2024 will be the first time that Australian rider O’Halloran will ride for Kawasaki, but the 26-time British Superbike race winner has already got his first taste of the Ninja ZX-10RR at a positive shakedown test last month. Joining the experienced Aussie will be Cook, who remains with the team following an impressive debut Superbike season in 2023. 

The team welcome new title sponsor Completely Motorbikes for 2024, alongside AJN Steelstock, with both brands featuring prominently on the FS-3 Racing prepared Kawasaki. The team have continued with the popular retro-inspired livery for next year, mirroring the special Ninja 40th anniversary edition of the road-going Ninja ZX-10R, which will be available from Kawasaki dealers from January. 

“The retro scheme has always gone down incredibly well with race fans, so that, combined with the fact customers can now purchase a ZX-10R in similar colours, meant it made sense to continue with this theme for 2024. It’s a stunning look and one that stands out incredibly well on track, and we can’t wait for it to do so once again in 2024, hopefully at the front of the pack!”

Kawasaki Z e-1 and Ninja e-1 riders can also amaze their friends with a walk mode that allows these machines to manoeuvre at walking pace in both forward AND reverse – particularly useful for tight parking spots or moving backwards up an incline. 

Enjoying a unique Metallic Bright Silver and Metallic Matte Lime Green appearance – which is to be the signature livery of future Kawasaki EV models – the rider view is pleasingly dominated by a TFT meter with smartphone connectivity. Relaying such things as machine riding status, range, availability of boost function and riding level selected (Road or Eco), the TFT meter seamlessly combines with the easy-to-use throttle and 400cc motorcycle class ABS brakes and trellis type chassis to create genuine on road presence and the riding reassurance that has so far been missing in the entry level EV powered two-wheeler class. 

Charging options include a charge docking station which a battery can be placed in or via a lead which can link the off-board charger unit to the machine via an under-seat socket with batteries still in place. Cool features about the advanced Li-Ion batteries include inbuilt charge indicators plus a symmetrical design allowing easier placement within the machine plus a handy lockable stowage area above the batteries below the battery cover.   

With a range of accessories including +30mm Ergo-Fit seats and various charging solutions, the naked Sugomi style Z e-1 and sleek fully cowled Ninja e-1 models from Kawasaki are set to create another chapter in the company’s illustrious history and open the door to a greener future for two-wheel fans globally – truly a spark of innovation for a new era.   

Both machines will arrive in the UK next month, with prices to be confirmed soon.

In September of 2023, Kawasaki Motors celebrates its 70th anniversary of making motorcycles having first made forays into the motorcycle business in 1953.

After the end of World War II, Kawasaki produced motorcycle engines under the name of “Kawasaki Machine Works.” Since then, Kawasaki has continued to Let the Good Times Roll and has strived to share its “Fun to Ride” philosophy with customers around the world. Today, Kawasaki motorcycles are sold in more than 90 countries and regions. 

To commemorate Kawasaki Motorcycles’ 70-year anniversary, AKM (American Kawasaki Motors) will mount a special exhibition to be held at the AKM Heritage Hall in Foothill Ranch, California as well as Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan starting in September 2023. The displays will focus on the history of the motorcycle business in the U.S. market, which marked a major turning point in Kawasaki’s overseas trading strategy.

Kawasaki’s path to success in the motorcycle industry, which began with the launch of the KE-1 motorcycle engine in 1953, was not a smooth one. Several efforts were made to try to expand sales, including working with trading companies to expand to overseas markets, in addition to a business alliance and subsequent merger with the Meguro Manufacturing Company. However, each of these efforts failed to produce the sales results that the Kawasaki factory in Japan had hoped for.

It was decided that selling directly to dealers would be the better business model, so in 1966 American Kawasaki Motors (USA) was established. Kawasaki’s US operations began with only 10 employees and adopted an innovative policy of “localism” before going on to develop motorcycles like the Kawasaki A1 Samurai 250, Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III and iconic Kawasaki Z1 900 for the U.S. market. Early on, Kawasaki USA launched a new kind of sales policy aimed at expansion that included the industry’s first model year system and worked to strengthen relationships with dealers by setting up branches in every region of the U.S., thereby consolidating its base in the U.S. market.

In 1974, Kawasaki made a $20 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska to be in-line with a coming shift to a floating exchange rate in the U.S. In fact, Kawasaki’s Lincoln plant became the first plant built by any Japanese car or motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. It remains Kawasaki’s main plant outside of Japan to this day. It is where all Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft and side by are still manufactured today.

Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. 

Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths using both internal combustions engines and green technologies such as EV and HEV which will surely give birth to new legends.

After the highly popular unveil of the all-new Ninja ZX-4RR, Kawasaki UK is pleased to announce that it will be launching an all-new one-make series, the Kawasaki British Superteen Championship. The series will feature as part of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship calendar, giving young riders a chance to race in front of huge crowds at the best circuits in the UK. 

Following a universally enthusiastic reception when recently announced, the new for 2024 Ninja ZX-4RR is due to arrive in the UK in September 2023 with dealers already anticipating strong demand and many already taking pre-orders.

Available in one colour (Lime Green / Ebony), the all-LED lighting equipped mid-weight street and track machine is rated at an incredible maximum with Kawasaki Ram Air of 80ps at 14,500 rpm while the rev limit itself lays beyond an incredible 15,000rpm.

As the only full-fairing supersport model in the 400cc class with a parallel four-cylinder engine, dealers are gearing up for demand for the high spec machine equipped with a WorldSBK inspired chassis and full-colour LCD screen integrating a track mode that displays lap times, gear position, and RPM from 10,000 rpm and above. KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) and Power Modes also feature, along with a dual direction KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter).

Augmenting the already impressive Ninja family for 2024 – while adding yet more choice in the popular mid-capacity sector – the unique in class Ninja ZX-4RR will certainly deliver Kawasaki’s tag line for the model to a legion of lucky owners in the 2024 sales season – “Awaken Your Supersport”.

Due to customer demand, the UK will only be importing the ZX-4RR, and to ensure it is as accessible to as many riders as possible, the incredible machine will cost just £8,699. 

The 2023 Isle of Man TT proved to be an incredible fortnight of racing on the island, and for Kawasaki and Team Green, it was a resounding success with podiums coming across race week at the hands of Dean Harrison, Jamie Coward and Josh Brookes.

With glorious weather gracing the Isle of Man throughout the TT festival, lap times quickly tumbled, and for DAO Racing and Dean Harrison, practice week gave them plenty of time to get the ZX-10RR Superbike and Superstock machines dialled into the challenging 37.73-mile circuit. Having already had three rounds of BSB under his belt and a successful week at the North West 200, Dean was able to hit the ground running. 

He continued that pace into race week, where he was able to claim third place in the Superbike TT before replicating that in both Superstock races. In the blue-riband Senior TT, Dean immediately got his head down to set a fantastic pace, eventually securing second place to make it a 100% podium success rate for the team. 

The Team Green success did not end there, though. The two Supertwin TT races proved to be edge-of-the-seat action, with Jamie Coward claiming a hard-earned third place in the opening race, while Josh Brookes claimed his maiden TT podium in race two. This was an impressive feat from the returning Australian rider, who only sat on the RC Express Racing Ninja 650 machine for the first time in practice week! 

What seemed an unattainable record, has been achieved with the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE. On Saturday, May 20, Thierry Sarasyn visited 15 countries* in one day with Kawasaki’s adventure-touring motorcycle. It took the Belgian barely 22 hours to cover the 2200 km adhering to the local traffic regulations of each country visited.

The 2023 North West 200 proved a successful weekend for Kawasaki, with Dean Harrison claiming three podiums in the Superbike and Superstock classes while Richard Cooper doubled up on Supertwin victories.