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From Copycat to Ground Breaking: The history of the Kawasaki W1 & W2

August 15, 2023

For Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company, the dream of achieving success in the ever-competitive arena of motorcycles started with wings and not wheels. Prior to 1962, Kawasaki was more known for making aircraft than making motorcycles but after requiring struggling company Meguro Motorcycle Company in 1963, Kawasaki was well on its way to producing some iconic motorcycles. Well, sort of.

1974 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper

August 01, 2023

In the history of custom choppers as soon as the Japanese inline four motor was on the market people were pulling them and putting them in custom projects. Companies like Amen made this even more accessible in the early 70's and with the introduction of the Kawasaki 750, 900, and 1000cc motors they adapted to include these in their lineup of ready to install chopper frames. However these Kawasaki Amen frames were much harder to come by years later than the CB750 Honda counterpart which dominated the market leaving any KZ chopper out there rolling a real head turner. Flash forward to the 2017 Biltwell El Diablo Run when we had the chance to meet Robbie Hardbarger on his Amen framed Kawasaki Z1 chopper. The bike absolutely screamed down the baja Mexico highways and despite the extreme heat performed amazing. After the run he knew he wanted to change things up and spent several years getting it to the stance he wanted. Just before the 2021 EDR he had it ready to hit the road to San Felipe again and we met up with him once again to relish in this amazing Kawasaki chopper full of awesome road stories.

DOHC Masterpiece: The Kawasaki Z1

August 01, 2023

When it comes to classic Japanese motorcycles, you can't get more iconic than the Kawasaki Z1. This boisterous bike kick-started the concept of a “superbike” thanks to its ridiculously powerful four-cylinder inline engine. When it was released in 1972, the Z1 instantly became the world's fastest production motorcycle.

From Marketing Stunt to Legend: The Baja 1000

June 20, 2023

The impetus of the Baja 1000 came from none other than Honda American.

In the early 1960s, motorcycle riding and specifically dirt bike riding were seeing a massive surge in popularity. Honda American was at the forefront of this movement and was doing everything they could to convince riders that their bikes were not only the most capable but also the most reliable. Anyone who knows motorcycles today knows that this is what Honda bikes are really known for, and this branding started early on.

To prove the reliability of their brand new CL72 Scrambler, brand geniuses Jack McCormick and Walt Fulton of Honda American wanted to push the scrambler on a long-distance run across terrain that included everything from rocks and sand to mountain passes and dried out washes. An amalgamation of what dirt bike riders would encounter on their own riding days. Northwest Mexico would be the perfect environment to test out the overall durability of Honda's plucky CL72 Scrambler.

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Ascot Park Speedway: A Legend in Flat Track Motorcycle Racing

October 25, 2022

Though the last motorcycle crossed its finish line more than three decades ago, Ascot Park Speedway, located in Gardena, California, continues to live on as one of the most incredible flat track motorcycle racing venues in the sport’s history. To say that the track is merely legendary is akin to saying that Elvis Presley could carry a tune sufficiently enough.

Ascot Park Speedway made many careers. If you won at Ascot Park, you became part of the legend. Others became part of Ascot Park’s story for a more tragic reason, as many careers and lives were ended there, as well.

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