Kawasaki motorcycles
Kawasaki motorycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries at plants in Japan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.[1] The motorcycles have been produced since 1954.
History
Kawasaki Aircraft initially manufactured motorcycles under the Meguro Works name, but later formed Kawasaki Motor Sales.[2] Some motorcycles display an emblem with "Kawasaki Aircraft" on the fuel tank.
During the merger in 1962, Kawasaki engineers were engaged in the development of a four-stroke engine for small cars which ended in 1962 with some of the engineers transferred to the Meguro Works to work on the Meguro K1 and the SG, a single cylinder 250cc 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 copying of the BSA A7 500cc 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 4-stroke motorcycles in which case it was rejected for a lack of power. (Kawasaki Museum). By the mid-1960s, Kawasaki was finally importing 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.
See also
References
- ^ "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ Kawasaki Museum, Kawasaki as "Kawasaki Motorcycle Co. LTD."
- ^ K Hulsey, Classic Vintage Motorcycles: Kawasaki history
- ^ Daniel Levy, Stastsheet.com Kawasaki Motorcycles - "Independent In Thoughts And Actions".
- ^ Motorcycle Classics, Kawasaki W2TT Commander.