Kawasaki Aircraft initially ventured into motorcycle manufacturing by acquiring the struggling Meguro Manufacturing, with whom they had a prior partnership. The acquired company was rebranded as Kawasaki Motor Sales, and early motorcycles bore the “Kawasaki Aircraft” emblem on the fuel tank.
In 1962, Kawasaki engineers, originally working on a four-stroke engine for small cars, transitioned to the Meguro factory. There, they contributed to the development of the Meguro K1 and SG, a single-cylinder 250 cc OHV motorcycle. The merger of Kawasaki and Meguro took place in 1963, giving rise to Kawasaki Motorcycle Co., Ltd. During the period from 1962 to 1967, Kawasaki motorcycles featured an emblem characterized by a flag within a wing.
Development efforts persisted, with a focus on the Meguro K1—a replica of the BSA A7 500 cc vertical twin—and the W1. The K2 underwent testing in the U.S. to address the growing American demand for four-stroke motorcycles, initially facing rejection due to insufficient power. However, by the mid-1960s, Kawasaki successfully began exporting a substantial number of motorcycles.
The introduction of the Kawasaki H1 Mach III in 1968, alongside a range of enduro-styled motorcycles designed to compete with Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda, led to a notable increase in Kawasaki’s motorcycle sales. This strategic move strengthened Kawasaki’s position in the market and solidified its presence in the evolving landscape of motorcycle manufacturing.
| Model | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki 250 A1 Samurai | Classic | 1966 – 1968 |
| Kawasaki G3-SS | Classic | 1969 – 1973 |
| Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III | Classic | 1969 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki H2 750 Mach IV | Classic | 1971 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki S2 350SS MKII | Classic | 1971 – 1972 |
| Kawasaki F9 350 Bighorn | Enduro | 1972 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki Z1 900 | Classic | 1972 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki Z2 750RS | Classic | 1973 |
| Kawasaki KL 250 | Enduro | 1974 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki S3 400SS MKII | Classic | 1974 |
| Kawasaki Z 400 | Classic | 1974 – 1975 |
| Kawasaki Z1-A | Classic | 1974 |
| Kawasaki Z1-B | Classic | 1975 |
| Kawasaki KE 125 | Enduro | 1975 – 1976 |
| Kawasaki KH400 | Classic | 1975 |
| Kawasaki KE 175 | Enduro | 1976 – 1979 |
| Kawasaki KH 250 | Classic | 1976 – 1977 |
| Kawasaki KH 500 | Classic | 1976 – 1977 |
| Kawasaki Z 1000 A1 | Classic | 1976 |