22,449
edits
Difference between revisions of "Kawasaki History"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→History
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
'''Kawasaki''' motorcycles are manufactured by '''Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.''', an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato-ku, Tokyo and is named after its founder Shozo Kawasaki. | '''Kawasaki''' motorcycles are manufactured by '''Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.''', an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato-ku, Tokyo and is named after its founder Shozo Kawasaki. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
'''Kawasaki''', originally started operations in 1924 as a metallurgy and aircraft company and by 1949 Kawasaki manufactured small engines for use in motorcycle manufacturing. In 1954 Kawasaki Motorcycles produced their first complete motorcycle under the name of Meihatsu, a subidiary of Kawasaki Aircraft. That first bike was the Meihatsu 125 Deluxe.<ref> | '''Kawasaki''', originally started operations in 1924 as a metallurgy and aircraft company and by 1949 Kawasaki manufactured small engines for use in motorcycle manufacturing. In 1954 Kawasaki Motorcycles produced their first complete motorcycle under the name of Meihatsu, a subidiary of Kawasaki Aircraft. That first bike was the [[Meihatsu 125 Deluxe]].<ref> | ||
[http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_kawasaki.html K Hulsey Vintage Motorcycles: Kawasaki history]</ref> | [http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_kawasaki.html K Hulsey Vintage Motorcycles: Kawasaki history]</ref> | ||
===Kawasaki-Meguro merger=== | ===Kawasaki-Meguro merger=== | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
In 1962, engineers from Kawasaki auto project transferred to Meguro to work on the Meguro SG and Meguro K1. The SG was a 250cc, 4-stroke, OHV single cylinder while the K1 was a 496cc, 4-stroke, OHV 2-cylinder mounted in a double-cradle frame. The K1 was based on the English [[BSA A7]] as a replacement for the Meguro Z7 single. While the work proceeded on the K1, at the same development of the W1 was taking place as Meguro was absorbed by Kawasaki.<ref>[http://www.khi.co.jp/mcycle/museum/w1/history/index_e.html Kawasaki Heavy Industries: History of the W1]</ref> | In 1962, engineers from Kawasaki auto project transferred to Meguro to work on the Meguro SG and Meguro K1. The SG was a 250cc, 4-stroke, OHV single cylinder while the K1 was a 496cc, 4-stroke, OHV 2-cylinder mounted in a double-cradle frame. The K1 was based on the English [[BSA A7]] as a replacement for the Meguro Z7 single. While the work proceeded on the K1, at the same development of the W1 was taking place as Meguro was absorbed by Kawasaki.<ref>[http://www.khi.co.jp/mcycle/museum/w1/history/index_e.html Kawasaki Heavy Industries: History of the W1]</ref> | ||
===The W1=== | ===The W1=== | ||
In 1965, the K1 engine was redesigned with an increased oil pump, better crankshaft bearings, etc. and the motorcycle became the K2 but still had design flaws of its model, the BSA A7. In 1966, The [[Kawasaki W1]] and [[Kawasaki W2|W2]] entered the U.S. market but it was not impressive. Up until its introduction, Kawasaki had been exporting only 2-strokes to the U.S. since 1960. | In 1965, the K1 engine was redesigned with an increased oil pump, better crankshaft bearings, etc. and the motorcycle became the K2 but still had design flaws of its model, the BSA A7. In 1966, The [[Kawasaki W1]] and [[Kawasaki W2|W2]] entered the U.S. market but it was not impressive. Up until its introduction, Kawasaki had been exporting only 2-strokes to the U.S. since 1960. | ||
==Themes== | ==Themes== | ||