Kawasaki Motorcycle Road Tests
& Reviews
Kawasaki Motorcycle Guide
The Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Division has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1954. The trademarked names of some of Kawasaki's powersports machines–from Kawasaki Ninja sportbikes to Kawasaki Vulcan cruisers to Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft–have become household names.
Kawasaki Unveils More 2013 Ninja Sportbikes
Greg Drevenstedt
September 13, 2012
September 13, New York City – Kawasaki has taken over Times Square today, using one of the most high-profile locations in the world to unveil the latest batch of Ninja sportbikes. In July, Kawasaki released information about the 2013 Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja 650/ABS. Today’s unveiling fills out the... Read more »
Early-Release 2013 Kawasakis – First Look
Greg Drevenstedt
July 26, 2012
Confident that neither the Mayan calendar nor the contentious presidential election will bring the world to a grinding halt later this year, Kawasaki is celebrating the new year ahead of schedule with six early-release 2013 models. Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-10R was completely overhauled for 2011 with new... Read more »
Retrospective: Kawasaki KZ750-E: 1980 – 1982
Clement Salvadori
July 6, 2012
(This Retrospective article was featured in the July 2012 issue of Rider Magazine) Story and photography by Clement Salvadori Year/Model: 1981 Kawasaki KZ750-E Owner: Franco Teti, Los Osos, California Class distinctions by engine size are important, and are often delineated by the numbers on a motorcycle’s... Read more »
2012 BMW G 650 GS Sertão vs. 2012 Kawasaki KLR650 Comparison
Greg Drevenstedt
June 4, 2012
What would you do with an extra $2,351? Even at today’s high prices, you could fill your gas tank hundreds of times. You could buy new gear from head to toe, a wish list of accessories, or you could fund an open-road odyssey for months. If you’re in the market for a new 650cc dual-sport single, would... Read more »
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, she 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 »
