Kawasaki Motors is a Japanese based company founded by Kawasaki Shozo, who started his professional career by creating an overseas shipping business which quite literally sank in a storm. In April 1876 he created Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard on a piece of borrowed property from the government.
Big Motorcycle Engine Experts
Today this long standing Japanese company has an interesting and very solid history of building big, strong airplane, ship, tractor and train engines. Not to mention their involvement via Kawasaki subsidiaries in the design and manufacture of small engines (like motorcycles and ATVs), and aerospace components (often military aircraft) equipment.
Kawasaki engines are strong, powerful and rock solid. People that need the kind of power that doesn't come from other manufacturers know they’ll get what they want with Kawasaki engines. That’s why many look to Kawasaki for drag racing bikes. They have been involved in some of the most famous motorcycle drag-racing in history. Kawasaki is also a popular model used in other two wheeled applications like land speed records.
Because of their long history with big motors, one would have to expect that they brought that bigger is better mentality to their motorcycle line-up. And they did. In blinding fashion.
Quickest Production Motorcycle on the Planet?
Kawasaki currently produces what is claimed to be the quickest accelerating production motorcycle ever sold to the general public: The Ninja ZX14.
This behemoth is the biggest production sport-bike available. It fits in brilliantly with Kawasaki’s reputation of going big, but it took Kawasaki several years for them to get one up over the long time big sport bike leader, Suzuki and their Hayabusa 1300.
The battles between Kawasaki and Suzuki have been epic over the years. It is rumored that the two companies have come to an agreement that they will electronically limit the top speed of their production-based motorcycles to 186 miles per hour, under the assumption that allowing the long time top-speed battle to continue would only cause more government regulation to be brought.
Ninjas and Vulcans the Most Popular Kawasaki Motorcycles
By far the most popular (best selling) items Kawasaki makes are motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles. Kawasaki’s Ninja line, including sizes from 250cc up to 1400cc, and their Vulcan cruisers are the current staple of their product line for motorcycles.
They have made ATVs for years, but have only recently entered the growing competitive arena of middle class ATV racing with the introduction of the 2008 KFX450R.
Kawasaki’s Current Motorcycle Line-up
Super sport Touring:
* Concours
Sport:
* Z1000
* ZZR600
* Ninja
Cruiser:
* Vulcan
* Eliminator
Off Road:
* KX
* KLX
* KLR
Matt Finley - Matt is a motorsports, offroad journalist published in print and internet ATV magazines. Matt is the ATVs / Offroading Guide at ...
