Kawasaki

A collection of 50 posts

Mar/Apr '09

Review: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650

> Old soldiers may never die, but sometimes they do get a makeover! Kawasaki's new KLR 650, with a host of changes, should now appeal to a wider range of buyers, from dyed-in-the-wool dirt riders to sport-touring aficionados. Kawasaki's first-generation KLR 650 had one of the

Sep/Oct '08

2008 Kamp Kawasaki

Once a year Kawasaki hosts a get-together for its friends, the media, as well as past and present racers. The event is always scheduled to coincide with the AMA races at Infineon (formerly Sears Point) Raceway in Sonoma, California, and special guests at this year's gathering included Gary

May/Jun '08

Review: 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14

Apprehension and sheer curiosity were the sensations rattling around inside my head the first time I thumbed the starter on the Kawasaki ZX14 Ninja. Though we ride bikes of all different stripes, I was uncharacteristically anxious about this particular model. After all, this is a machine capable of sub 10-second

Jan/Feb '08

Review: 2008 Kawasaki Versys 650

> In dictionary terms, a system consists of a number of individual parts with particular attributes combined in appropriate relationships within a specific environment. The idea is that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts  -  and once we got together to ride the roads in

Nov/Dec '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki KLR650

> Finding interesting, new roads on the map is one of life's great treasure hunts. Poring over the topos, looking for previously unnoticed grey lines rife with squiggles is a quest that pays touring dividends time and again. But even the best research can run afoul of the

Nov/Dec '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki Concours 14

> Kawasaki could write the book about playing the tease. For most of 2007, they coyly titillated the motorcycling world with hearsay about their long-anticipated replacement for the venerable Concours. Rumored release dates, tantalizing photos, and thinly veiled specs fluttered by, and each tidbit hinted at a machine that would

Jul/Aug '07

Review: 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14

> Boasting an inline four-cylinder engine that displaces 1352cc, the new ZX-14 is currently the biggest and most powerful sport bike in production. With the assistance of its ram-air system, the bike is said to produce 187 crankshaft horsepower at 9500 rpm. Even without the aid of forced air, stock

May/Jun '07

Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Custom

> Just mention Austin, Texas, and I'm ready to head that way. A vibrant, college-town atmosphere, great food, innumerable live music venues, and some great riding make the Lone Star State's capital one of the coolest towns around. So when I recently received an invite to

Sep/Oct '06

Kawasaki Ninja 650R

> Poised to inject serious fun into the bargain-blaster segment of the market, the new Kawasaki Ninja 650R is a street hip, super sharp, smooth operator that flashes the boulevard with a most affordable price tag. Designed with the rider in mind, the bike's comfortable ergonomics, useful wind

Jul/Aug '06

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad - Long-Term Evaluation

> Oddly enough, it's on a four-lane highway somewhere outside of Danville, Virginia, that it dawns on me. This bike's moniker really fits. A nomad is one who doesn't stay in the same place very long, a wanderer if you will. And while the

Jan/Feb '06

Honda CBR100RR / Kawasaki ZX-10R / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / Yamaha YFR-R1

> The best of the best, cream of the crop, and pick of the litter are all phrases used to denote the outstanding single example of a collective. And when surveying the four 1000cc supersport models parked in the hotel parking lot, it quickly becomes apparent that picking the "

Nov/Dec '05

Kawasaki Z750S

> Many of you who have been riding for a while may remember the UJM days. Universal Japanese Motorcycle, a term often used derisively back in the 70s and early 80s to describe those 'standard' machines that arrived on U.S. shores in droves. Though lacking the mystique

Sep/Oct '05

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R vs. Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

> I felt an adrenaline rush simply from reading Christian's e-mail message, "Eric, could you do a test ride for us as soon as you return from Thailand? Hayabusa vs. ZX-12R. Please let me know." Talk about an offer I couldn't refuse! In my

Jul/Aug '05

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad

As so often happens, I'm sitting in this huge plane getting ready to fly between Charlotte and L.A., and I'm wondering: When did they build the first of these Jumbos? More then 30 years ago. It's 2005 and this bird looks the same.

May/Jun '05

Kawasaki Concours - Long-term Evaluation

> Since its introduction in 1986, the largely unchanged Kawasaki Concours has inspired a loyal, some would say fanatical, following. The Concours Owners Group (COG) is well represented from coast to coast and beyond. This crew motors out of the woodwork for practically every motorcycle show and consistently show themselves

Mar/Apr '05

The Return of the UJM

> I knew if I bugged Bill long enough he'd sell me his bike. He hardly ever rode it. I was in a very unusual "bikeless" stage of my life while living in Asheville, NC, which is as close to moto-Utopia as you can get. I

Nov/Dec '04

Kawasaki ZRX1200R

> Naked bikes continue to grow in popularity as manufacturers from Asia and Europe jump on the bandwagon. Kawasaki was a pioneer in developing the modern standard and they have stuck to their guns by offering the ZRX1200R for another production year. As one of my daddy's favorite

Nov/Dec '04

Six-Gun Shootout

> RoadRUNNER takes to the open road in sleek super-sporting style aboard the latest 600cc class motorcycles. The 600cc sportbike class has long been known as one of the most competitive and arguably the most popular segment of the motorcycle industry. Since its inclusion in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)

Jul/Aug '04

Kawasaki Vulcan 2000

> In the country that invented "super-sized" servings, the Kawasaki Vulcan is King and boldly going where no Kawasaki has gone before  -  over 2,000cc. Computer controlled and fuel-injected, this mega-cruiser puts out 116 horses and a mind-blowing 141 ft/lbs of torque. Simply stated, this is

May/Jun '04

BMW K1200GT & Kawasaki ZZR1200

> BMW and Kawasaki have been active in the sport-touring market for quite a while. The German brand started out with the K series in the mid-eighties, and looking to produce a successor to the powerful ZX-10, the Japanese came up with the ZZR theme in 1990. Here, we'

Nov/Dec '03

Honda VTX1800C & Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

> Cruisers are getting bigger, longer, lower and heavier. A distinctly American style of riding, cruising is the manifestation of a major market both here and abroad. And two Japanese companies seem to have learned their lessons very well with the VTX1800 and Vulcan 1600 Classic proving they can convey

Nov/Dec '03

Honda VTX1800C and Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

> Cruisers are getting bigger, longer, lower and heavier. A distinctly American style of riding, cruising is the manifestation of a major market both here and abroad. And two Japanese companies seem to have learned their lessons very well with the VTX1800 and Vulcan 1600 Classic proving they can convey

Sep/Oct '03

Aprilia Tuono & Kawasaki Z1000

> For those who demand a comfortable riding position and still expect performance, Aprilia and Kawasaki offer two exciting sport bikes with high-mounted handlebars. We tested the new Tuono and the Z1000 on California back roads and freeways. Concept & Transformation Standards aren't simply standards any more. Using

Mar/Apr '03

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R/RR

> Team Green wants to recapture the crown for the best 600 Supersport bike. In our opinion, the totally new ZX-6R and ZX-6RR bikes greatly enhance the likelihood of meeting that goal, once RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Cruising & Touring jumped at the chance to ride them at their introduction on the

Spring '01

BMW R1200C / Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Drifter / Moto Guzzi California Special - Comparison Test

> Cruisers probably define the most popular style of American Riding. Because of the comfortable riding position, they offer you the best way to enjoy your ride. And besides, they look cool. Motorcycles from BMW are very popular in this country. The reasons: their good image, they're comfortable,