Kawasaki Motorcycle Reviews
Kawasaki Motorcycle Reviews and comparisons from Rider magazine. Kawasaki has come a long way since it produced its first 125cc two-stroke motorcycle in 1960. Browse our full collection of Kawasaki reviews below or use the search option to find a specific motorcycle review.
2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Review
Mark Tuttle
April 2, 2012
Before a burst of technology and specialization in the mid 1980s commenced sharpening our motorcycles into sportbikes, long-distance luxury tourers and cruisers, a street bike was a street bike. In those days you pretty much used the same one for everything: touring, commuting, canyon carving, even dirt... Read more »
Riding Among Giants, A 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS Tour Test
Greg Drevenstedt
January 26, 2012
Our motivations differed, but our destination was the same. Having fallen under the spell of majestic redwoods several years ago at Muir Woods National Monument, north of San Francisco, Carrie wanted to see big trees. Having fallen under the spell of the Kawasaki Concours 14, winner of our last sport-touring... Read more »
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R – First Ride
Greg Drevenstedt
January 23, 2012
At the dawn of the 21th century, as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12 and Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa duked it out for top-speed bragging rights, motorcycle manufacturers agreed to limit production machines to 186 mph (300 kph), avoiding legislative restrictions then being considered in Europe. Everyone grumbled... Read more »
2012 BMW K 1600 GT vs. 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 Road Test
Rider Magazine
November 22, 2011
photography by Kevin Wing [This 2012 BMW K 1600 GT vs. 2011 Kawasaki Concours 14 Road Test was originally published in the December 2011 issue of Rider magazine] Concours: Helmet: Shoei Qwest / Jacket: Tourmaster Jett 3 / Pants: Tourmaster Flex / Boots: Forma. BMW: Helmet: Arai Signet-Q / Jacket:... Read more »
2012 Kawasakis – First Look
Rider Magazine
October 10, 2011
Even though the leaves are turning brown, the season is green…Kawasaki green. The company has pulled the covers off its new-for-2012 street models, which includes three sportbikes and its flagship touring cruiser. 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R For 2012, the mightiest Ninja has been reworked from stem... Read more »
2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe vs. 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 21, 2011
photography by Rich Cox [This 2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe vs. 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero Rider Comparison Test was originally published in the July 2011 issue of Rider magazine] Above: A larger fairing and standard fairing lowers give the red Vaquero more wind protection than the Stratoliner Deluxe.... Read more »
2011 Honda CBR250R vs. Kawasaki Ninja 250R Road Test Comparison
Arden Kysely
June 13, 2011
photography by Rich Cox [This 2011 Honda CBR250R vs. Kawasaki Ninja 250R Road Test Comparison was originally published in the May 2011 issue of Rider magazine] The Ninja (left) reigns in the canyons, the CBR rules in town, but their capabilities overlap so much that we're still flipping a coin. Reading... Read more »
2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero Road Test
Bill Stermer
June 8, 2011
photography by Adam Campbell and Kinney Jones [This 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero Road Test was originally published in the April 2011 issue of Rider] With today’s economic realities, we all want more for our money. We want “Buy One, Get One Free,” we want “But wait—there’s more,” and... Read more »
2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 3, 2011
photography by Adam Campbell [This 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Road Test was originally published in the February 2011 issue of Rider magazine] The Ninja 1000 feels right at home in tight, twisty conditions with modest weight and zippy power. Perhaps because of our Puritanical roots, naked bikes aren’t... Read more »
California Sport-Touring Loops on the Kawasaki Concours 14
Clement Salvadori
April 7, 2011
story and photography by Clement Salvadori The road unrolls rapidly before me, the endless ribbon of two-lane blacktop smoothing out the hills and curves, disappearing around an oak tree, straightening briefly, then angling left and up. As it crests it slides right and down, and I drop a gear and apply... Read more »
