Kawasaki Motorcycles

Independent in Thoughts and Actions

As you read every word of this article, you will discover why Kawasaki Motorcycles were considered the Mavericks of the industry...

The story of Kawasaki Company goes back to 1924, at that time involved into metallurgy and the aircraft industry.

In 1949, they decided to enter the motorcycle industry producing engines that could be adapted to motorcycles.
It wasn't until 1954 that Kawasaki Motorcycles produced their first complete motorcycle under the name of Meihatsu (a subsidiary of Kawasaki Aircraft Co.).

Almost at the same time, they also tried to introduce their own line of scooters to the market, but they soon realized they couldn't compete against the two giants of the scooters industry for those days: the Fuji Rabbit and the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon.

And now before continuing with this story, I have to open a big parenthesis..

In 1960 Meguro signed an initial agreement with Kawasaki Motorcycles, and in 1962 they had completely disappeared.

And this brings us back to our story...

In 1960, the company decides to give a serious push to the motorcycle division of Kawasaki Aircrafts. They take out of the market the Meihatsu brand, they build their own plant of low end and low powered machines and buy Meguro.

These brilliant moves and decisions made Kawasaki Motorcycles have one of the widest range of models in the market. Kawasaki Motorcycles could offer at that time (1960's) from a 50cc moped-scooter to a powerful, high end and beautiful 650 cc twin cylinder motorcycle.

Its also important to mention that due to their very own nature, Kawasaki Motorcycles has always played the role of Maverick in the industry and that a feeling of independence from their main competitors has always been present.

Since then, many stories have been written, many models have been produced and many races have been won, the truth is...

Nowadays Kawasaki Motorcycles is one of the major players in the industry and following their tradition, they nowadays offer a wide range of products for all kind needs and likes.

Riding your Motorcycle in the Rain

By: Alan Liptrot

You love riding in the rain don't you? Don't you? Why not? As long as you have the right gear and a little common sense, there's no reason why you can't enjoy a ride out when the wet stuff is falling. I have a friend who goes out every time it rains; mind you, he does live in a garage with a leaky roof, but that's a story for a later date.

The most obvious thing you'll need, that springs to mind is decent clothing, both from a weather and a protection point of view. Waterproofs, decent boots and gloves are a must, and it would help greatly if your visor isn't constantly misting, A neck warmer pulled up over your mouth can help here.

Now what about riding your bike? The thing is to be smooth, and by that I don't mean wearing wrap around shades and a James Dean Tee-Shirt. I'm talking about the way you handle your bike. Accelerate gently, squeeze the clutch and show respect to your brakes. Do not jump on them; treat them as you would treat a Rottweiler with a thorn in its paw. If you're too harsh, it'll bite your head off. Allow extra time and space for braking. This means looking and thinking ahead, anticipating hazards and adopting the optimum road position for bends etc.
When it's raining, it's very important to match your speed with the gear you are in, especially when gearing down. Changing down too early can cause the rear wheel to lock, and that's just what you don't need on a slippery road. Don't forget that your tyres are going to need extra time to reach working temperature too, another reason why smoothness is the key. Steering into bends necessitates even use of the throttle. It goes without saying that braking harshly on a bend in the rain is not a good idea. If you adopt the smooth approach, you will probably find that it will eventually translate across to your dry riding. Riding in the wet can make you an overall better motorcyclist. The anticipation that you have had to learn in the wet, won't suddenly be forgotten when you go out in the sunshine.

Keep an eye out for those dreaded white lines. I try to stay away from them at anytime, but when they are wet, they can become ice-like. Manhole covers too can be slippery. I'm not advocating here that you weave down the road like a demented rattle snake avoiding this and that, but if you can look ahead and see the hazard well before you reach it, all the better. In the wet, diesel can show up like a rainbow in a pool of water. Don't head for the pretty colours, there's no pot of gold there.

Visibility is an issue too. Car drivers can't see you so easily in the rain. The blind spots at the corners of his vehicle increase in the wet. He's limited to the arc that is cleared by his wipers, so make sure that you wearing clothes that are highly visible. This is not a bad idea in the dry either.
Once you've taken on board these few aspects of motorcycling in the rain, donned your wet weather gear and drank your Smoothie, you're ready to head off into the elements, but don't come round my house. I don't want you dripping all over my floor. Go around to my friend's and sit in his garage. He won't be there of course; he'll be out enjoying himself on the bike that was his half of the divorce settlement. Well, you didn't think he was going to give that up, did you?

Alan Liptrot is the founder of www.motorbike-tours.co.uk”>Motorbike Tours.co.uk The Company offers guided www.motorbike-tours.co.uk”>motorcycle tours in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Learn to Ride A Motorcycle
By: John Sonter

Now, don’t let fear and danger force you away from the master dream of being able to enjoy the thrill of the road, the adventure and the excitement. It’s truly an unforgettable feeling having that much power sitting right under you.

When my eyes took their first trip up and down the many curves of the motorcycle I fell in love with, I didn’t have a CLUE how to ride one! Do you believe in love at first sight? Because, I do! It wasn’t long before I was off to get lessons on how to ride one of these hot numbers…

It was only a few months ago that I knew nothing at all, so while it’s all fresh in my mind… I want to show YOU the challenges I faced...

I had to learn how to handle certain types of roads, where to lean, move and adjust with ease. Discover what clothing articles would assist in preventing injuries. I needed to find out how to identify obstacles and hazards before its too late and to also uncover the steps to driving for the conditions.

I needed to discover the often fatal mistake many inexperienced bikers make at intersections, discover how to read “vehicle language” and be fully aware of all others who share the road with you and also learn skills that ensure that you’re able to be seen by other motorists on the road.

You can’t put a price on your life, it’s clear that learning these skills is not only important or a great idea, but it’s VITAL to your lifespan. Many people take years and often have small accidents that leave scars, bruises and even broken bones while making these mistakes and others.

www.motorcyclebeginnersguide.com