How honda thinks - how do I get more money while doing less. How susuki thinks - we sell motorcycles? How yamaha thinks: low hp high fun How kawasaki thinks: dude it would be dope if... How Europeans think: the owners can afford it, put in the newest tech. Chinese brands be like: cntr+c, cntrl-v Americans be like: heh my pistons are bigger than you're pistons.
I'm a Ducatisti through and through, but I have to be honest and say that Kawasaki offers the most complete lineup across all riding styles. That alone puts them near the top of the pile, now add in that all their bikes are competitive, that puts them on top.
Plus Kawa doesn't need that TLC Ducatis need after every single ride 😂 Kawasakis are made to ride and last, not only to look at and maybe to ride pn a warm sunny day... 😉
I was thinking about buying the Scrambler Cafe Racer 800 but I read that it doesn't really like to be riden sporty, fast or revving the engine so that killed my interest completely. I currently ride a Honda and a friend has Ducati. The desmowhatever valve system is a pain compared to the normal valves on my Honda. He has to take the bike into store w/ special tools to check the valves every 15k or so, while I go riding at least 24k before I need to do anything about the valves and it's just a peek that everything is ok. Let's just agree that Italian bikes are Italian bikes - they have "character" while my Honda is so boring that it actually just goes and goes... Good thing about bikes is that there's something for everyone.
Definitely I feel like they challenge themselves to make motorcycles because they want to, not just for profits. As a result their lineup is by far the most interesting out of any manufacturer in the world.
U are absolutely correct! Kawasaki is not blindly following the trends, looks like they want to please some very experimented riders and they truly deserve ur gratitude for that
i love my z900. it took me a year of sitting on a lot of bikes to find my ultimate choice, but it just spoke to me. i looked at the mt09 as well, but it felt like i was on a dirt bike instead of a sport bike (if that makes sense).
So many great bikes to choose from, I did the same thing taking a year to decide and had the Z900, GSX1000S and mt09 on my short list. I ended up with a mt09sp and love it but would love to own any of them. Be safe my friend!
After owning a Honda CT400, then a VFR800, then moving up to an RC51, I considered myself a Honda red fanatic. While shopping for my next bike, I’ve been disheartened with Honda’s engineering philosophies and I’ve had to reconsider Kawasaki no longer as an ugly lime green also-ran. Thanks for this video! 👍🏾
I own a VFR800fi, and I am honestly tempted by the little ZX4RR… not enough to actually sell my bike to get one. But just tempted by it. I think Kawasaki really is on to something right now.
99 magna vf750 and a 02vfr800 owner here. Kawasaki is the only brand I’d ever consider buying if I were to ever trying something different than big red.
I rode Kawasaki since the early 70s. I've had just about every motorcycle, but I always liked Kawasaki's best. They always had the most horsepower and handled good yeah, the early Z ones were wobbly but they got all that straightened out. I used to have their little two-stroke rotary valve 125s that would go and honestly 80 miles an hour. does anybody remember the Kawasaki Bighorn? That thing had a lot of turkey power my Z one was bored out racing gams smoothbore carburetors, Kircher exhaust and it was seriously fast I love that thing another sweet bike was the 88, 750 just yplain comfortable and fast. Their dirtbike engines were tough. I had an old 400 and it ran forever. It did handle bad so I put it in maico frame. We called it the faico.
As a teen of the late 80' and early 90's where Yamaha became my favourite bike brand (looking at you 88' FZ750, the lady that stole my heart) with Honda close second (early CBR) and Suzuki/Triumph a distant third (god I love a retro Katana).... But despite this ever since my brother had a 1980's Z1000... Kawasaki is on a different scale completely, especially recently trumping them all with great innovation and offering some real choices.... And although I am Jonesing for a R7...the Ninja 400 catered for all my needs as a returning rider in the UK where roads are narrow and damp. Feels like Kawasaki just continues to up their game and has got my back atm. I get the feeling that other bikes will come and go, but there will always be a special spot in my garage for a Kawasaki.
Kawi is definitely losing out with their ninja 650 to the r7. I hope they refresh it soon with a 270 degree crank and quick shifter, but the zx4r seems to crowd that out
@@ConservationCorpsWanker right now for a bike in USA, NC (where my long term gf lives) I am torn between buying a solid low milage 2022 R7 or pre-ordering a fun brand new CFMOTO 450SS... Right now the R7 is ahead.... I think it will have the legs for USA.
Thank u so much for making this video! I was born in 81, my first bike was a 1970 Honda ct70 and I stuck with Honda the majority of my life. But since 04 when the zx10r came out I adopted serious respect for kawi. Now they not only make the jumps and leaps that other manufacturers won't, but quality control and fit/finish is outstanding. My last bike was a Honda CBR600RR 07 model. The only 600 I would even consider buying right now is a kawi. And I was a true Honda fan boy!!!
Having visited a kawasaki dealer, and looking at their range, then visited a separate dealer that did many different types of bikes, modern kawasakis also appear to have better quality, it might have just been the lighting making the paint look better, but it did look better, the metal looked beautiful, and the only companies that really competed with the apparent quality were ducati and mv agusta, both more expensive, with a smaller range of bikes, and one of them is hyper focused on making more special unique bikes which aren't necessarily catering to the wider market, kawasaki just does it right.
Ive been a Yamaha fanboy since i started riding on an R3 6 years ago, just recently went to a Kawi demo day and got on 4 of their bikes including a zx6r which i thought was awesome but i still feel they are on the “cheaper” end. Yamaha aint that far off either but i am definitely selling my FZ07 for the zx4r. Kawasaki definitely put themselves on my radar with that move. Part of my motorcycling dream is a small displacement I4 and they just made it feel like Christmas allover again. I havent been this excited since i bought my FZ10 which was and is my dream bike.
I agree with this video. Kawasaki throws down the gauntlet every time. Look at the hybrid and electric bikes coming as well. They push tech when they can. I hope a zx6 supercharged comes soon
@@GPz84first 600 faired sport bike 85 ninja 600 bought one brand new in 6 months they were everywhere took others 2 yrs to get clise to the performance and handling. They started middle weight soort class and would run with any 750 of thst yr or older, killed 750 class 600 to 900/1000 became standard spirt classes.
Kawasaki has a nice lil bonus in its backhand. the steel industry. all other brands mentioned here make bikes in the first place, kawasaki makes steel products in the first place and generates big money with it. the bikes are just a nice lil side flex for the company. it can do things budgetwise that just wouldnt be possible for the competitors. and that of course is not a bad thing :)
I chose the Ninja 250r as my first bike back in 2011 cus it was better than the Honda CBR250. I got a used 05 ZX6R to replace it a few years later. My first two bikes were Kawi’s and they were my most fun bikes I had and I miss them dearly. I have a Ducati Monster now, but if I do go back to a super sport, it will be the latest zx10r for sure.
I have a '21 zx10r and I support this! It's a fun beast that feels so comfortable at least for me. Feels they put more time into thinking about the rider too
Yep, i've owned a honda 929, a yamaha mt09, a suzuki gsxr600, a triumph street triple, and in my garage now is a 2021 zx6r 636. By far the smoothest corner carver i've owned. i love it.
This video took me back to the sixth grade, 1968. Kawasaki made a dirt bike, the 238 Green Streak, that I used to drool over in the magazines. They also made a baby Green Streak 100cc bike, revved to the moon! A neighbor boy came back from Vietnam and bought a Kawasaki 500cc triple two stroke. The bike was a monster at the time. I really like what Kawasaki has been doing, as of late. Funny, it's the only brand of the Big Four that I've never owned.
I think you have a good analysis. I own a Zx4RR, Z400, previously a Ninja 400, a Honda Shadow 750, and a Grom. In the 125 market, the Grom is leagues ahead of the Z125. As for the 400-500 market, the Ninjas are more comfy and peppier than others I have ridden. I have also compared the Shadow 750 to the Kawasaki Vulcan 750. I like the ergonomics of the Honda a bit more, but the Kawi wins out on power and overall usability.
Started on a 2010 ER6F/ninja 650 in 2018. Had it for about 1 year and now since 2019 I'm 4 years in to owning a 2019 z1000sx/ninja 1000. Absolutely love them, its just a great sports tourer with plenty of go without the panniers for more spirited rides 😌 Also, not a single issue so far with either of them. 10/10 would buy again.
I am a Kawasaki fan boy but I always thought Yamaha and Honda were a better motorcycle company overall. I just loved Kawasaki designs for their more "weird" designs and that green that kinda reminded me of Dragonzord. I didn't think much about branding and where Kawasaki stood in the market. This video has educated me that you do have a very good point about Kawasaki being the best motorcycle company currently
After decades of looking at Kawasaki, I got a lightly used ‘19 Versys 1000 recently to try them out. I have worked through a plethora of ADVs, a bagger, and a few STs. One test ride on the Versys 1000 LT+ and I was hooked on that sweet I-4 with comfortable ergos, electronic suspension, and reasonable price. It’s a huge credit to Kawasaki that they have continued to produce the Versys 1000. It’s the best riding experience I’ve ever had. Wish I’d tried it sooner. It’s true that you don’t know what you don’t know. Hope more riders try out a Versys 1000 because it’s so much better than the standard big ADVs for road riding, which is what they’re mostly used for anyway. Kawasaki knows what they’re doing with this bike (the only one I can speak to). Ironically, my brother’s Ninja 500 was the first motorcycle I ever rode, before I knew how to ride haha. I feel like I’m home. My green riding suit finally makes some sense to those who know. Bonus that I can get it serviced pretty much anywhere in the US, unlike the other brands I have spent too much time and money on. I’ve never had a sportbike, but the ZX4RR definitely caught my attention. The H2SX is an unbelievable deal. And now the KLR is offered in a reasonable height. Becoming a fan very quickly.
Nice one Hero. Actually, you can go back and compare these two brands from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. I’ll focus on the 90’s as 91 was when I first started riding on the streets and then racing in that decade. The 80’s was as a kid on dirt bikes only. Out of the big 4 Japanese brands I was a Suzuki fan. Had a GSXR-750 for the streets, raced an RGV-250 in the Australian 250 cc production class. Started the year Anthony Gobert became Australian champ before he made headlines and won his first WSB race at Phillip Island on a Kawasaki ZX750R. A bike based on what my house mate, and future race team manager had at the time. The Suzuki was arguably the better slow speed handling bike however when pushed the Kwaka was king of the streets. The only way Honda ended up beating it was with the original Blade (which wasn’t developed as a homologated race bike). Each brand has had their success over each decade which makes it very difficult to say which is leading and even harder today with what is available. Would’ve purchased the 400cc 4 cylinder Kwaka however only 25 are being shipped to Australia this year and each are already sold. Great review as always. 👍😎🇦🇺
I think I am onboard with you on your call-out. I'm a huge fan on Honda sportbikes and have owned a number of CBR's over previous years...but I agree that Kawi really has it going on. I still have a big bore sport bike on my list to own yet, and may have to go the way of the ZX-14!
I’ve been a huge kawi fan boy my whole life because my dad had a nicely modded 75 Z1b that was the absolute business now I have my 3rd gen z1000 all these years later and if you knew me growing up you wouldn’t be surprised
Just bought a2023 zx6 r and I’m loving it, I miss the power of my R1, but it makes me a better rider having to work the transmission to keep it in the power band.
100% agreed with you. I have owned all 4 Japanese brands (7 Kawasakis, 6 Hondas, 2 Suzukis and 1 Yamaha) but always have a sweet spot for Kawasaki and Honda in second place. The Kawasaki H2 really made the final statement to crown Kawasaki. I have a great collection of old bikes but happily I will buy a ZX10R next week! Thanks for the information
As someone here in India who started with a 150cc Hero-Honda in teenage, moving up to only available 'bigger displacement' in those years - a very impractical 350cc first gen twin-spark Royal Enfield then moving up to a heavy but still reliable Benelli 300 and eventually ending up with a Kawasaki Z650 for its nimble nature, I am so glad that a company like Kawasaki exist which offers so many options as Danny mentioned in the video.. in a market like ours, which is extremely volatile. I have moved on to a Ninja 1000 now, and i can see myself sticking with it for years to come (as so most riders with their bikes would say).. But honestly its gonna be difficult for me to move away from a Kawasaki now given the options they manufacture and cater to market like ours and sticking their neck out for each type of motorcyclist out there !
Kawasaki’s slogan in Europe used to be “Who can catch Kawasaki?”. The Honda CBR1000RR-R does have an edge over the Kawasaki ZX10RR, because it comes with an Akrapovic titanium slip-on and Ohlins suspension. A slip-on typically adds 3-4 hp over stock on a four cylinder bike. Yamaha used to dominate in the two-stroke days. I still have my TZR250 (1987 1KT). My 1999 ZX9R still runs with over 76,000 miles on the clock.
I race a 650 Ninja Superbike. It's freakin' awesome. My blood has been green for decades. I used to race a Honda CBR600 F2. It was superbad at the time in 1991.
I bought first yr 600 ninja 1985. Fast handled good,and in the day sportiest looking racer replica period. In first 5 yrs put 60 000 miles on it. Not one part failed.not one. Tires chain d Sprokets tires oh yeah wore them out. But oil changes and valve adjustments on time and it ran perfect. Now i was in early 20s had ridden bikes since i was 6. Tjis bike saw redline many times everyday. Rode back and forth to trade school daily 2 yrs, rode it anytime i was not in school or work. At 65,000 miles first failure, started skipping misfiring. Found one bad plug wire. Damn anvil, even had original clutch and it never slipped even when drag launching. Best damn bike i ever owned and owned 20 plus bikes
LOVE my z900. Such a cool fun bike. Love the lines (once I removed the mirrors and rear fender). And the 50th anniversary red just POPS. Love Kawi. If you know, you know.
a number of years ago I did a kawasaki test ride day. I was very impressed with their stuff! It all seemed very well done and put together. It was an absolute pleasure!
A dealer 25 minutes away from me had a demo day last month, and I missed it because I had to drill with my reserve unit. Was super bummed, because it seems like they’re the only ones really doing comprehensive demo days anymore. I’ve always been a Yamaha fan boy, but Kawi has really turned into a manufacturer that seems to give a shit about their customer base.
I liked this brand already in the 90s. But I had never bought one of their models. It's been done for 2 years (Ninja H2 SX). So satisfied with this brand that I bought myself a second Kawasaki (Z H2) and if I had the money I would buy myself a third (Ninja H2)! Thanks for the video
When I started looking for bikes I fell in love with that CBR 500. Then I looked at the Kawasaki Ninja and it is pound for pound just as good for nearly $3,000 less.
Cause you're in America, its only like £500 more here in the uk, hondas are actually priced right here, the Hornet is the same price as the cf moto 700 😂😂😂
I’m old and always owned Honda but…I recently decided that a lightweight adventure bike was what I now needed. I looked at the Honda (too heavy and not that dirt friendly), BMW (build quality and low powered thumper), KTM (thumper, reliability? and terrible standup position) and Kawasaki Versys x. The little versys can cruise all day, no vibrations, great range and with a super low first gear it handles light trails nicely. As Ryan F9 says ‘Kawasaki isn’t the only bike in the category, but they do own it!’ I love my little Versys X. Can’t wait for spring!
Some sport-touring bikes Honda dropped and stopped produce. CB1100xx, VFR800, VTR1000F, ST1300, CB1300,CB900hornet.CBF1000, X11-naked blackbird. CB1000R. Its a freaking lot of good bikes they put on the scrapper.
Well done!👍 I’ve owned all but a Yammi- 1. Gsxr/raw brutal n unforgiving-horrid fit n finish. 2. Honda cbr/just like the accord/civic- ticks all boxes cept fun. 3. Ninja-raw, fun as hell, reminds me of how this sport all started. Btw parts n image speak 4 themselves🎉
@@HeldIntegral hello mate! I owned 3 bikes & had a civic as a company car for 2 years- All bullet proof, reliable as hell-quality build- great resale n quite dull- just saying!🤣 I loved my Honda bikes but they def didn’t tug at me heart strings.
The Best... what are you looking for? My first MC was a 1970 Honda CB350. A lot of vibration from the twin, had a RD350, light, but a kick start & heart condition are not a good combo. '98 Kawasaki 1000P, power & a really nice sound, but way too heavy. . . now a 2007 HD Sportster 1200C, So far, the most comfortable bike I have had, not much vibration from the V-Twin, & oil changes are easy. True, a push rod engine is simple, not too fast, but it is comfortable. So, The Best... that depends on what you want & need. At 61, I am not looking to break the sound barrier, just get me from place to place :-)
i agree with this video completely, my first big bike that i still ride is the er6-n which is perfect for beginner in big bikes and long term too, and here they sell the zx25rr that absolutely dominates the 250 class here even with the ridiculous high pricing people still got them just for the sound and no one else is cashing in on that, crazy.
I too was always into Honda. I have owned other makes, however, Honda was the brand for me, Kwaks have gone above and beyond for me, they are probably at the top of their game in the BSB as well and it's what I'm riding at the moment, I just wish they didn't retire the zzr1400.. Well, for England anyway. 👍
Great overall video, and I agree. I've owned Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki motorcycles, as well as some European sportbikes, and I think that you nailed this. Currently, Kawasaki have the most complete lineup, and the quality is high across the board, too.
Ok it’s a small thing but wish you would have mentioned the 300 KLX SM. They could have just stuck the small wheels on the KLX, but instead made sone subtle changes on brakes, gearing,tune, and suspension that most customers would not even notice. It’s truly its own thing.
I remember when you convinced me to buy a 2007 CBR600RR few years ago. And I also agree with your view on Kawasaki, Im thinking to get either a new 650 or ZX6R as I've owned 2 ZX6R's in the past. I also saw that ZX10RR in the showroom, it was amazing but its over the top for my type of riding.
It's all a matter of taste, but you're right. I think it's like a way of thinking and kawasaki loves to innovate and at the same time keep the good old school, especially in the 4 cylinder engines.
Well I might be a little biased owning a Z900 and ZX10R, but those purchase decisions were made in the past 2 years based on a careful analysis of both segments, so I'll have to agree with your assessment.
For me I agree with what you say, small displacement with more cylinders, let's be honest half the time you buy a bike because of the sound it makes, I can't honestly get my head round why manufacturers create sport bikes without an I4 or even V2/V4 it baffles me
As a new biker who was looking for a middleweight naked, kawasakis z650 was just awful imo. Suzukis sv650 and yamahas mt07 felt way better... then my dealer suddenly got a cb650r. I jumped on that so quick. Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow.
I agree! Kawasaki has come a long way. I also believe you are correct in saying they are the number one bike builder of the Japanese builders. They may be number one in the world although that could be contentious. You made many good points in this video. Nice!
Kawi is def on their game these days. I'm on my second, (a Z900RS) and it shares top spot (with my former '95 YZF 600) for my favorite bike I've owned! I could see a ZX4RR in my future!
I like 'em all and have owned and ridden multiple models of all the mainstream brands including Ducati in my time over the past 50 years, but Suzuki would be my most frequently repeated and preferred go to if I was to look back over the past 38 years. Looking at a new bike at the moment and while all four manufacturers are getting consideration in the class I'm looking at, it's currently triaging down to either the Honda or Suzuki for me.
Recently, since I got into bikes, I have seen a Kawasaki vs Yamaha comparison, imo I do have to say myself that Kawasaki maybe better, infact both Honda and Kawasaki got me into the motorcycling scene. But Kawasaki vs Yamaha is legit a rivalry at this point.
I bet you they will. If you look that Kawi tech has been slowly trickling throughout their entire lineup. Next gen will most likely have it. At least as an option.
@@HeroRR that's the only reason why I went with the mt 09 sp. I also think their stock tires kind a suck but they had to cut some corners to compete with the price. If next gen has i wil def sell my mt 09 sp for it :D
@@HeroRR Yeah but Im planing on upgrading from my ninja 650 after this season, for now its gonna be the new triumph street triple rs, even tho the kawi looks so much nicer, especialy in the cafe variant. Dont want tot wait without anything out there, and since there is no rumors doubt it will be next year.
I try not to be loyal to a brand, but I do Love my Kwakas I think they need a decent offering in the adventure market to compete with the GS1250 and Africa twin
Completely with you here. The ZX4R gives hope for something great with bigger capacity. But I'm also curious if Yamaha finaly has the balls to bring a 3cyl YZF-R9. That would be something! Also I had hopes with Honda when they introduced a new Hornet for a CBR750R(R). But then the information came that the Hornet has a parallel twin. So there the hopes were gone...
i just bought a ninja 650 mainly because ive always wanted a ninja since i was little but looking into he 600cc series of bikes it was the best choice for a beginner bike that was not too slow
Exactly as their old advertising in the late '70s and early '80's....Kawasaki Lets The GOOD TIMES ROLL. I've owned numerous Kawasaki motorbikes and, yes, they kick @ss !!
Ive startet watching your Channel like 4 års ago when i was is love with the cbr600rr 2007 model. I started ridning on a smaller bike but one yeah in i changed into a cbr600rr 2008. At the point i dident know how to ride at all. Now im midt tier track rider. 3 jears on the cbr and still love it! It has teached me all i know. Back to point. I totally agree. The new kawasaki 400 is awsome and kawasaki is just the maker of fun bikes like ktm but more wack. I too Think kawasaki is the future.
I am not a fan boy of kawasaki, but I own two and looking at a 3 and a forth bike. Own the all day rider, the Concours, have the around town and love of life, W800 Café. Looking at the Himalayan or KLR and leaning towards the KLR for my third bike. Then want a fun sport bike. Looking at the 400 as it just fits the bill for my stable of bikes. Want one for each purpose of life. I only own 2 wheel transportation and like that I can own 4 bikes for the price of one 4 wheeled vehicle. Live in Virginia and snow is limited. Looking at moving to Tennessee next year, might need to get my 23 year old truck up and running as they have some snow. Thanks for pointing out I am not crazy as to why I keep doing research and find myself buying another Kawasaki. I keep asking myself "why?"
