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32-798: Kawasaki marketed a private labeled version of the DR-Z known as the KLX400 – it is nearly identical to the DR-Z400 except for bodywork and some accessories. The DR-Z is used by the Australian Army and is slightly modified for the Army role. The DR-Z400 has been produced in four variants: This motorcycle, scooter or moped-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kawasaki motorcycles Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. ( カワサキモータース株式会社 , Kawasaki Mōtāsu Kabushikigaisha )

64-480: A 500 cc single Z97 model based on a Swiss Motosacoche design but work was restricted due to the start of WW2, during which it supplied aircraft parts. Meguro started full production again in 1948, the Z97 being joined by 125 cc, 250 cc and 350 cc overhead valve singles. In the 1950s Meguro entered racing and built its first twin-cylinder design, the 651 cc (39.7 cu in) T1 "Senior" with

96-617: A British design-inspired pre-unit parallel twin engine; and later the K-series "Stamina" model, a copy of the BSA A7 , one of which Meguro had bought in 1953. Its quality and engineering was superior to the BSA and it was described by Edward Turner , one of Britain's most talented motorcycle designers, as "too good to be true". For the first time, the Japanese motorcycle industry was seen as

128-479: A competitor's MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. Kawasaki formed Kawasaki Motors Racing , a European subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team and any other motorcycle racing activities Kawasaki may enter in the future. For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing,

160-500: A high-ranking naval officer, Takaji Suzuki, in 1937. One of the first Japanese motorcycle companies, it became a partner of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, and was eventually absorbed. Named after a district of Tokyo, Meguro had its roots in Murato Iron Works, which was established in 1924. Meguro Seisakusho, which had once developed a copy of a Harley-Davidson V-twin , was established to design and build gearboxes for

192-465: A limited production of stand-up models as designed by the recognized inventor of jet skis, Clayton Jacobson II . In 1976, Kawasaki then began mass production of the JS400-A . JS400s came with 400 cc two-stroke engines and hulls based upon the previous limited release models. It became the harbinger of the success Jet-Skis would see in the market up through the 1990s. In 1986 Kawasaki broadened

224-414: A motorcycle producing division alongside its heavy industry services and particularly its already established sales outlets, Kawasaki took full control of the company having learnt all it needed to know. Together they started produced "Kawasaki-Meguro Works" 125 cc, 175 cc and 250 cc single cylinder vehicles. The 500 cc K-series twin cylinder model was later enlarged and developed into

256-524: A range of lightweight motorcycles which sold poorly, and experiencing a yearlong labor strike . The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. rates the Meguro Z97 model introduced in 1937 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology . Although the first motorcycle arrived in Japan in 1895, it was not until the 1930s that its own motorcycle industry started to develop. After

288-548: A threat. Its other models designed in collaboration with Kawasaki were entirely of Japanese design. Meguro raced the 500 cc overhead camshaft single cylinder model at the Asama Kazan speedway circuit in Tsumagoi , Gunma Prefecture . For many years, the company was only outsold by Honda . In 1958 Meguro developed a range of 50 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc and 350 cc consumer products which failed in

320-436: Is a Japanese mobility manufacturer that produces motorcycles , all-terrain vehicles , utility vehicles , watercraft , outboard motors , and other electric products. It derives its origins from Kawasaki Aircraft Industries , a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries , and is rooted in the motorcycle, boat, and engine businesses. In 1953, they began manufacturing engines for motorcycles and have since produced products such as

352-757: The Mach and Ninja series in motorcycles and the Jet Ski , which has become a generic term for personal watercraft . Until 2021, it was a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, known as the Kawasaki Aerospace Company ( 川策重工業汎用機カンパニー ) and later the Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company ( 川崎重工業モーターサイクル&エンジンカンパニー ) . In 2021, it was separated as Kawasaki Motors, Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Kawasaki Aircraft initially manufactured motorcycles under

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384-526: The Meguro name, having bought an ailing motorcycle manufacturer, Meguro Manufacturing with whom they had been in partnership. This eventually became Kawasaki Motor Sales. 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. Then some of the engineers transferred to the Meguro factory to work on

416-576: The Wall Street Crash , Meguro invested in Harley-Davidson and obtained drawings, tooling and important knowledge of metal heat treatments in order to make gearboxes. These were then used in their vehicles and those of another early Japanese company called Rikuo (literally "Road King"). The resulting transfer of American intellectual property taught the Japanese how to produce motorcycles in quantity. In 1935, Murato and Suzuki built

448-906: The World Superbike Championship started in 1990 with the US-based Team Muzzy Kawasaki , which managed the superbike activities until 1996 . Between 1997 and 2002 , Kawasaki gave factory backing to the Harald Eckl 's team, based in Germany, while Muzzy focused on the AMA Superbike domestic series. From 2003 to 2008, only privateer teams like Bertocchi and PSG-1 entered the world championship, with small factory support. In 2009 , Kawasaki officially returned to SBK with Paul Bird Motorsport , but after three seasons, in 2012 , Kawasaki switched

480-565: The 1990s, they also dominated the Endurance World Championship . Kawasaki machinery has been pivotal in the development of Supertwin racing. The racing machines are developed from the Kawasaki 650cc parallel twin commuter bike (ER6-n or ER6-f). The machines are then transformed through development into an 85 bhp race bike with top end speeds in excess of 150 mph. The KMR Kawasaki Racing Team are one of

512-554: The 625 cc Kawasaki W series . The latter model were used as official vehicles for government purposes. In 1999 Kawasaki launched the W650 675 cc parallel twin retro style motorcycle inspired by the W2 and a 250 cc single cylinder four stroke Estrella inspired by an early Meguro model. Kawasaki discontinued the W650 in 2007 but replaced it in 2011 with an enlarged version,

544-616: The American Kawasaki Motors Corporation (KMC), to complete Japan-produced components into finished motorcycles for the North American market. Kawasaki's engines division, housed in a single office complex in Grand Rapids, Michigan , consolidates research and development projects for engines. Kawasaki's Aircraft Company began the development of a motorcycle engine in 1949. The development

576-718: The Kawasaki Racing Team was formed after Kawasaki had developed their new 990cc ZX-RR bike throughout 2002 and raced it in the last three races of the 2002 MotoGP season . The racing activities were managed by Harald Eckl 's team based in Germany. It was not until 2004 that Kawasaki had two riders - Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano , who raced for the entire season. Nakano placed 3rd in Japan that year achieving Kawasaki's first podium finish in MotoGP. In 2007, Kawasaki split from Harald Eckl because of Eckl's involvement with

608-496: The Kawasaki Ultra 300x. Jet Ski is the brand name of personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki. The name, however, has become a genericized trademark for any type of personal watercraft. Kawasaki's traditional racing colour is green. Many Kawasaki racing teams are called Team Green . The "Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green" provides a support program developing amateur motocross racers. Kawasaki's first title

640-663: The Meg ro K1 and the SG, a single cylinder 250 cc OHV . In 1963, Kawasaki and Meguro merged to form Kawasaki Motorcycle Co., Ltd. From 1962 through 1967, Kawasaki motorcycles 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 and on the W1 . The K2 was exported to the U.S . for a test in response to

672-476: The SX-R, which has seen a revival of interest in stand-up jetskiing. The X-2 has also been updated, based on the SX-R platform and re-released in Japan . Kawasaki continues to produce three models of sit-downs, including many four-stroke models. The four stroke engines have come on since the late 1990s; with the help of superchargers and the like the engines can output up to 300 horsepower (220 kW) as seen in

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704-503: The expanding American market for four-stroke motorcycles. At first it was rejected for a lack of power. 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. 1974 saw the establishment of a Kawasaki assembly facility in Lincoln, Nebraska , US, named

736-619: The factory support to the Spanish-based Provec Racing team. Kawasaki has won several superbike racing championships. They won the rider's Superbike World Championship in 1993 with Scott Russell , two decades later in 2013 with Tom Sykes , and six times consecutively in 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , and 2020 with Jonathan Rea . The manufacturer has also claimed nine AMA Superbike Championships with riders such as Reg Pridmore , Eddie Lawson , Wayne Rainey , Scott Russell , and Doug Chandler . During

768-515: The leading race teams in the category, whose team members include Ryan Farquhar and Jeremy McWilliams . Kawasaki has enjoyed numerous successes at the Isle of Man TT Races . The marque has notched up a total of 34 victories which include 3 victories in the Sidecar TT . Notable achievements include Mick Grant's 1975 outright lap record of 109.82 mph (176.74 km/h), finally beating

800-564: The market due to its being too expensive. In 1960, by which time it was Japan's longest running motorcycle company out of the hundreds that had once flourished producing copies of European models, the company became affiliated with the Kawasaki Aircraft company. It first changed its name in 1962 to Kawasaki-Meguro, which produced the successful B8 125 cc; then in October 1964, seeing the commercial and marketing value of having

832-410: The nascent Japanese motorcycle industry. Abe Industries, which had once produced its own motorcycle, merged with Meguro in 1931. The brand is being revived by Kawasaki with a new K3 model to be introduced in Japan on February 1, 2021. Once a prestige brand , supplying the Japanese government with military and police motorcycles, and racing alongside Honda, Meguro (メグロ) became bankrupt after launching

864-502: The previous record set by Mike Hailwood and which had stood since 1967 . Riders on Kawasaki motorcycles won races in the British Motocross Championship , Motocross des Nations , AMA Supercross Championship , Sidecarcross and Supermoto . Championship wins: Meguro Motorcycles Meguro motorcycles were built by Meguro Manufacturing Co motorcycle works (目黒製作所), founded by Nobuji Murata and

896-405: The team became a complete 'in house' factory team. On January 9, 2009, Kawasaki announced it had decided to "... suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently". The company stated that it will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race oriented consumers. Kawasaki's involvement in

928-578: The world of Jet Skis by introducing a two-person model with lean-in "sport" style handling and a 650 cc engine, dubbed the Kawasaki X2 . Then in 1989, they introduced their first two-passenger "sit-down" model, the Tandem Sport (TS) with a step-through seating area. In 2003, Kawasaki celebrated the Jet Ski brand by releasing a special 30th anniversary edition of its current stand-up model,

960-504: Was completed in 1952 and mass production started in 1953. The engine was an air-cooled , 148 cc, OHV , four-stroke single cylinder with a maximum power of 4 PS (2.9 kW; 3.9 hp) at 4,000 rpm. In 1954, the first complete Kawasaki Motorcycle was produced under the name of Meihatsu, a subsidiary of Kawasaki Aircraft. In 1960, Kawasaki completed construction of a factory dedicated exclusively to motorcycle production and bought Meguro Motorcycles . Kawasaki's first ATV

992-562: Was the three-wheeled KLT200, which debuted in 1981. Its first four-wheel ATV, the Bayou 185, was introduced in 1985 and in 1989, its first model with four-wheel-drive, the Bayou 300 4x4. Today, Kawasaki's ATV line-up includes a wide range of recreational and utility ATVs. Kawasaki's MULE (Multi-Use Light Equipment) utility vehicle combines an ATV with a pick-up truck. The first MULE was produced in 1988. Kawasaki now calls their utility vehicles "side-by-side" vehicles. In 1973, Kawasaki introduced

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1024-473: Was with Dave Simmonds in 1969 when they won the 125 cc World Championship. Kawasaki dominated the 250 cc and 350 cc grand prix classes from 1978 to 1982 winning four titles in each category. With the introduction of the four-stroke engines into MotoGP in 2002 , Kawasaki decided to take part in the new MotoGP World Championship. Kawasaki entered the championship in 2003 with 250 cc Grand Prix racer Harald Eckl 's Team Eckl . In 2003,

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