Over time, Kawasaki has constructed a fame as an organization with among the world’s most iconic and well-loved bikes. It isn’t unusual for Kawasaki-made bikes to make it to the checklist of among the world’s most dependable bikes, like this Kawasaki Ninja 650 that made it to SlashGear’s checklist. The standard of the motorbike engines performs an important function in figuring out the general reliability of those machines. And so far as motorbike engines are involved, Kawasaki-made bikes (and the engines) are proper up there among the many finest in enterprise.
Commercial
Given how fashionable Kawasaki bikes and engines are, it’s pure for people to be interested by the place and the way Kawasaki builds these machines. The worldwide nature of Kawasaki’s motorcycling enterprise has additionally ensured that the corporate ended up organising manufacturing crops in a number of international locations throughout the globe. In reality, we’ve outlined among the services in one among our older Kawasaki-focused articles that cope with this particular side.
Immediately, we try to handle the second a part of that very query as to the place Kawasaki manufactures its much-praised, dependable, inside combustion motorbike engines.
The place does Kawasaki construct its motorbike engines?
Most of Kawasaki’s high-end bikes that find yourself within the U.S. are manufactured in Japan and exported from there to different international locations, together with the U.S.
Whereas Kawasaki has a number of manufacturing services unfold throughout Japan, the corporate’s “Made in Japan” bikes are manufactured at its Akashi Works plant. Famous in a 2010 Gizmodo Japan article with video, this facility is the place Kawasaki assembles the engines that go into its high-end bikes. Moreover bikes, Kawasaki’s Akashi Works Plant additionally produces a whole lot of different issues, together with Jet Ski watercraft, ATVs (All-Terrain Automobiles), transportable mills, and transmissions. Exterior of Japan, the manufacturing of Kawasaki bikes and engines primarily occurs in international locations like Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Brazil.
Commercial
Thailand is a hub the place the corporate manufactures small capability bikes on the Tambon Pluak Daeng plant. Kawasaki has additionally been manufacturing bikes and engines in Indonesia since 1995. In 2014, the corporate expanded its operations there with the addition of a second manufacturing facility.
Kawasaki has a presence in India, the world’s largest motorbike market, the place it makes small-capacity bikes in addition to engines and parts on the firm’s plant in Pune. Kawasaki additionally sources a few of its engines from Indian producer Bajaj.
In Brazil, Kawasaki has a medium-sized manufacturing facility within the metropolis of Manaus devoted to small-capacity bikes.
How lengthy has Kawasaki been producing motorbike engines?
Whereas bikes are normally the very first thing that comes to 1’s thoughts when one thinks of Kawasaki, the corporate’s “correct” entry into the world of bikes occurred almost 83 years after the corporate’s founding in 1878.
Commercial
Although Kawasaki’s first built-in motorbike launched in 1961 with a mannequin known as the Kawasaki B7, the corporate had already proven curiosity in moving into the motorbike recreation by the early 50s. This is the reason Kawasaki’s first motorbike engine known as the KE1, was inbuilt 1953, a very good eight years earlier than the Kawasaki B7 got here to be.
Earlier than moving into the enterprise of bikes, Kawasaki solid a partnership with Meguro Manufacturing Co. Bike Works, a devoted motorbike manufacturing firm based in 1927. The businesses developed a number of bikes on this partnership period, bought below the Meguro model. Within the early 60s, Meguro’s motorbike enterprise was absorbed by Kawasaki, and thus started the modern-day historical past of Kawasaki-made engines and bikes.
Commercial
It will definitely turning into one of many “Massive 4” motorbike corporations from Japan, which incorporates Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki.
Does Kawasaki make motorbike engines within the U.S.?
If you’re in search of a brief, succinct reply, it is a no. In the event you carry out a fast Google Search on Kawasaki engines and their manufacturing services within the U.S., you’ll largely find yourself studying concerning the firm’s general-purpose engines enterprise and manufacturing models in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Maryville, Missouri. These services now not produce bikes or associated gear and cope with different enterprise pursuits that vary from rolling inventory (coaches) for gentle rail and aviation-related merchandise to general-purpose engines and ATVs.
Commercial
Whereas it’s true that Kawasaki now not produces bikes and their engines within the U.S. the corporate did have a bike manufacturing facility within the nation prior to now.
Shortly after organising store within the U.S. again within the late Sixties, the corporate arrange its first manufacturing facility at Lincoln, the place Kawasaki manufactured its first U.S.-made Kawasaki KZ collection bikes beginning in 1975. Kawasaki notes that it continued manufacturing bikes within the U.S. till 2006, after which the corporate determined to maneuver manufacturing to different international locations with decrease manufacturing prices whereas additionally persevering with to retain their major Akashi Works Plant, which Kawasaki additionally refers to because the “mom plant.”
Commercial