Kawasaki Motorcycles

Based in Japan, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd is an international corporation named after its founder Shozo Kawasaki on 15th October 1896. Although it originally started out as a shipbuilding company, its most visible consumer product lines are its motorcycles. Kawasaki’s motorcycles include the Ninja Sport bikes, cruisers, dual-purpose and motorcross motorcycles as well as utility vehicles. Kawasaki is a company of contradictions. It is the smallest of the big four Japanese manufacturers but the biggest company, it was the last of the four to make and market motorcycles yet it owns the oldest name in the Japanese industry as well as being the first to set up a factory in America.
Kawasaki developed their first motorcycle engine in 1952 this was designed and based on expertly technical know-how gained from the development and production of the aircraft engines.  The entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by Kawasaki’s constant effort to develop new technologies.  Over the years Kawasaki have released numerous new models that have helped shape the market, and in the process created many enduring legends based on the speed and power of the machines.By 1996 Kawasaki produced their 10 millionth vehicle, a testament to Kawasaki’s ability to meet the needs of a wide range of riders.  Quoted by Kawasaki at the time ‘As Kawasaki continues to “Let the good times roll,” our latest challenges will surely give birth to new legends…..’.  Already with an understanding of racing as a promotional tool, Kawasaki establishes one of its most famous racing partnerships in 1974, that between Mick Grant and the fearsome 750cc H2R two stroke, three cylinder racing machine. “Speed trapped” in later years at over 190mph on the Isle of Man TT course, the H2R in both early air-cooled, and final water-cooled guises, was instrumental, along with motocross product, in the creation of the association between the lime green colour and Kawasaki racing endeavours. Initial sales efforts and customer demand saw sales increase 450%.  Off-road product was also new to the UK and marketed by Kawasport, a company founded by trials ace Don Smith (who also helped design the KT250 trials machine) and Alec Wright, the latter who would go on to become a significant driving force within the company and create the Team Green racing and ownership programme.2002 Kawasaki.co.uk, the web site for the UK market, was launched.  By 2005 after a twenty year break Kawasaki wins again at the Isle of Man TT with rider Ryan Farquhar securing a win in the Production 600 TT on the 599cc Kawasaki ZX-6RR, the machine later returns to Japan to be displayed at Kawasaki’s own museum.
To this present day the Ninja has received various refinements over the years, and continues to be manufactured through its popularity and demand as this was named the “Bike of the Year” by magazines all over the world back in 1984; being Kawasaki’s first liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 4 cyclinder engine and a light, compact chassis. The Ninja ZX-14R proudly stands at the helm of Kawasaki’s Ninja legacy with its almighty performance dominating production.Kawasaki continues to strive forward with its designs, technology and developement to meet the needs and desires for tomorrow with its pure, undiluted performance.