The Kawasaki ER6N made quite an impression when it entered the Malaysian market as one of the most affordable big bikes that you can get. With years of service, the ER6N was replaced with the more modern Kawasaki Z650 but a garage from Bali, Indonesia decided to elevate the former ER6N in every possible way. The result? The Kawasaki ER6N “Bully”. (more…)
Kawasaki Indonesia has been teasing the crap out of everyone with short clips revolving around the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R. The latest that was posted regarding the re-emergence of the legendary and iconic 250cc inline-four sports bike is probably the most exciting of them all; the sound of the engine revving through the gears. (more…)
In the world of three-wheeled motorcycles, the latest Yamaha Niken is arguably the bike leading the whole super niche scene, but Kawasaki is planning to enter the game strong with their latest filed patent. As weird as it may look, this future Kawasaki will use horizontal links to couple up the front wheels instead of using conventional forks. (more…)
The folks from Kawasaki just posted a very interesting video showing the evolution of the extremely iconic Kawasaki Ninja GPZ900R. It’s basically a morphing video showing all 16 models of the GPZ900R since its launch back in 1984 all the way up to the last one released back in 2003. The question that keeps playing in our minds is, why would Kawasaki post up this video just last week? (more…)
There were intense speculation that the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Grand Tour or new KTM 1290 Super Adventure would debut advanced rider systems. But it turned out that Kawasaki will be the first to adopt the Bosch Advanced Rider Assistance Systems.
The Multistrada 1260 Grand Tour was unveiled at the Ducati World Premiere 2019 while the KTM 1290 Super Adventure wasn’t ready for EICMA 2019. Now it’s said the 2021 Multistrada V4 and the upcoming KTM will feature such systems.
Kawasaki has since announced that one of their models will feature the Bosch Advance Rider Assistance Systems. The set of electronics include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), forward collision warning and blind spot detection. The system was adopted from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for cars.
According to Bosch, the three systems are active at all times, scanning for potential hazards. We can agree that our attention can sometimes be distracted or get lulled into a sense of contempt.
The system is fed by data from a pair of mid-range radars up front and behind the bike. With the cruise control activated the ACC will have the bike maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front.
As for the forward collision warning system, it will detect brake lights on the vehicle up ahead and warns the rider with a visual as well as aural cues.
Blind spot detection works like in some upscale cars by inserting a warning light in the rearview mirror. (A great feature for sportbikers.)
Kawasaki did not mention which model will feature these new systems, but our guess is the new 1400GTR since it’s a sport-tourer and the Euro 5-compliant model hasn’t been revealed yet.
There were earlier rumours about Kawasaki buying into Bimota and it turned out to be true when they unveiled the Bimota Tesi H2 at EICMA 2019.
It seemed that some time was needed to discover that the Italian Motorcycle Investment S.p.A. who purchased 49.9% stake in Bimota was set up by Kawasaki Motors Europe. In turn, Kawasaki Motors Europe is actually wholly owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The previous Swiss-Italian owners Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni still hold a 50.1% controlling stake in what will soon be known as Bimota S.p.A. Operations will remain at Rimini. It was reported that the deal took three years to conclude.
Launched at EICMA 2019, the Bimota Tesi H2 which is a H2 supercharged engine stuffed into the Tesi chassis.
The Tesi is radical that it uses a swingarm for the front instead of forks and hub centre steering. The concept was already explored in the previous Tesi and Tesi 3D. However, the Tesi H2 will be a faired bike instead of the naked 3D.
You can read more about the Tesi 3D and other Bimotas here.
Future bikes will most probably be designated as KB, now that Kawasaki is onboard.
It’s all good news because Bimota have always pushed the enveloped of motorcycle technology, specifically in terms of chassis design, where manufacturers fear to tread.
Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. launched two new engine oils in conjunction with the 2019 Malaysian MotoGP. They are called the KGO Torq R7 T fully-synthetic SAE 10W-40 API SN and Kawasaki KGO Torq R9 4T fully-synthetic SAE 10W-50 API SN. “KGO” stands for “Kawasaki Genuine Oil.”
The main difference (and advantage) of the KGO Torq lubricants is that they are derived from 100% PAO base oil.
PAO (poly-alpha-olefin) is made by polymerising alpha-olefin. As such, the American Petroleum Institute (who sets most of the oil standards in use) classifies PAO as Group IV and are 100% synthetic.
By 100% synthetic it means that the oil is made in the lab, rather than refined from crude petroleum. Mineral and semi-synthetic engine oils break down sooner due to free radicals in the base oil. 100% synthetic base oils are thereby made without these free radicals.
thus means that the base oil can be made to specific properties to enhance engine protection, oil longevity, retain sheer resistance, retain oil viscosity under stress and extreme heat, and so forth.
The base oil is then mixed with an “additive package” to tune it to specific properties such as to enhance flow, longer lasting, sheer resistant, ability to retain viscosity despite be subjected to high stress and extreme heat.
Besides being 100% PAO based, the KGO Torq R7 and KGO Torq R9 are of the API SN service grade. The SN service is currently the highest grade.
The KGO Torq R7 and KGO Torq R9 are placed as the premium addition and will be sold alongside the KGO 4T Semi-Synthetic 10W-40 SL and KGO 4T Fully-Synthetic 10W-40 SL launched last year.
The KGO Torq R7 4T SAE 10W-40 API SN is priced at RM 76.00 per 1-litre bottle and the KGO Torq R9 4T SAE 10W-50 API SN is priced at RM 78.00 per 1-liter bottle.
Two other Kawasaki products were launched softly.
First is the Kawasaki Super Long Life Coolant and secondly the Kawasaki Platinum DOT 4 Brake Fluid. Both are OEM products that were filled into new Kawasaki motorcycles before the leave the factory. It means that Kawasaki owners can enjoy and assured of the best quality products that were formulated for their bikes.
Finally! As promised, the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R inline-Four sportbike was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Yes, the 250cc inline-Four returns after years of going the parallel-Twin route.
But it isn’t just a case of sticking a new engine into a frame and enclosing it in the Ninja 400’s bodywork. No no, this bike is packed with goodies that you’d only find on bigger bikes.
Where do we start…?
Okay, the engine first. The 249cc, 16-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled inline-Four is said to be tuned for low- to mid-range torque, while possessing high-end power. The intake and exhaust were also tuned for the exhaust note characteristics of Kawasaki’s inline-Fours. The performance figures were not revealed yet, however.
Over to the chassis, the frame is a steel trellis instead of the usual steel backbone or perimeter type common to the class. Kawasaki says that it was “designed using dynamic rigidity analysis.” Could that means tuned rigidity?
The suspension is high grade. The forks are SFF-BP (separate function forks – Big Piston) presumably from Showa. The Ninja ZX-25R will be the first 250cc bike to utilise them. The rear suspension uses the company’s Horizontal Back-link set up. Braking is handled by radial-mounted a monobloc caliper up front.
But here’s the best part: Besides the KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) and Power Mode selector, the bike comes with… drum roll… KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter).
No word on its pricing yet, but hope you enjoy these two videos.
In all the excitement of the upcoming supercharged Kawasaki Z H2, there’s another bike in Team Green’s stable which has been popular through the years, and there’s an updated version — the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000.
The manufacturer currently has 1000cc sport-tourers in the form of the Ninja H2 SX, Versys 1000 and the Ninja 1000 (previously known as the Z1000SX). The H2 SX was introduced last year while the Versys 1000 has been updated for this year.
So that leaves the Ninja 1000 which was last updated 2017 and compliant to Euro 4 regulations.
The new bike will be Euro 5 compliant.
Kawasaki’s plan to introduce the bike was revealed in their submission to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Manufacturers are required to submit the emissions levels of their bikes for homologation. Another bike which had its planned introduction leaked was the 2020 BMW S 1000 XR.
Only question now is when the bike will be revealed. Kawasaki is set to debut two bikes — one of which is the Z H2 — at the Tokyo Motor Show on 23rd October (that’s just two days away!) and another three at EICMA.
The third teaser video for the Kawasaki supercharged “Z” model has been released, and the name of the bike – Kawasaki Z H2 – along with it.
The release of this model will expand both Kawasaki’s supercharged and Z naked bike lineups at one go.
The supercharged family currently consists of the H2R, H2, H2 SX and H2 SX SE. With the new Z H2, the lineup is complete with a track-only sportbike, sportbike, two sport-tourers with different trims and a supernaked.
Over in the Z-model naked bike family, it currently consists of bikes from 150cc all the way to 1000cc. We wonder what will become of the Z1000. Will Kawasaki develop another normally-aspirated model or will they supplant it with the Z H2?
The video also shows the bike’s silhouette for the first time. It doesn’t appear to be a H2 without bodywork, instead it looks like it evolved from the Z900. Check out the shapes of the headlight nacelle, flyscreen, fuel tank and tail section. Oh, it has higher handlebars, too.
The advent of the Z H2 is much anticipated as it will Japan’s inclusion into the supernaked category, which is so far dominated by European manufacturers namely Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, KTM, Triumph.
Ducati is set to unveil the Streetfighter V4, while KTM has also teased with a new Duke which we think is most likely the new 1290 Super Duke R. Triumph may also introduce a new more powerful and lighter Speed Triple.
It means that Kawasaki needs to show at least 180 bhp on the Z H2. 200 ponies is a possibility.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are living in the glorious age of horsepower wars!
The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650 has been revealed. Kawasaki revised its looks and added some new features to make it an even better value for money.
The biggest news is of course the new 4.3-inch TFT screen. But it is not just a pretty screen as it includes features that could be found on bigger (read: more expensive) bikes. There is the auto contrast feature; Bluetooth connectivity for music and phone calls; GPS navigation via connection to a phone app; and thankfully a gear position indicator.
Also new are the LED headlamps. Kawasaki also revised the fairing to match that of the Ninja 400 and Ninja ZX-6R, for a more familial resemblance.
Since the Ninja 650 is considered a beginners bike and would be used for basically everything, the manufacturer revised the passenger’s seat, too.
Last but not least, there are now sportier graphics, no doubt inspired by the World Superbike race team. The manufacturer and team are still flush from winning their fifth consecutive WorldSBK title.
The engine was left alone. The 648cc, DOHC, parallel-twin still produces 67 bhp and 66 Nm of torque. It still has plenty of low-RPM and midrange punch.
We shall see when it will arrive in Malaysia.
There’s a new teaser video for a supercharged Kawasaki Z model.
This time, we get a small glimpse of how the new model will look like. The footage shows a sharp front with Kawasaki’s “River Mark,” supercharger, air intake, and so forth.
There is also a new TFT screen. We could see that the new bike will include cruise control, besides the required traction control and ABS.
We could only guess how the entire bike will look like at the moment but it won’t be long until the official unveiling on 23rd October. That date happens to be the beginning of the Tokyo Motor Show.
Kawasaki uses the “Z” designation for naked bikes in their line-up. Hence the new supercharged “Z” model is the naked version of the Ninja H2. As the 2019 Ninja H2 produces 231HP, we could only wait with bated breath to find out how much power will this bike make. This is the chance for manufacturer to claim the supernaked title. That honour is currently held by the 2019 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, whose engine produces 177 HP and 141 Nm of torque.
Ducati will also unveil their new Streetfighter V4 on the same date in their Ducati 2020 World Premiere. Based on the Panigale V4 which punches out 214 HP, Ducati is also on the path to introduce a contender for the most powerful supernaked.
The fight is on!
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