Kawasaki motorcycles

Kawasaki logo, which appears on motorcycles from 1961 to 1967

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, one of the company's most popular sport bikes

Kawasaki motorcycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries at plants in Japan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.^[1]

History

Kawasaki Aircraft initially manufactured motorcycles under the Meguro name, having bought an ailing motorcycle manufacturer, Meguro Manufacturing with whom they had been in partnership. Later formed Kawasaki Motor Sales.^[2] Some early motorcycles display an emblem with "Kawasaki Aircraft" on the fuel tank.

During 1962, Kawasaki engineers were developing a four-stroke engine for small cars which ended in 1962 when some of the engineers transferred to the Meguro factory to work on the Meguro K1 and the SG, a single cylinder 250 cc OHV. In 1963, Kawasaki and Meguro merged to form Kawasaki Motorcycle Co.,Ltd.^[3][4] Kawasaki motorcycles from 1962 through 1967 used an emblem which can be described as a flag within a wing.

Work continued on the Meguro K1, a copy of the BSA A7 500 cc vertical twin.^[5] and on the Kawasaki W1. The K2 was exported to the U.S. for a test in response to the expanding American market for four-stroke motorcycles in which case it was rejected for a lack of power but by the mid-1960s, Kawasaki was finally exporting a moderate number of motorcycles. The Kawasaki H1 Mach III in 1968, along with several enduro-styled motorcycles to compete with Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda, increased sales of Kawasaki units.

Kawasaki’s Engines Division Is To Consolidate All Functions Including Research & Development In A Single Office Complex In Grand Rapids, Michigan^[6]

See also

• List of Kawasaki motorcycles

References

1. "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
2. Kawasaki Museum, Kawasaki as "Kawasaki Motorcycle Co. LTD."
3. K Hulsey, Classic Vintage Motorcycles: Kawasaki history
4. Daniel Levy, Stastsheet.com Kawasaki Motorcycles - "Independent In Thoughts And Actions".
5. Motorcycle Classics, Kawasaki W2TT Commander.
6. "Kawasaki’s Engines Division To Consolidate All Functions Including Research & Development In A Single Office Complex In Grand Rapids, Michigan | Small Engines - Lawn Mower Engines - Parts - Kawasaki". www.kawasakienginesusa.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.

External links

• Kawasaki motorcycles at DMOZ