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Friday News - 25 August
FRIDAY NEWS
25 AUGUST
Celebrating 70 years of Kawasaki motorcycles
August Competition! Join us at Motorcycle Live for an exclusive preview
Shows & Events Coming Up
Celebrating 70 Years of Kawasaki motorcycles
After the end of World War II, Kawasaki produced motorcycle engines under the name of "Kawasaki Machine Works.” Since then, Kawasaki has continued to Let the Good Times Roll and has strived to share its "Fun to Ride” philosophy with customers around the world. Today, Kawasaki motorcycles are sold in more than 90 countries and regions.
To commemorate Kawasaki Motorcycles' 70-year anniversary, AKM (American Kawasaki Motors) will mount a special exhibition to be held at the AKM Heritage Hall in Foothill Ranch, California as well as Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan starting in September 2023. The displays will focus on the history of the motorcycle business in the U.S. market, which marked a major turning point in Kawasaki's overseas trading strategy.
Kawasaki's path to success in the motorcycle industry, which began with the launch of the KE-1 motorcycle engine in 1953, was not a smooth one. Several efforts were made to try to expand sales, including working with trading companies to expand to overseas markets, in addition to a business alliance and subsequent merger with the Meguro Manufacturing Company. However, each of these efforts failed to produce the sales results that the Kawasaki factory in Japan had hoped for.
It was decided that selling directly to dealers would be the better business model, so in 1966 American Kawasaki Motors (USA) was established. Kawasaki's US operations began with only 10 employees and adopted an innovative policy of "localism” before going on to develop motorcycles like the Kawasaki A1 Samurai 250, Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III and iconic Kawasaki Z1 900 for the U.S. market. Early on, Kawasaki USA launched a new kind of sales policy aimed at expansion that included the industry's first model year system and worked to strengthen relationships with dealers by setting up branches in every region of the U.S., thereby consolidating its base in the U.S. market.
In 1974, Kawasaki made a $20 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska to be in-line with a coming shift to a floating exchange rate in the U.S. In fact, Kawasaki's Lincoln plant became the first plant built by any Japanese car or motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. It remains Kawasaki's main plant outside of Japan to this day. It is where all Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft and side by are still manufactured today.
Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki's entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company's constant effort to develop new technologies.
Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths using both internal combustions engines and green technologies such as EV and HEV which will surely give birth to new legends.
Join us at Motorcycle Live for an exclusive preview event - Club members only!
AUGUST COMPETITION - We're giving two lucky Club members the chance to win a pair of tickets to our Motorcycle Live preview event! To enter for your chance to win, you'll just need to tell us which 2024 model, which has been released so far, you're looking forward to seeing in person at the show.
Join Club Kawasaki at this year's Motorcycle Live preview event - Saturday 18th November - to gain exclusive early access to view the new Kawasaki models before anyone else in the UK. You'll be welcomed onto the Kawasaki stand at 9:00am to enjoy a hot breakfast roll & tea/coffee before receiving an overview of the new machines from Kawasaki UK team. Before you go off to enjoy the rest of your day at the show, we'll take a group photo which will be emailed to you following the event.
What's included?
Club Kawasaki membership renewal included - If you're already a member, we'll add 12 months membership onto your account, making this a fantastic value package! If you're purchasing tickets for guests who are not yet members, we'll contact you for their details to create their membership.
If you think you know the answer to the below question and would like to get your hands on a brand new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR then head over to the Motorcycle Live website now to enter!
How many Traction control modes does the Ninja ZX-4RR come with as standard?
A) 5 Modes
B) 4 Modes
C) 3 Modes
Kawasaki UK set for all-new AX Fest this September
Shows & Events Coming Soon
Check the Club Kawasaki calendar for the latest shows & events...
KAWASAKI DEALER DEMO DAYS
The incredibly popular Kawasaki Dealer Demo Days are returning this summer, and we've just added two more to the calendar, giving riders the chance to experience the latest 2023 models.
Dealer Demo Days are the perfect opportunity for you to experience the 2023 Kawasaki range, including the Ninja 400, Z650RS, Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer and the supercharged Ninja H2 SX SE.
British Superbikes Tickets
Club Kawasaki members will be able to enjoy a weekend ticket to any of the eleven championship rounds, where you can watch all the action live as it unfolds. To make your visit extra special, members will also have the chance to enjoy an exclusive tour of the Cheshire Mouldings Racing Kawasaki garage on the Saturday of each race weekend. Tickets are £39 per person for weekend entry.
Sales will close approx. 1 week prior to the event to give us time to order and send tickets.
Brands Hatch BSB Hospitality
We're giving our Club Kawasaki members a unique chance to get trackside at Brands Hatch BSB in our Kawasaki suite! Overlooking one of the best corners in the world, the iconic Paddock Hill, the suite is the perfect place to celebrate being able to return to watch the bar-bashing thrills and spills that is the British Superbike Championship.
Included in the package will be weekend entry tickets, ensuring you can watch every minute of the action, and full hospitality on the Saturday. Based on the main straight, you will be able to enjoy the very best views and can see almost the entire Indy circuit and podium directly from our Kawasaki suite. There is also a large outdoor decking area for you to enjoy, allowing you to soak up the atmosphere and (hopefully!) glorious sunny weather.
Guests will be able to enjoy a hot and cold breakfast to kick-start the day, while a delicious lunch and host of sweet treats ensures there really is no better place to be for a day at the races. To make your day even more special, Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team riders Lee Jackson & Max Cook will be stopping by for a unique meet and greet.*
Want to join us in the new Kawasaki suite? Tickets are available now and cost £129 – but be quick, there's only a limited number available for the final round in October.
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