Kawasaki Awards, Reviews, Press

Motorcycles

Sport

Z1000

Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Kawasaki Z1000
"Personally, I think there’s a lot to be said for plenty of useable horsepower in a solid chassis matched to an ergo package that you can live with for more than 30 minutes, but I’m in the minority (I know). The new Z1000 has all of the above, and then some, so I can’t help but like it."
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Ninja® 650R

Ride Texas Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja 650R
"I had modest handling expectations for this inexpensive, small bike, but it blew right through those. It handled like a champ with nary a wobble, nor a moment’s drama. Icky pavement although rough, did not upset the chassis and the bike never skittered nor slid. I like that in a bike."
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Rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja 650R
"Starting with a fresh-looking sporty design, powered by a lively new 649cc twin and mounted in a competent chassis, we think Kawi’s engineers deserve a round of applause."
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Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja 650R
"...there's a school of thought that says being able to use all of a motorcycle’s performance can be quite satisfying. Well, Kawasaki’s latest has a master’s degree at that particular school. All of which makes the affordable, accessible, adaptable Ninja 650R a refreshing alternative to spending twice as much money on something else. You know why? Because it’s fun, remember?"
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Ninja 650R Clinches Sport Rider “Fun Factor” Shootout
"Happy in practically any environment, the Ninja 650R has features that appeal to newer riders, as well as performance that makes it enjoyable for those who are more experienced."
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Ninja® 250R

Motorcycle-USA.com Magazine Review: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R
We sample Kawasaki's best-selling sportbike. In fact, the Ninja 250R is Kawasaki's best-selling motorcycle period." Check this great review with video at Motorcycle-USA.com.

Motorcycle.com Magazine Review: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Revvy and racy in a bite-sized package; check out this great review at Motorcycle.com.

Versys™

rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Versys
“Curving roads are the Versys’ forte. It’s quick and agile in the twisties, where you can get going at a good clip. Long-travel suspension gives it a generous amount of cornering clearance, and it takes just a light touch to steer through the curves, with good low-end torque to power it strongly through uphill turns. With rake and trail figures at 25 degrees and 4.3 inches the Versys flows smoothly through the curves and feels stable at highway speed, too.”
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2008 Kawasaki Versys Road Test by Motorcycle.com
Check out this great story and video review at Motorcycle.com.

Cycle World Magazine Review: Kawasaki Versys
“The riding position is not unlike that taken by grapplers during face-offs. Weight over your feet, knees bent, arms up and wide, ready to respond to whatever your opponent -in this case the road, oncoming traffic, etc. -throws at you. There’s a strong sense of being in command.”
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Cycle News Magazine Review: Kawasaki Versys
"A hybrid of 'versatility' and 'system', the name does well to describe the all-around purpose of the bike. Whether it's sport riding, urban assault, commuting or light touring, Kawasaki says the 'Versys has your back', and they're not kidding. "
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Cruisers

Vulcan® 2000

Vulcan 2000 named “Best Open Displacement Cruiser” by MOTORCYCLE-USA.COM
"Its 125 cubic-inch mill lopes along calmly yet menacingly at low speeds, but it’s ready and able to hunt down and kill most Screamin’ Eagles it comes across when the loud handle is twisted."
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Vulcan® 900 Custom

RIDER Magazine Review: Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom
"...and overall the bike has a surprisingly light feel and easier steering than the Classic, despite its greater rake and trail. That narrow 21-inch front wheel really lightens up the steering. The engine pulses very subtly throughout the rev range, becomes pronounced at higher rpm, but never intrudes."
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Vulcan® 900 Classic

Kawasaki Vulcan® 900 Classic Earns Consumers Digest Best Buy Award
Thanks to a well-balanced combination of value, easy handling traits that help smaller and less-experienced riders feel at home and big bike features like a 903cc V-twin engine; the editors at Consumers Digest have awarded the Vulcan 900 with the coveted "Best Buy" award.
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Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic
"The Classic is a feature-laden rolling testament to the depth of Kawasaki’s research, and its remarkably single-minded execution in creating exactly what it figures the market wants. With its MSRP of $7299, buyers can think big—just like Kawasaki did in creating the 900—without having to be a big spender. Now, that’s value."
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Motocross

KX™450F

2008 KX450R Wins Cycle News 450F Shootout
The 2008 Kawasaki KX™450F edged out the competition for the top spot on the podium in Cycle News magazine’s 450F comparison.
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KX™250F

KX250F Wins Motocross Action Magazine's 2008 250F Shootout
After a thorough evaluation pitting the Kawasaki KX™250F in a five-way shootout against the most competitive four-stroke 250cc motocrossers available today, the editors at Motocross Action magazine named the 2008 Kawasaki KX250F as the clear winner.
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KX250F Wins Dirt Rider Magazine’s 2008 250F MX Shootout

Dirt Rider magazine rated the top 250cc four-stroke motocrossers, pitting the 2008 Kawasaki KX™250F against the latest offerings from the competition. The KX250F was so good that after exhaustive testing, the editors cut right to the chase declaring the KX250F as their overall winner in the opening of the article.
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KX™65

Mini Rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki KX65
"AV is a jumpy track with long straights of deep dirt running into big jump faces everywhere. It’s a long, fast track while on a big bike, not to mention when riding a little 65! We thought the big jump faces and hard landings would have Punky begging for aftermarket suspension, or at least a bigger motor so he could clear all the jumps or get down the straights easier. But not even a peep of complaint was uttered. In fact, he was stoked on how well the suspension worked for him. It was soft over the small bumps and braking bumps, and both the front and rear soaked up the big landings. He barely bottomed it. And he was going huge!"
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Off-Road

KLX™140L

Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Kawasaki KLX 140L
"Best of all, the little Kawi doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. For about the same money as a KX85, you get roughly 60cc more displacement, push-button starting, a trail-legal spark arrestor and an engine that runs on gas siphoned from your car. It’s no racer, just a friendly, surprisingly capable playbike that’s perfect for youngsters between minis and full-sized machines..."
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KLX™450R

2008 Kawasaki KLX™450R Named Best Enduro Bike by Cycle World Magazine
Cycle World magazine, one of the largest and most respected motorcycle publications in America just gave the Kawasaki KLX™450R the Best Enduro Bike award in its annual Ten Best Bikes issue.
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2008 KLX450R Wins Cycle News' 450cc Four-Stroke Off-Road Shootout
After a thorough test of the five most-competitive 450cc off-road motorcycles available today, the editors at Cycle News magazine declared the 2008 Kawasaki KLX™450R to be the clear winner.
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Dirt Rider KLX450
"What's green, quiet and fast all over? The all new KLX450 combines crisp motocross type handling with rider friendly power delivery, comfortable ergonomics and superb suspension that can all be yours...at the push of an electric start button."
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Dirt Rider Magazine Review: 2007 KLX450R
"We’re so impressed with the KLX, we’ve done hardly anything but ride it. And race it, too, just to make sure we really like it as much as we thought. All said and done, 60 hours into this Long Haul, we’re still stoked on this bike."
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Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Ready, Willing and Able: Team Green's hot new off-road bike isn't as mean as it looks
"With great riding, great riding companions and a bike that's hard to fault, our quick trip around the desert on the new KLX450R couldn't have been better. Kawasaki has a definite winner on its hands."
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Dual Purpose

Versys™

2008 Kawasaki Versys Road Test by Motorcycle.com
Check out this great story and video review at Motorcycle.com.

KLR™650

KLR650 wins Consumers Digest Best Buy Award
No longer will the legions of loyal KLR650 devotees be able to hide their -often dirty- little secret. Consumers Digest, a leading consumer research publication, has named the Kawasaki KLR650 as its "Best Buy" winner in the economy Dual-Sport/Adventure category.
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Robb Report Motorcycling Magazine Review: Kawasaki KLR650
"…the Kawasaki KLR650 was transporting me so naturally that I felt like I was floating down the Los Padres National Forest hillsides on my own, rather than riding a rather prosaic dual sport bike."
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Roadbike Magazine Review: Kawasaki KLR650
"One thing that struck me almost right away was how flickable the KLR is. And how much it really sticks to the pavement. Within minutes of leaving Monterey, we were quickly winding around some seriously twisty and remote roads in the central Californian country-side."
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RIDER Magazine Review: Kawasaki KLR650
"The upgrades work, and work well. I’ve wanted a sixth cog in my KLR’s gearbox for years, but the modernized motor revs so freely and makes enough additional power that I found myself in fourth gear at freeway speeds, then snicking up to fifth as if it was the long-lost overdrive. I can’t say which surprised me the most, the performance gains, the first-class comfort or the much-improved multisurface handling, but I walked away very impressed with the 2008 KLR650."
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Motorcycle Consumer News: Kawasaki’s 2008 KLR650
"Kawasaki’s 2008 KLR650 12 Finally Revised After 20 Years! Amazing Versatility...Still Bargain Priced. We were all thoroughly impressed with the new KLR, it does so many things so well and nothing badly. All those riders who’ve considered adding a dual-sport to their two-wheeled stable could hardly find a better choice. "
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Supersport

Ninja® ZX™-14

2008 Kawasaki ZX-14: First Ride Review by Motorcycle.com
Check out this great video review by Motorcycle.com.

Cycle News Magazine Review: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
"…a few hours after that, the Kawasaki public relations crew had to pry my hands off the handlebars to get me to stop. I was addicted. Just like that –a dragstrip junkie, thanks to Gadson and a very impressive 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14."
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DRAGBIKE.COM Review: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
"My last pass of the day was a 9.796 at 142.75 MPH which made me pretty happy AND the second quickest journalist. The ZX-14 clutch is TOO GOOD, by this I mean that the lever pressure is very light by design (Kawasaki engineers are rightfully proud of this feat for comfortable street use,) which makes it hard for a 200+ pound suited rider to get the bike moving in the first 60 ft. I was one set of stiffer clutch springs away from some 9.60’s or better, which is damn fast for a lowered, stock bike on pump gas with the mirrors on, traveling uphill bike in a headwind with a ‘the older I get…the faster is was’ overweight rider. No excuses…that’s fast."
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Ninja ZX-14 Wins MOTORCYCLE.COM “Rocket Touring Comparo"
"...the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 delivers a knockout punch with comfort, smoothness, ease-of-use and the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production street motorcycle."
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Ninja ZX-14 Named “Best Open Class Streetbike” by Cycle World
"Kawasaki’s highly anticipated ‘Busa-Beatin’ Ninja ZX-14 has not only raised the power bar, but its incredibly rider-friendly nature and smooth delivery has set a new standard among powerhouse machines."
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Ninja® ZX™-6R

Sport Rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
"Through the later sessions of the day, it was the 6Rs chassis that really left an impression with me. The brakes have a feel and feedback similar to that of the old binders, but are stronger, with less pull required on the lever. The suspension seemed to easily soak up whatever bumps I could find. And, just like the ZX-10R, the squat characteristics of the 6R are well sorted and the rear end hooks up fine on corner exits. But the big change in the 07 model is that it steers significantly quicker than the old bike, especially in the faster turns. Just a thought is all that is required to have the 6R flick from side to side."
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Ninja® ZX™-10R

rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
"Lap after lap, the brakes slowed the 394-pound (claimed, dry) Ninja without a hint of fade. Initial bite was excellent and modulation was simple. With a little rebound damping taken out of the rear shock its tendency to get light under braking was reduced and made the bike almost feel like a 600 in the turns..."
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Sport Rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
"Any impressions of large size immediately fade away once you begin to up the pace and flick the bike into a corner for the first time. The new ZX-10R steers much lighter with a much easier initial turn-in than the old model, especially in the faster turns."
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Cycle World Magazine Review: 2008 Ninja ZX-10R
"Driving off this same bend proved even more exhilarating, with the front tire lifting at 8000 rpm in a controlled power-wheelie while the bike was still leaned over. Power delivery is extremely smooth with no sudden hits anywhere in the rev range, and while I never once felt any hint of traction control, the engine’s linear character goes a long way in maintaining "rear grip.
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Cycle News - ZX-10R takes Qatar!
Check out the Cycle News on-track evaluation of the all-new 2008 ZX-10R. Set against the dramatic landscape of the MotoGP track in Doha, Qatar, Kawasaki's latest race-oriented liter bike impresses in this in-depth article. Cycle News proclaims "the Kawi thrived on being pushed, and pushed hard." Pushed to the limit and then some, this bike shines throughout .
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2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R Video Review by Motorcycle.com
Check out this great video review from MOTORCYCLE.COM.

Cycle World Magazine: 2008 Ninja ZX-10R Tech Overview
"...we have seen about 160 horsepower at the rear wheel pretty consistently over the past couple of years, and Suzuki’s 2007 GSX-R 1000 showed 163 horses on our dyno. If we give Kawasaki a reasonable 5 percent bump over its past efforts, 168 hp at the rear wheel is conceivable."
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Roadracing World Magazine Review: 1000cc Sportbike Shootout
"In addition to the Engine performance category, the Kawasaki also won in Braking (thanks to its radial-mounted four-piston / four-pad Tokico calipers), Transmission (due to its tall but usable first gear and benchmark-setting slipper-clutch)."
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Supersport Touring

Concours™ 14

Sport Rider Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14

The Concours 14 represents a very impressive return by Kawasaki to the supersport touring ranks, with a well-developed and refined package that exceeded our expectations.

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Cycle News Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14
"The powerband is, however, smoother than the ZX’s, especially off the bottom and through midrange…once you get in the upper rev range, around 7000 rpm, the afterburners certainly kick in, eliminating any pucker factor when passing. Overtaking slower cars is instantaneous."
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RoadRunner Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14
"As with the frame, the suspension and brakes are perfectly suited to handling a brisk country road pace. While Kawasaki makes no bones about this bike’s aggressive stance, there are plenty of traveling amenities to make long days in the saddle a joy."
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Concours 14 Wins Motorcyclist “Sport Touring Comparo”
Motorcyclist, one of the largest and most-respected motorcycle publications in America had this to say about the Concours 14: "This thing will blitz blacktop faster than any sporty-tourer on planet Earth, especially twisty blacktop." "Take some time to dial in its agreeably compliant suspension and the 14 carves like the Surgeon General."
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American Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Concours™ 14
"...it felt like the most natural thing in the world. If your idea of the sport-touring ideal is a sportbike with hard bags, a comfortable riding position, and the minimum number of compromises possible, then the Concours is aimed squarely at you."
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Motorcyclist Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14
"Kawasaki’s KI-PASS keyless concept is a pretty nifty system. No gloved hands searching jacket pockets for some confounded key. It stays right there in the ignition. Lock the steering as you would on any other bike and walk away. Once you and the fob are outside the 5.25-foot range, a little digital conversation between the resident computers will take care of the rest. Once you get used to it, KI-PASS makes life on the road a whole lot easier, while making things a whole lot harder on thieves and their ilk."
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RIDER Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14
"...it’s got a decidedly sporty side, yet this is not just a ZX-14 with higher handlebars. The Concours 14 has been purpose-built for long-distance travel in comfort - it also just happens to have the handling, braking and cojones of Kawasaki’s largest kick-butt sportbike..."
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Roadbike Magazine Review: Kawasaki Concours 14
"No doubt about it, this bike is powerful, fast, comfortable, and well-equipped. I thoroughly enjoyed the new Connie and am looking forward to revisiting her soon for a tour."
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