When I a kid of 18yrs old, my cousin bought a gpx 750 ninja and I used to just sit in the garage most of the time admiring that bike. I used to sit on it and imagine myself riding it and said one day...that's when my love affair started with the ninja brand. I have just taken delivery a few weeks ago of my h2 sx se and now I find myself sitting in my own garage admiring my bike. Thank you lord for your blessings.
I do the same, but I have a KLR650. Hahaha. I'd love to see the designer who thought that one up. So tell us how you designed the slowest bike Kawasaki ever made!! Haha.
The Mach III in 1969 was what put Kawasaki on the map . As a senior in high school I remember the shock when it bested Hemi Cudas, 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs and even the 427 Vetts. You could still call it a Ring Ding but you smiled when you said it , and it did not sound like a Ring Ding it was an awesome sound !
in 1970 i got my first bike, a new Kawasaki G3TR 90 cc. Paid $375.00 from Korcan Kawasaki, on Hastings Street in Vancouver B.C. Owned many, many Kawasakis since, and many, many others. Kawasaki was driving the pace in the early 70's, and the bikes of all brands from that time period are part of a classic, wonderful era. Now at 66 years old I would pay a small fortune for that little red 90.
My first bike was a '76 KZ400. My buddy had an H3 400 Triple . We had a lot of fun riding together. I restored and sold the KZ400 because the frame shimmy at speeds above 65 was incredibly dangerous. Someone below mentioned the upper cylinder leaks from the KZ400. Yep. The legs of my riding suit were always stained with oil. Funny how they didn't mention how dangerous the 750 and 500 triples were because of their marginal drum front brakes. All that engineering into speed, and frames that shimmied like crazy, and brakes that couldn't stop the machine......oops. In 1990 I purchased a red, white, and blue '86 Ninja zX600R and still love it. They were worth nothing back then, because the world had moved on, and most had been crashed. Now they've become a cult bike, and when people see mine, they flip. 450lbs, 50mpg, 69hp at the wheel, and a top speed of 135, but just and absolute joy to own and ride.
My first bike was a 2000 ZX6RJ1 lime green with full Ti-Hindle exhaust. She screamed all the way to 155 and soaked up the road. She had Michelin pilot powers with dual compound, brand new at that time. Light to light nothing could touch her and I miss her... What a freaking beast when you just turned 19 😎
Love it !! My first “fast bike was my 1995 ZX6R, after that I bought my first new bike which was a 2004 ZX6R 636, talk about night and day difference. I felt like that was a huge step up in horsepower and technology.
I was raised up on Honda , but my first Street Bike was a KZ900 an it was the Fastest among my friends who had HONDAS , SUZUKI and YAMAHA back in 1983 ... Thank You Kawasaki for the Great Memories
I love Kawasaki!!!! It’s always been my brand. It was the first bike I saved up for and bought with my own money. A KX125 at 13. I didn’t have to share it with my brother, and I even raced amateur motocross. I could ride motorcycles well long before I even thought about getting my drivers license. Even to this day I’ve got a Z1000 that I absolutely love. I actually just finished riding about an hour ago. I put a lot of miles on all my bikes. I’m really good about changing the oil and greasing/lubing everything I need to. I use Amsoil because it shifts very smoothly and also revs up smooth as well I can’t ever recall anything breaking or leaving me on the side of the road. And I ride a lot. I’ve gone 25,000 to 30,000 miles before passing it on to the next owner. Heck, some guys on the Kawasaki forums have gone over 100,000 miles on a ZX6R which has a 15,500 redline. If they can get that many miles out of a highly stressed bike like that, my Z1000 with a much lower redline and compression ratio will have no problem lasting as long as I’ll ever need it for. Unlike most people I use my bike for commuting for almost all year except for a few months in the Winter. I’ve even ridding quite a few days in the rain, just gotta be careful.
'81 ZX750 at 18 with flat bars, clubman mirror and Kerker exhaust. '90 ZX-6 at age 25, with 99,000 km, fantastic sport tourer for 16 years. 2006 ZX10R in pearl solar yellow at age 41. A scalpel with 170 hp and only 170 kg. So much passion for all of them.
I owned the very first 1984 Ninja 900, I loved that bike. I wish I still had it today. it was so stable that at any speed it felt like you were safe and secure, the fastest I went on it was at 11.45 at night riding to work, I did 145 mph on an upgrade. amazing bike. the first few months I owned it, everywhere I went people would gather around the bike and stare at it. I felt like I was riding the Bat Bike. this video makes me want to get a new Kawasaki, I have been considering a naked bike, maybe it will have to be the Z900, I just wish it had an upper fairing. My back doesn't like the seating position of the new Ninjas, but I also don't want to be buffeted by the wind.
Great documentary with some of my favorite people in it. I could literally stay within the confines of the Kawasaki brand and satisfy my moto lust the rest of my life.
Every corporation should have a similar policy. It's a shame when a customer orders something and the people they are dealing with do not know what is going on. Much confusion and mistakes could be avoided with that small change.
Hear again, much like the Yamaha documentary I watch of yours before, some very major Innovations are overlooked. One of the biggest Innovations for Kawasaki that was overlooked was fuel injection. It's not that Kawasaki was the first to ever put fuel injection on a motorcycle but they were the first large motorcycle manufacturer to try to bring it to Market.
@R K Watch the video again. They don't hire accountants to tighten bolts on your bike; they work on the bike for 3 months as their first task, and then they become an accountant or whatever else they wish to be.
I wanted a CBR 900, but rode the CBR 900 the same day I rode the ZX9R, I couldn't deny the difference. I bought the ZX9R and will never sell it. Thank you Kawasaki!
I own a 1996 kawasaki Vulcan VN800b with 62, 500 miles on it. I purchased it new. I love the motorcycle. When I was younger 5 of us had 100cc Enduro and that is what I learned how to ride on in sand pits. I'm 68 and not stopping riding yet.
I have only owned Kawasaki ninjas. 600, 1100, 1200, 900 . The 900 was my favorite of them all. Still have it to this day. Very fast very good handling. Superbike
I raced off road and motocross from 89-96 and just fell in love with the KXs. Large footpegs, incredible suspension and a great bottom to mid torque engine gave me and others lots of confidence to go even faster.
The Kawasaki inline twin is the true workhorse. From entry level bikes since the 70's to forklifts, jetski, snowmobiles and bilge pumps. Great little motor.
I like Kawasaki. They're built like the aircraft I work on. The redline says 14,500rpm and she'll do at least that. The only limit on a Kawasaki 4 cylinder bike is you. I once had Yamahas. The XS650 A,B,C .. etc.. which is a clone of a Triumph Bonneville. beautiful. Then the Z1 came out. I was flat out on the Yammie and the Z1 passed me with absolutely no effort. I was doing 135mph at the time. That day I learned that Kawasaki are the master of engine technology. The lesson has stuck with me after 40 years
So you were doing 135 mph on your XS650 and you were overtaken. My slow Honda 600 would manage to overtake you on your XS650 easily, but does not really go much faster than that.
I had a Z1-B in 1976. It was a brilliant bike to ride but a bit hairy with 1 disc on the front and drum on the back. Miles better than the modern bikes though.
in terms of technology modern bikes win. In terms of raw simplicity, older bikes rule. But always there must be one feature to make it a motorbike - it must be able to kill you
The GPZs were actually the first ninjas, they just hadn't come up with the name yet. The "ninja" name was selected for the US market, because naming a vehicle with just letters and numbers seemed uninspired, and was what other manufacturers were doing. In fact, the "ninja" name is said to have inspired the other manufacturers to start naming their bikes similarly, like the Hayabusa, Katana, Fireblade, etc.
Good to see & know much about the Kawasaki Heavy Motor Industries & their bikes, & I was also one of it's consumer in the 100c.c bike being launched in India 34 years back and I was it's proud owner.And all of it's parts were originally embossed with "Made in Japan" & I having used that KB100 bike having 10.5 BHP then & had travelled 650 km in 10.5 hours with 2 stopping of an hour and a half for food & because of rains. Yet also many times 360 kms in 4 - 4.5 hours on my Kawasaki Bajaj KB100 on double rides only. I also tested on a double ride in order to test it's mileage on highway for 360 kms at a constant speed of 40 kmph., for which I got 94 kms/Lt mileage of petrol fuel on that 2-stroke KB100 bike. What a gem it was with me for 24 years, & later sold it to my working office for office purpose. Yes, I still adore KAWASAKI BIKES though I am using an YAMAHA sporty tourist bike now.I wish to go for the NINJA ZX-10 as my next racing bike hopefully,and about this nor about the H2 & H2R a word is spoken about these revolutionary master piece superbikes that people crave to buy them. So, do bring out coverage of these bikes also as soon as possible. Thanks, C.Sridhar, Bengaluru
I was a Senior in HS in 1969. I lusted for a Mach III. Never got one. Years later I owned a Kawasaki ZRX1200....a wild wheelie machine. The New H2+H2R are in the same league as the Mach3 was in '69. The aircraft quality of Kawasaki puts them ahead of other Japanese motorcycles and I have owned them all.
Would have liked to have seen more time spent on all the 3 cylinder 2 Stoke models, that was where my passion for Kawasakis began, not only that but their unique design of finishing the back ends with their beautiful tail fairings, lots of chrome etc
Seeing this really helps one appreciate the history of the company . I'm getting a motorcycle this summer. It just may be a ninja. Thanks for putting this together.
I just bought my first bike 3 months ago: 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 500R with 8,800 miles. For me, after doing a lot of research, is definitely a great beginner bike and besides being a pleasure to ride you can appreciate the quality and design of it even though it is 20 years old. After watching this documentary I have come to the following conclusions: 1. Glad I bought it 2. My next and subsequent bikes will be a Kawasaki.
Kawasaki and Ducati, my 2 fave bike builders... my first fast Kawasaki that left an indelible mark on me was the KR-1 250 I bought back in 1989.. loved that bike!
No mention of the Z1R which was referred to as the coffin partly due to its deathly power output for the day and partly because of its coffin-shaped fuel tank. The bike, ridden by Graeme Crosby, won most races down here in the South Pacific in the late 70's and a massive part of motorcycling here.
That is because us Americans are fat and lazy. Where I work more than 50% are overweight and some are obese. They constantly play with their cell phones even on the job while working and the company tolerates it to keep them happy. They talk endlessly. I can't understand how they get any work done and some are only producing 30% of their rate. Americans no longer know what a good days work is and couldn't handle it if they tried. The other problem is the Management doesn't know how to run a company efficiently. The work flow in my company is erratic and unorganized. After over 50 years in business they are just now starting to understand straight line flow like an assembly line but it will take them several more years to fully understand how to do it and implement the process. If we built these bikes here a $10,000 bike would be $25,000 to cover the Union costs and inefficiency. Our Country is sick and no one has the cure. If they did the drug company would charge $5000 a pill.
The most important part is this: the production line is regarded as a single machine, and if any part goes wrong, they immediately stop the whole thing and get it fixed. Any issue is backtracked to where it happens, not just a cursory look at the place the problem was detected. This is why Japanese manufacturing has such high quality.
I didn't know the history, but I appreciate craftsmanship - and that's why I bought the Ninja 400 KRT Edition, as a pre-birthday present for myself, 3 days ago.
I Personally like Kawasaki since the ZX14R came out and Now since the 2015 H2R is another level with 300 HP, Wow its Mind Blowing,its same Horsepower they were used in MTT Y2K TURBINE Bike in 2004.
Brother got 85 900 ninja rode it once bought 1985. 600 ninja next day, the best bike i ever owned. To this day to me the best looking bike ever made. It truly looked like a race bike. Dang fast in its day.
I got my zx6r in 2002 and i still have it til this day. I had the 250 back in 2001. That was my first true sport bike even though i had driven scooters back in the 90s in Vietnam.
Rode a '00 ZX6R and a '03 ZX9R for more then 120000kms with 0 breakdowns. Trackdays, commuting, 2 up riding,...The last version of the 9er was the best alround sportsbike i've ever had.
I as well have a 08 zx 14. My second one. First one i bought brand new. I sold it in 2013 bought a v rod. Then sold the v rod bought a 14 again midnight sapphire blue metallic.
Me to, started off with a KX125 at 13, owned a few ZX6R’s and now I have a Z1000. I put quite a few miles on all of them and never had a single problem
Loved kawasakis since '83, my little girl since she could speak, Linda what do we call Kawasakis?' Kawas', shot!! But a '05 650 Bandit is just so so special!!!
Bought a ER6N 2015 last year ...love it , its beautiful and the handling is perfect, don't know why but no other bike manufacturer does it for me ......I have the metallic lime green and its stunning to look at .....
i WAS 16 WHEN THE Z-1 CAME OUT.RIDING A 250 CC YAMAHA. STRANGER LET ME TAKE HIS BRAND NEW Z1 FOR A RIDE. JESUS WAS THAT A RIDE. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH DISC BRAKES THAT NEARLY ENDED BADLY ALSO.
I love my Ninja ZX-10R in lime green. I had a couple of Honda cruisers before this bike, but this bike is more fun than any other bike that I have ridden.
I have a 2002, 1500 Kawi its an awesome piece of machine, took it to 160 mi per never have had major problems just small stuff. Will keep it for a long time
I owned a 1980 KZ1000 LTD for a few years and I loved it.. when it ran. Previous owner neglected it...sat 11 years in his garage with fuel in the tank. Many hours and hundreds of dollars later, I had a fast, reliable bike... original owner made an offer I couldn’t refuse and I sold it back to him. He had it restored, and now it’s sitting in his garage again... with a full tank of gas.. and has been for 7 years. So sad. What a great bike it was for me!
I just picked up a 1999 zx9r in mint condition....... Its big, its heavy ( By today's standards ) but damn me its still so much fun! And yes its lime green :-)
Y cousin is a factory rep for Kawasaki USA. I've had some great times riding with him. The 2005 Ninja 1000 is a beast that also handles like a kitten! Just loved that bike! Also the 2011 Z1 muscle bike is a bad ass ride. Kawasaki I believe makes the best engine in motorcycling. Power, top end, they just seem to have it all!
Guy i know had a rootbeer z1 with a4 into 1 kerker pipe ...when he would come around the corner at my house he'd punch it and ride a wheelie all the way down the hill to his house... i was 14... talk about a childhood idol !!!
I had/have many supersports but the one i will never sell and always daily ride commute is my full black 06 zx10r The feeling a ninja 10r gives you is so telepathetic and emotional.
I have owned 2 yamahas, one Suzuki, and two Kawasakis. The Yamahas were the most reliable requiring little maintenance. Suzuki required maintenance but I was able to do all the work. The Kawasakis were by far the fastest, but brokedown on me alot. I hope my current Kawi will be more reliable.
This is why..the World has Kawasaki...at # 1 In the industry ..in my books..at 70 yrs old...and I have a New 2018 Harley..too...the Kawasaki 750 and 1000...were bad ass...I still have them too...along with a Ninja...2018...I like to ride..what can I say..
I had a NEW 1992 ZX-11 Ninja.... only ZX-11 with a Black frame and All Black Body.... very nice... I installed a black smoke windshield.... speedo stopped at 320km and I could get the speedo needle passed that
I got a 1995 ZX6R Ninja myself atm, and absolutely love it! I used to have a '90 ZZR 600 and a '87 GPZ 600R aswel. Kawasaki bikes are my absolute favorite, Honda in 2nd place. Still looking to buy myself a ZXR 750 and its successor the ZX7R. :D
Not fast when it’s on a 300. That’s the trouble, it’s way overused. I removed the Ninja from my ZX14R because it’s just so stupid. Great bikes apart from that.
My 1st bike was a 73 S-2=350 triple, beat the hell out of it for 1 year then bought a 74 Z-1, Wiseco 1015 CC kit, Megacycles 417 cams, 29 smooth bores, decked cylinder and head, Manley SS valves, head ported fast bike for its day
It's called "greenstreak green" for those that were not born long ago. The Kawasaki Green Streak was the first mass produced race bike - and the first lime green motorcycle from the company now directly associated with this color. This two stroke, 238cc off-roader was produced between 1968 and 1970. It weighed just 215 pounds and produced a claimed output of 30 horsepower!
I had the same bike same year in silver with 4k original miles...Wow what a mind blowing experience...A true work of art it was...The fastest roll on speed of any bike I have ever owned from 60 to 180 on planet earth..What a RUSH....I wish I never sold it.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
When I a kid of 18yrs old, my cousin bought a gpx 750 ninja and I used to just sit in the garage most of the time admiring that bike. I used to sit on it and imagine myself riding it and said one day...that's when my love affair started with the ninja brand.
I have just taken delivery a few weeks ago of my h2 sx se and now I find myself sitting in my own garage admiring my bike.
Thank you lord for your blessings.
I would have driven the bike if I bought it.
I do the same, but I have a KLR650. Hahaha. I'd love to see the designer who thought that one up. So tell us how you designed the slowest bike Kawasaki ever made!! Haha.
The Mach III in 1969 was what put Kawasaki on the map . As a senior in high school I remember the shock when it bested Hemi Cudas, 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs and even the 427 Vetts. You could still call it a Ring Ding but you smiled when you said it , and it did not sound like a Ring Ding it was an awesome sound !
I'm English, and I've owned Kawasakis since 1979. They're simply the best I've found.
Woooow 🔥💚
Thank you, Mr. Kawasaki. The world is better because of you!
Is it?
2 times yes
@@sambazill make that 4. My zxr636 gives me total joy
He was long gone before the company decided to make motorcycles.
in 1970 i got my first bike, a new Kawasaki G3TR 90 cc. Paid $375.00 from Korcan Kawasaki, on Hastings Street in Vancouver B.C. Owned many, many Kawasakis since, and many, many others. Kawasaki was driving the pace in the early 70's, and the bikes of all brands from that time period are part of a classic, wonderful era. Now at 66 years old I would pay a small fortune for that little red 90.
My first bike was a '76 KZ400. My buddy had an H3 400 Triple . We had a lot of fun riding together. I restored and sold the KZ400 because the frame shimmy at speeds above 65 was incredibly dangerous. Someone below mentioned the upper cylinder leaks from the KZ400. Yep. The legs of my riding suit were always stained with oil. Funny how they didn't mention how dangerous the 750 and 500 triples were because of their marginal drum front brakes. All that engineering into speed, and frames that shimmied like crazy, and brakes that couldn't stop the machine......oops. In 1990 I purchased a red, white, and blue '86 Ninja zX600R and still love it. They were worth nothing back then, because the world had moved on, and most had been crashed. Now they've become a cult bike, and when people see mine, they flip. 450lbs, 50mpg, 69hp at the wheel, and a top speed of 135, but just and absolute joy to own and ride.
wish i still had mine, or the gpz 750 too! impossible to find
My first bike was a 2000 ZX6RJ1 lime green with full Ti-Hindle exhaust. She screamed all the way to 155 and soaked up the road. She had Michelin pilot powers with dual compound, brand new at that time. Light to light nothing could touch her and I miss her... What a freaking beast when you just turned 19 😎
Love it !! My first “fast bike was my 1995 ZX6R, after that I bought my first new bike which was a 2004 ZX6R 636, talk about night and day difference. I felt like that was a huge step up in horsepower and technology.
I was raised up on Honda , but my first Street Bike was a KZ900 an it was the Fastest among my friends who had HONDAS , SUZUKI and YAMAHA back in 1983 ... Thank You Kawasaki for the Great Memories
I love Kawasaki!!!! It’s always been my brand. It was the first bike I saved up for and bought with my own money. A KX125 at 13. I didn’t have to share it with my brother, and I even raced amateur motocross. I could ride motorcycles well long before I even thought about getting my drivers license. Even to this day I’ve got a Z1000 that I absolutely love. I actually just finished riding about an hour ago. I put a lot of miles on all my bikes. I’m really good about changing the oil and greasing/lubing everything I need to. I use Amsoil because it shifts very smoothly and also revs up smooth as well I can’t ever recall anything breaking or leaving me on the side of the road. And I ride a lot. I’ve gone 25,000 to 30,000 miles before passing it on to the next owner. Heck, some guys on the Kawasaki forums have gone over 100,000 miles on a ZX6R which has a 15,500 redline. If they can get that many miles out of a highly stressed bike like that, my Z1000 with a much lower redline and compression ratio will have no problem lasting as long as I’ll ever need it for. Unlike most people I use my bike for commuting for almost all year except for a few months in the Winter. I’ve even ridding quite a few days in the rain, just gotta be careful.
Any relation to John Smith ?
'81 ZX750 at 18 with flat bars, clubman mirror and Kerker exhaust. '90 ZX-6 at age 25, with 99,000 km, fantastic sport tourer for 16 years. 2006 ZX10R in pearl solar yellow at age 41. A scalpel with 170 hp and only 170 kg. So much passion for all of them.
I owned the very first 1984 Ninja 900, I loved that bike. I wish I still had it today. it was so stable that at any speed it felt like you were safe and secure, the fastest I went on it was at 11.45 at night riding to work, I did 145 mph on an upgrade. amazing bike. the first few months I owned it, everywhere I went people would gather around the bike and stare at it. I felt like I was riding the Bat Bike. this video makes me want to get a new Kawasaki, I have been considering a naked bike, maybe it will have to be the Z900, I just wish it had an upper fairing. My back doesn't like the seating position of the new Ninjas, but I also don't want to be buffeted by the wind.
Great documentary with some of my favorite people in it. I could literally stay within the confines of the Kawasaki brand and satisfy my moto lust the rest of my life.
That's awesome that everyone that comes to work for the company has to spend 3 months working at the assembly line.
Every corporation should have a similar policy. It's a shame when a customer orders something and the people they are dealing with do not know what is going on. Much confusion and mistakes could be avoided with that small change.
I have to agree with you. it should be law!
Cuban Rider I wonder if they could afford to buy a bike from the factory?
Hear again, much like the Yamaha documentary I watch of yours before, some very major Innovations are overlooked. One of the biggest Innovations for Kawasaki that was overlooked was fuel injection. It's not that Kawasaki was the first to ever put fuel injection on a motorcycle but they were the first large motorcycle manufacturer to try to bring it to Market.
@R K Watch the video again. They don't hire accountants to tighten bolts on your bike; they work on the bike for 3 months as their first task, and then they become an accountant or whatever else they wish to be.
I wanted a CBR 900, but rode the CBR 900 the same day I rode the ZX9R, I couldn't deny the difference. I bought the ZX9R and will never sell it. Thank you Kawasaki!
I had a 1998 ZX9R and absolutely loved it!!!
I own a 1996 kawasaki Vulcan VN800b with 62, 500 miles on it. I purchased it new. I love the motorcycle. When I was younger 5 of us had 100cc Enduro and that is what I learned how to ride on in sand pits. I'm 68 and not stopping riding yet.
I have only owned Kawasaki ninjas. 600, 1100, 1200, 900 . The 900 was my favorite of them all. Still have it to this day. Very fast very good handling. Superbike
I raced off road and motocross from 89-96 and just fell in love with the KXs. Large footpegs, incredible suspension and a great bottom to mid torque engine gave me and others lots of confidence to go even faster.
My son is an engineer in R&D.. they build all kinds of motors for lawn mowers, snow blowers and all kinds of other cool stuff1
They build way cooler stuff than that like bullet trains and helicopters
The Kawasaki inline twin is the true workhorse. From entry level bikes since the 70's to forklifts, jetski, snowmobiles and bilge pumps. Great little motor.
I like Kawasaki. They're built like the aircraft I work on. The redline says 14,500rpm and she'll do at least that. The only limit on a Kawasaki 4 cylinder bike is you.
I once had Yamahas. The XS650 A,B,C .. etc.. which is a clone of a Triumph Bonneville. beautiful. Then the Z1 came out. I was flat out on the Yammie and the Z1 passed me with absolutely no effort. I was doing 135mph at the time. That day I learned that Kawasaki are the master of engine technology. The lesson has stuck with me after 40 years
So you were doing 135 mph on your XS650 and you were overtaken. My slow Honda 600 would manage to overtake you on your XS650 easily, but does not really go much faster than that.
Personally i think the big 4 Japanese brands are all masters of engine technology.
I had a Z1-B in 1976. It was a brilliant bike to ride but a bit hairy with 1 disc on the front and drum on the back. Miles better than the modern bikes though.
Miles better than modern bikes? Your joking right?
in terms of technology modern bikes win. In terms of raw simplicity, older bikes rule. But always there must be one feature to make it a motorbike - it must be able to kill you
The GPZs were even more influential than the Ninjas as far as starting the sport bike craze.
The GPZs were actually the first ninjas, they just hadn't come up with the name yet. The "ninja" name was selected for the US market, because naming a vehicle with just letters and numbers seemed uninspired, and was what other manufacturers were doing.
In fact, the "ninja" name is said to have inspired the other manufacturers to start naming their bikes similarly, like the Hayabusa, Katana, Fireblade, etc.
@@bladeofwar Like Honda did in the early 70's when they called the CR's Elsinore
I never seen a GPZ that was green either, alot of their bikes use to be red / black or white.
I will never forget the zx9r and the zx12r!!!! Before there was a zx10r and a zx14. Such beautiful body styles. Ninja forever
Amen brother
BlackOps M26 Zx10 was out long before the zx9 and Zx 12. It was the gpz900, gpz1000, then 1986 came the Zx10 until 1989-90
My first year owning my 2000 zx9r, i put over 10,000 miles on it. My dream bike is the zx12r. One day she will be mines
When I was 16 the GPz550, 750 and 1100 had just come out, I used to stand outside the Kawasaki showroom, look through the window and dream. :)
Good to see & know much about the Kawasaki Heavy Motor Industries & their bikes, & I was also one of it's consumer in the 100c.c bike being launched in India 34 years back and I was it's proud owner.And all of it's parts were originally embossed with "Made in Japan" & I having used that KB100 bike having 10.5 BHP then & had travelled 650 km in 10.5 hours with 2 stopping of an hour and a half for food & because of rains. Yet also many times 360 kms in 4 - 4.5 hours on my Kawasaki Bajaj KB100 on double rides only. I also tested on a double ride in order to test it's mileage on highway for 360 kms at a constant speed of 40 kmph., for which I got 94 kms/Lt mileage of petrol fuel on that 2-stroke KB100 bike. What a gem it was with me for 24 years, & later sold it to my working office for office purpose. Yes, I still adore KAWASAKI BIKES though I am using an YAMAHA sporty tourist bike now.I wish to go for the NINJA ZX-10 as my next racing bike hopefully,and about this nor about the H2 & H2R a word is spoken about these revolutionary master piece superbikes that people crave to buy them. So, do bring out coverage of these bikes also as soon as possible.
Thanks,
C.Sridhar, Bengaluru
Agree MEGA UPVOTES !
God bless Japan and its people and all their engineering.I love Japanese technology
I was a Senior in HS in 1969. I lusted for a Mach III. Never got one. Years later I owned a Kawasaki ZRX1200....a wild wheelie machine. The New H2+H2R are in the same league as the Mach3 was in '69. The aircraft quality of Kawasaki puts them ahead of other Japanese motorcycles and I have owned them all.
Japanese craftmanship has been and always will be something else man
thank you for this history, just bought a 2014 zx14r,(NJ)
Wish I never sold my green '74 H2B...bought it new, sold it 3 years later...I damn near come to tears when I think about it..
Would have liked to have seen more time spent on all the 3 cylinder 2 Stoke models, that was where my passion for Kawasakis began, not only that but their unique design of finishing the back ends with their beautiful tail fairings, lots of chrome etc
Seeing this really helps one appreciate the history of the company . I'm getting a motorcycle this summer. It just may be a ninja. Thanks for putting this together.
I just bought my first bike 3 months ago: 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 500R with 8,800 miles. For me, after doing a lot of research, is definitely a great beginner bike and besides being a pleasure to ride you can appreciate the quality and design of it even though it is 20 years old.
After watching this documentary I have come to the following conclusions: 1. Glad I bought it 2. My next and subsequent bikes will be a Kawasaki.
"The bikes are better than us"
Truer words never spoken..
In 1975 i bought a 71 h1 triple i was seventeen wow so much fun to ride still hooked on kawasaki
Kawasaki and Ducati, my 2 fave bike builders... my first fast Kawasaki that left an indelible mark on me was the KR-1 250 I bought back in 1989.. loved that bike!
My first bike was a Kawasaki and a just felt in love with the brand and the riding world...
I was the very proud owner of a Z900 back in the 80 and a GPZ1100 .Nothing like a Kawasaki . Just wished I had the money to visit the factory.😊
No mention of the Z1R which was referred to as the coffin partly due to its deathly power output for the day and partly because of its coffin-shaped fuel tank. The bike, ridden by Graeme Crosby, won most races down here in the South Pacific in the late 70's and a massive part of motorcycling here.
It would be nice if this documentary included the first 20 years of Kawasaki motorcycles. And this is more a hype video than a true documentary.
The Kawasaki factory blew my mind. The Japanese efficiency is out of this world.
That is because us Americans are fat and lazy. Where I work more than 50% are overweight and some are obese. They constantly play with their cell phones even on the job while working and the company tolerates it to keep them happy. They talk endlessly. I can't understand how they get any work done and some are only producing 30% of their rate. Americans no longer know what a good days work is and couldn't handle it if they tried. The other problem is the Management doesn't know how to run a company efficiently. The work flow in my company is erratic and unorganized. After over 50 years in business they are just now starting to understand straight line flow like an assembly line but it will take them several more years to fully understand how to do it and implement the process. If we built these bikes here a $10,000 bike would be $25,000 to cover the Union costs and inefficiency. Our Country is sick and no one has the cure. If they did the drug company would charge $5000 a pill.
The simple fact that they have error proof production and assembly system speaks volumes to thier commitment to quility..love em.
The most important part is this: the production line is regarded as a single machine, and if any part goes wrong, they immediately stop the whole thing and get it fixed. Any issue is backtracked to where it happens, not just a cursory look at the place the problem was detected. This is why Japanese manufacturing has such high quality.
I’m a massive Kawasaki fan had two Zx6r’s and loved them both 💚. But knew nothing about the actual history of Kawasaki.... absolutely awesome 😎
I didn't know the history, but I appreciate craftsmanship - and that's why I bought the Ninja 400 KRT Edition, as a pre-birthday present for myself, 3 days ago.
It’s official, I need to go to Atopolis. What an amazing history.
I still have two of the three Kawasaki bikes that I've bought over the years. I love em, 02-ZZR1200 and a last year model Gen 2 KLR 650.
I Personally like Kawasaki since the ZX14R came out and Now since the 2015 H2R is another level with 300 HP, Wow its Mind Blowing,its same Horsepower they were used in MTT Y2K TURBINE Bike in 2004.
Brother got 85 900 ninja rode it once bought 1985. 600 ninja next day, the best bike i ever owned. To this day to me the best looking bike ever made. It truly looked like a race bike. Dang fast in its day.
I got my zx6r in 2002 and i still have it til this day. I had the 250 back in 2001. That was my first true sport bike even though i had driven scooters back in the 90s in Vietnam.
Rode a '00 ZX6R and a '03 ZX9R for more then 120000kms with 0 breakdowns. Trackdays, commuting, 2 up riding,...The last version of the 9er was the best alround sportsbike i've ever had.
My first bike was a ‘09 Ninja 250R I absolutely loved it, rode it all the way to Indianapolis for the MotoGP race
I have a 06 zx14, best bike I've ever owned. Would love to see my bikes original "medical records"
i have bought and sold40-50 bikes since 1976--and my 08 zx14is by far the best yet
I also have an '06 zx14r. It's such a treat.
I as well have a 08 zx 14. My second one. First one i bought brand new. I sold it in 2013 bought a v rod. Then sold the v rod bought a 14 again midnight sapphire blue metallic.
The only Japanese motorcycle brand I've never owned. I wish they would get back into MotoGP.
Me to, started off with a KX125 at 13, owned a few ZX6R’s and now I have a Z1000. I put quite a few miles on all of them and never had a single problem
Same, I wish more factory bikes to compete and drive competition.
Robert Smith I have a z1000. It’s mean!
i had a 2008 concours 14 - would pull your arms out of their sockets -
An innovative, 'middle finger' company is always welcome. That's how you create lifelong fans.
Loved kawasakis since '83, my little girl since she could speak, Linda what do we call Kawasakis?' Kawas', shot!! But a '05 650 Bandit is just so so special!!!
Bought a ER6N 2015 last year ...love it , its beautiful and the handling is perfect, don't know why but no other bike manufacturer does it for me ......I have the metallic lime green and its stunning to look at .....
Japanese , engineering perfection
That is German engineered perfection
Good shit...Also optics and electronics
A much better 500cc parallel vert. twin, with mainly more durable eletrics than Lucas! How did Spitfires
last that long, or didn't the need to?
Might be Japanese engineering, but the 6 sigma manufacturing process that allows for high reliability was developed in the US.
@@jeremykirk1334 not true anymore..BMW bikes are the perfect example of their engineering turning to shit.
i WAS 16 WHEN THE Z-1 CAME OUT.RIDING A 250 CC YAMAHA. STRANGER LET ME TAKE HIS BRAND NEW Z1 FOR A RIDE. JESUS WAS THAT A RIDE. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH DISC BRAKES THAT NEARLY ENDED BADLY ALSO.
I love my Ninja ZX-10R in lime green. I had a couple of Honda cruisers before this bike, but this bike is more fun than any other bike that I have ridden.
I have a 2002, 1500 Kawi its an awesome piece of machine, took it to 160 mi per never have had major problems just small stuff. Will keep it for a long time
Very informative. Just “this is how we started and who we are”. No mud slinging and let the fans decide on what’s to appreciate.. I appreciate!
I owned a 1980 KZ1000 LTD for a few years and I loved it.. when it ran. Previous owner neglected it...sat 11 years in his garage with fuel in the tank. Many hours and hundreds of dollars later, I had a fast, reliable bike... original owner made an offer I couldn’t refuse and I sold it back to him. He had it restored, and now it’s sitting in his garage again... with a full tank of gas.. and has been for 7 years. So sad. What a great bike it was for me!
Awesome documentary. Thanks for allowing me to learn so much today 👍🏼
Versys 1000. What's not to love? They build great bikes.
The side fairing is too fat, i like the 650 better
I just picked up a 1999 zx9r in mint condition....... Its big, its heavy ( By today's standards ) but damn me its still so much fun!
And yes its lime green :-)
Y cousin is a factory rep for Kawasaki USA. I've had some great times riding with him. The 2005 Ninja 1000 is a beast that also handles like a kitten! Just loved that bike! Also the 2011 Z1 muscle bike is a bad ass ride. Kawasaki I believe makes the best engine in motorcycling. Power, top end, they just seem to have it all!
I've owned three Kawasakis which covered a combined 47 years of ownership. I may start another streak next year.
I love the old Zs. The dream from my childhood. Today i have a Z, from 2013. Kawa is the best!
I know they missed a lot of good bikes but i was dissapointed they didnt give more credit to the z9 .. they rocked the superbike world for years
Yeah.. it didnt get the nickname the king for nothing
Guy i know had a rootbeer z1 with a4 into 1 kerker pipe ...when he would come around the corner at my house he'd punch it and ride a wheelie all the way down the hill to his house... i was 14... talk about a childhood idol !!!
There are a few great bike makers out there but Kawasaki stands top 3 undoubtedly. If not number 1.
Great video
Enjoyed every minute
Thumbs up 👍
Thanks for sharing
Peace
I had/have many supersports but the one i will never sell and always daily ride commute is my full black 06 zx10r The feeling a ninja 10r gives you is so telepathetic and emotional.
Kawasaki is just freaking-lime-green awesome! Thanks to come to our lifes!
From Beginner to Master :D
1. Kawasaki Z125 (Minibike)
2. Kawasaki KLX150 (Dirtbike)
3. Kawasaki KX250F (Dirtbike)
4. Kawasaki Versys x300 (ADV)
5. Kawasaki Ninja 400 (SportBike)
6. Kawasaki Vulcan s (Crusier)
7. Kawasaki Z800 (Naked)
8. Kawasaki Z900RS (Cafe Racer)
9. Kawasaki ZX10R (Superbike)
10. Kawasaki ZX14R (Drag Bike)
11. Kawasaki H2 (Hyperbike)
#RidingThroughTheRange
All these are not histories, but beginnings of the companies, straight to sport bike production and evolution.
I have owned 2 yamahas, one Suzuki, and two Kawasakis. The Yamahas were the most reliable requiring little maintenance. Suzuki required maintenance but I was able to do all the work. The Kawasakis were by far the fastest, but brokedown on me alot. I hope my current Kawi will be more reliable.
Always been a proud owner of a, Kawasaki vulcan 900 Classic. Even more so now after watching this
The new Duracell spokesman guy never thought I'd hear his voice outside of that commercials
Great Documentary! I got a 2008 ZX6R all Black. Very Happy 😊 🏍 💨
Picking up my first bike in a month. Ninja 650 and i cannot wait:p
i hope these line workers make a good living. they do a great job.
The 3 cylinder 2 strokes in the early 70's were the best!
I still have a dent in my forehead from the tach on my KH 600!!
Nice video. Would have been nice to have a few sequences on the Mach IV H2 750...
This is why..the World has Kawasaki...at # 1
In the industry ..in my books..at 70 yrs old...and I have a New 2018 Harley..too...the Kawasaki 750 and 1000...were bad ass...I still have them too...along with a Ninja...2018...I like to ride..what can I say..
Best ever motorcycle ever built the z1..and 47years later still producing outstanding motorcycles king k forever 👍👍👌👌🙏🙏✌️✌️🤘🤘🤩🤩❤️
I have had Kawasaki motorcycle . I want to see the factory in Japan before I die
I had a NEW 1992 ZX-11 Ninja.... only ZX-11 with a Black frame and All Black Body.... very nice... I installed a black smoke windshield.... speedo stopped at 320km and I could get the speedo needle passed that
Awesome documentary!
I love my Kawi’s💚
Cheers
Some say the test riders are the Stig's Japanese cousin.
Some older Japanese say:
"Stig-San is cousin of Yamaha test riders, only Stig-San has smaller shrimps in the pants."
😂
very impressed and i own 2 x zzr1100's and the greatest of them all the zzr 1400 the lean green mean machines
I got a 1995 ZX6R Ninja myself atm, and absolutely love it! I used to have a '90 ZZR 600 and a '87 GPZ 600R aswel. Kawasaki bikes are my absolute favorite, Honda in 2nd place. Still looking to buy myself a ZXR 750 and its successor the ZX7R. :D
And then they created H2 nd H2R 😍
Amazed to see the precision Kawasaki follows to make error free bikes. Amazing video, thanks for putting this together and sharing it with us. 👌👌👍👍❤❤
Gotta love kawi’s. I’ve owned Kawi dirt bikes since 2001
I wish the history of the other Kawasaki lines would have been included such as dirt bike/enduro
NINJA! The names says it all.
Ninja a blindly fast and efficient killing machine. You have to love that name, even if you arent a Kawasaki fan.
Not fast when it’s on a 300. That’s the trouble, it’s way overused. I removed the Ninja from my ZX14R because it’s just so stupid. Great bikes apart from that.
@DJRICKYDEEUK you nailed it!!!
Even the Ninja knows to hide from a Hurricane!
Bridgestone, about 1970, built classy two-stroke, two fifty CC two stroke bikes.
Owing a new KX80 in 1984 changed my life forever !!!
Anyone here old enough to remember "British Racing Green"?
Ii say, ol' boy, BRG was/is much richer and darker than this lime green livery, eh, what..??
Yes me I am 64next week British racing green gleams when polished correctly. And I can see my bald head in the panels
trying to forget the engineering nightmare of British cars.
My Triumph Sprint in painted BRG.
@@lesbratton5411 I have a mini s in BRG of course to go along with my Z900.
My 1st bike was a 73 S-2=350 triple, beat the hell out of it for 1 year then bought a 74 Z-1, Wiseco 1015 CC kit, Megacycles 417 cams, 29 smooth bores, decked cylinder and head, Manley SS valves, head ported fast bike for its day
Thank You KAWASAKI. !! 👍
For I Have the 2016 ZX14R SE NINJA. !! AWESOME MACHINE. ! Stupid Fast. !
Love it. !
It's called "greenstreak green" for those that were not born long ago.
The Kawasaki Green Streak was the first mass produced race bike - and the first lime green motorcycle from the company now directly associated with this color. This two stroke, 238cc off-roader was produced between 1968 and 1970. It weighed just 215 pounds and produced a claimed output of 30 horsepower!
Thank you Kawasaki for producing the ZX14 !!!
Busa Killer 💚🔥🇯🇵⛩️💪
Zx12r all daaaay..04 still blazing and it's now 2019. I'll ride her till the engine jumps out. Gooo Kawi
I had the same bike same year in silver with 4k original miles...Wow what a mind blowing experience...A true work of art it was...The fastest roll on speed of any bike I have ever owned from 60 to 180 on planet earth..What a RUSH....I wish I never sold it.