 01 Feb 2012
Kawasaki reported a net profit of 33.7 billion yen (US$441.9 million) for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2011, but its motorcycle and engine division continues to operate at a loss. The motorcycle and engine division, which also includes ATVs, UTVs, personal watercraft and power products, operated at a loss of 4.58 billion yen (US$60.1 million) over the first three quarters of Kawasaki‘s 2011-2012 fiscal year, including a loss of 2.2 billion yen (US$28.9 million) in the third quarter alone.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012
The 2012 AMA Supercross Championship race is getting tighter with a fourth race winner in as many rounds following James Stewart‘s victory in Oakland, Calif. The JGRMX Yamaha racer captured his first win of the 2012 season at Oakland’s O.co Coliseum. Stewart out-dueled longtime rival Chad Reed of TwoTwo Motorsports Honda for the win.
Fri, 27 Jan 2012
The 2012 MotoGP season is still months away and the world championship has already lost an entry, as veteran Anthony West announced his withdrawal from the series because he cannot afford to compete. The 30-year-old Australian racer was included on the provisional 2012 MotoGP entry list to compete for the Speed Master team on an Aprilia CRT machine. But with the official pre-season test at Sepang, Malaysia, coming up next week, West says he will not race because teams are asking riders to pay too much to race for them.
Mon, 23 Jan 2012
Chad Reed won his first race of the 2012 AMA Supercross season in Los Angeles but the victory was overshadowed by a first-lap collision that left Trey Canard and Ryan Morais with broken backs. Racing for Team Honda Muscle Milk, Canard was injured on the first lap after catching a piece of some signage. That forced him to single a triple jump, putting him in the path of Star Valli Yamaha rider Ryan Morais who landed on Canard from behind.
Fri, 20 Jan 2012
The World Superbike Championship‘s European Junior Cup youth racing series will switch to race-prepped KTM 690 Duke motorcycles for 2012 from the Kawasaki Ninja 250R racebikes used in its inaugural 2011 season. The rebranded KTM European Junior Cup will be open to riders 14-19 and will be held at eight WSBK rounds in 2012. The series was conceived as an entry point for young racers, providing them opportunities to develop their skills before moving up to higher classes such as the World Superstock Championship and beyond.
Wed, 18 Jan 2012
Kawasaki are launching the 2012 ZZR1400 at the high-speed Nardo test circuit in Italy. Visordown's Editor, Ben Cope is on hand to sample the new 197bhp hypersports tourer and Suzuki Hayabusa rival at speeds nearing 200mph. A review will follow in the coming days, until then here is a gallery of the 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400.
Wed, 18 Jan 2012
The International Motorcycling Federation has released a preliminary entry list for the 2012 World Superbike Championship. The preliminary list includes 24 entries representing six manufacturers: Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. Noticeably absent is Yamaha which announced last summer it would pull out of WSBK racing.
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 750 - H2(4)
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(19)
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(4)
Kawasaki Concord(1)
Kawasaki Concour 14 ABS(1)
Kawasaki CONCOURS(25)
Kawasaki Concours 14(15)
Kawasaki Concours 14 abs(17)
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(3)
Kawasaki Concourse 14ABS(1)
Kawasaki Concourse ZG1400CEF ABS(1)
Kawasaki Concours™(18)
Kawasaki Concours™ 14 ABS(1)
Kawasaki CR(1)
Kawasaki CSR 650(1)
Kawasaki Drag Bike(2)
Kawasaki DRIFTER(3)
Kawasaki Electric(1)
Kawasaki Eliminator(6)
Kawasaki Eliminator 900(1)
Kawasaki EN450 454 LTD(1)
Kawasaki EN650BGFBL(1)
Kawasaki ER-6N(5)
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(9)
Kawasaki GPZ 1100(1)
Kawasaki GPz 750 Turbo(2)
Kawasaki gpz1100(3)
Kawasaki gpz1100 gpx1100 zx1100(1)
Kawasaki GpZ550(2)
Kawasaki GPZ750(1)
Kawasaki H 1(1)
Kawasaki H1(15)
Kawasaki H1 500(7)
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(12)
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(2)
Kawasaki Kawasaki KZ750(1)
Kawasaki Kawasaki Z1000 Trike(1)
Kawasaki KD(1)
Kawasaki KD125(2)
Kawasaki KDX(66)
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(1411)
Kawasaki KLR 650(2)
Kawasaki KLR650(5)
Kawasaki KLX(2917)
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(4033)
Kawasaki KX 125(1)
Kawasaki KX 450f(1)
Kawasaki KX420(1)
Kawasaki KXF(122)
Kawasaki KX™65(1)
Kawasaki KZ(15)
Kawasaki kz 1000(3)
Kawasaki kz 1000 ltd(2)
Kawasaki KZ 1000 police(1)
Kawasaki KZ 1100(2)
Kawasaki KZ 400(1)
Kawasaki KZ 550(1)
Kawasaki kz 650(1)
Kawasaki KZ 650 Custom(2)
Kawasaki kz 900(6)
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(1)
Kawasaki KZ1000P(2)
Kawasaki KZ1000st(1)
Kawasaki KZ1100(2)
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(22)
Kawasaki KZ900 LTD(2)
Kawasaki KZ900 Z1(2)
Kawasaki LTD(4)
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(13182)
Kawasaki Ninja 1000(1)
Kawasaki Ninja 300 special edition(1)
Kawasaki Ninja 650(1)
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(9713)
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(1)
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(1)
Kawasaki Touring(4)
Kawasaki Turbo ZX750E(1)
Kawasaki V Star(1)
Kawasaki V8B(1)
Kawasaki VAQUERO(4)
Kawasaki Versys(24)
Kawasaki Versys 1000(2)
Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 KLZ1000(1)
Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 LT(1)
Kawasaki Versys 650(2)
Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS(2)
Kawasaki Versys 650 Sport Touring(1)
Kawasaki VERSYS 650LT ABS(1)
Kawasaki Versys KLE650ABF(1)
Kawasaki Versys™(14)
Kawasaki Versys®(1)
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(11)
Kawasaki VOYAGER 1300(1)
Kawasaki Voyager XII(6)
Kawasaki Voyager XIII 1200B(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan(9442)
Kawasaki Vulcan 2000(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan 500(1)
Kawasaki VULCAN S 650(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 abs(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 1700 Vaquero™(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 500 LTD(1)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Classic LT(3)
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(8)
Kawasaki Z1 900(11)
Kawasaki Z1 900 Z1B(1)
Kawasaki Z1 KZ900(1)
Kawasaki Z1-900(1)
Kawasaki Z1000(17)
Kawasaki Z1000 ABS(2)
Kawasaki Z125 PRO(1)
Kawasaki Z1B(2)
Kawasaki z1r(6)
Kawasaki Z1R t/c(1)
Kawasaki Z800 ABS(2)
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(2)
Kawasaki ZR750H(1)
Kawasaki zrx(1)
Kawasaki ZRX 1100(4)
Kawasaki ZRX 1200R(2)
Kawasaki ZRX 1200R !!(1)
Kawasaki ZRX1100(1)
Kawasaki ZRX1200(1)
Kawasaki ZRX1200R(6)
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(1)
Kawasaki ZZR 400(1)
Kawasaki ZZR 600(2)
Kawasaki ZZR1200(4)
Kawasaki ZZR1200C(1)
Kawasaki ZZR600(5)
Kawasaki ZZR®(1)
Kawasaki ZZR® 600(1)
Kawasaki Z®(3)