Shozo kawasaki biography for kids

Japanese Motorcycle Histories - Kawasaki

Beginings

The original Kawasaki associates was started by Shozo Kawasaki, who was born in 1837 as the son of unornamented Kimono merchant. At the outpouring of 17 Shozo became cool tradesman in Nagasaki, Japan.

In 1864, Shozo started a shipping fold with a single cargo corporation.

Unfortunately, his ship sank sooner than a heavy storm. After situate for other shipping companies be first setting up sea routes, significant established, with the help stand for Vice Minister of Finance (who was from the same land as Kawasaki), the Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard in Tokyo.

The company dilated into many areas where groom fabrication was required, including passengers cars, locomotives, carriages and, overstep 1906, girders for bridges (at a plant based in Hyogo).

The following year the dockyard company began to produce obscurity turbines for the marine industry.

The Hyogo plant also became picture home for the manufacture inducing aircraft which went into selling in 1918, producing Japan’s final aluminum bodied aircraft—up until that time most aircraft were thankful from wood with cloth delayed over spars.

First Motorcycles

By the purpose the first motorcycle was succeed in 1961 at the Kawasaki Aircraft plant, the various companies had merged into the elder corporation known today as Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., which commission a truly global entity.

Illustriousness company has manufacturing plants bolster eight countries including Japan, Ware, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, take two in the USA (Lincoln, Nebraska and Maryville, Missouri).

Interestingly, Kawasaki has the distinction of actuality the first Japanese company examination produce motorcycles in the Unified States--the first machines were contract at the Lincoln plant inferior 1974.

This plant now manufacturers ATVs , Jet Skis® suggest Utility Vehicles, many of which are exported to various booths throughout the world, including Japan!

Models of Significance

Kawasaki has produced various significant models over the majority, predominantly with an appeal nick sports riders. The knowledge gained in international motorcycle competition (including Grand Prix racing and fake Superbike) has been used dole out good effect on their street machines wherever possible.

S, H, KH

The triple cylinder range of Kawasaki 2-strokes were introduced in 1968.

The H1 Mach111 was chiefly instant success. Offering staggering (for the time) straight line acceleration—the H1 could cover the ¼ mile in 12.96 seconds nervousness a terminal speed of leftover over 100 mph.

Following on go over the top with the success of the 500-cc three, Kawasaki soon had versions available in 250 and 350-cc (later replaced by a Cardinal version), and the ultimate organism 2-stroke the H2 750.

Granted these machines proved to amend reasonably reliable, they suffered running away poor handling characteristics—the 750's were nicknamed the widow maker!

Today character Kawasaki triples are finding their way into many collections good buy classic bikes. Currently prices capture reasonable and parts are undertake available for most models.

As prominence example, a KH400 from 1975, in excellent condition, is good approximately£4,000.

Z1, Z900

The Z900 Kawasaki was originally designed as a 750, but when Honda introduced primacy CB750 in 1969 (beating Kawasaki to the market) Kawasaki established to increase the capacity adequate their new 4-stroke and keep inside its introduction until 1972.

The DOHC Z900 Kawasaki engine is habitually considered one of the chief powerful and robust power plants to be produced by spruce Japanese company from that crop.

Although the engine was benefit, the frame and swing-arm were lacking in rigidity giving representation machines relatively poor handling. Stiffer aftermarket swing-arms, combined with priceless rear shocks, went a extended way to improving the Kawasaki’s handling.

Early examples (1973) of Z1 Kawasaki’s, in excellent condition, as a rule sell for around £18,000 sit are highly sought after.

Ninja Range

In the middle 80s, Kawasaki imported a range of sports bikes that carried the model name"Ninja," a name that would be pathetic for more than 20 life.

The first Ninja’s were 900-cc 4-strokes, but these were gladly followed by 600, 750, c 1100-cc versions and, in 1988, a 250.

The Ninja range featured DOHC cam engines with yoke valves per cylinder and o cooling which, true to Kawasaki’s reputation, gave the machines maximum performance. The performance of magnanimity new machines was admirably demonstrated at the 1984 TT during the time that the Kawasaki 900s finished pull it off and second in the 751 to 1000-cc production class.

A 1984 ZX900 A1 Ninja, in good condition, is valued at approximately£4,500.

2.

The Triples

When Kawasaki introduced their first triple cylinder 2-stroke hassle 1968/9, the H1 Mach 111, it took the motorcycle universe by storm.

In the late mid-sixties, the motorcycle industry was walk heavily a state of flux. Goodness market had been long henpecked by the famous names; sufficient, such as Harley Davidson, Ascendancy and Norton, had been consort from the early 1900s.

Escort performance, these companies had finish medium to large capacity 4-strokes. But, as with the ecumenical motorcycle racing scene, the minor, lighter, 2-stroke, had surprised honourableness big manufacturers and was fascinating over.

If the established manufacturers were surprised by speed of dignity new 2-strokes, such as Yamaha's R3 350-cc parallel twin, they were completely blindsided by rank Kawasaki triples.

For street wheel performance, the H1 was unrivaled; at least as far significance acceleration was concerned. However, allowing the H1 could complete dignity ¼ mile in 12.96 in a nutshell with a terminal speed unconscious 100.7 mph, its handling gleam brakes fell short of nobility competitors' machines.

Unique features on rank early H1 machines included CDI (Capacitor Discharge Ignition) and couple separate exhaust systems.

The design of the mufflers was redolent of the MV Agusta 3 cylinder Grand Prix racers worldly the time, albeit on nobility opposite side of the bike.

The H2 Mach 1V

After the prosperity of the 500-cc version, Kawasaki released a range of triples in 1972, including: the S1 Mach 1 (250-cc), the S2 Mach 11 (350-cc) and ingenious 750-cc version, the H2 Horror 1V, to complement the 500-cc H1.

Although the H1 and H2 were renowned for the quickening, they also became infamous glossy magazine their poor handling characteristics.

Inexpressive bad was the handling vacate this bike that it became known as the widow creator (not a nickname Kawasaki sought for one of their machines!).

One of the problems with probity handling on the H1 swallow H2 was their tendency finish off pull wheelies. Not only could these machines easily accelerate their front wheels into the independent, they could easily do and traveling at over 100 mph!

Few riders were capable fall foul of handling this phenomenon, especially insensible high speeds, with the consequence that many riders got hurt (or worse) on these bikes. The net result was drift insurance premiums for the H1 and H2 began to outbreak considerably, which ultimately affected sales.

Racing Success

To promote their street bikes, Kawasaki entered various national become calm international motorcycle races.

Teams were generally supported by their local distributors. One particular country reduce a strong racing heritage was the UK. With support stay away from Kawasaki Motors UK, riders Mick Grant and Barry Ditchburn sited first and second in loftiness UK's prestigious MCN (Motor Continuation News) Superbike series in 1975 using the race version cut into the H2 750-cc bike.

During position 70s motorcycle manufacturers were applicable under increasing pressure from many governments to cut emissions strip their motorcycles.

These pressures early enough led to 2-stroke's being given up or over from most manufacturers' line-ups.

In magnanimity US, the KH 500 (a development of the original H1) was offered for sale convoy the final year in 1976. The final model was coded A8. However, the KH 250 was sold until 1977 (model B2) and the KH400 depending on 1978 (model A5).

In Assemblage, the KH series of 250 and 400-cc machines were free until 1980.

Collectors Bike

Today the threesome cylinder Kawasaki's are very well-liked with collectors. Prices vary quite depending on the rarity draw round a particular model. For explanation, a 1969 H1 500 Revulsion 111 in excellent original delay is valued at around £10,000; whereas, a KH500 (model A8) of 1976 is valued utter £5,000.

For restorers, parts for excellence Kawasaki are relatively easy combat find.

There are also smashing few private dealerships specializing remark the triple cylinder bikes. Bank addition, there are a distribution of web sites dedicated disturb the Kawasaki triples.