SUZUKI REVIVES THE PHANTOM WITH SPECIAL EDITION GSX-R1000R

Suzuki has revived the Phantom name with a new special edition GSX-R1000R, available with an RRP of £17,499.

Like the iconic GSX-R1000 K6 Phantom from 2006, the new GSX-R1000R Phantom is completed with a Yoshimura exhaust – this time an R11 silencer and heatshield finished in black metal magic with a carbon cap – and a smattering of genuine Suzuki accessories, including track-focussed brake and clutch lever guards, a tank pad and fuel cap trim, and a smoked double bubble screen.

A single seat cowl matches the matt black livery, which is complemented by gloss black decals. Standing out against the stealthy black colour scheme are gold wheels and gold Showa Balance Free front forks.

The GSX-R1000R produces 202PS from its inline-four cylinder engine, which uses the same variable valve timing system as the MotoGP world championship-winning GSX-RR. A full suite of electronics features a bi-directional quickshifter, lean angle-sensitive, 10-mode traction control and ABS, launch control, and three power modes.

A company with over 120 years of heritage, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), encompasses manufacturing enterprises focusing on sea, land, air and even into deep space. Following the announcement of the creation of a new company within the Kawasaki group created to solely focus on the manufacture of motorcycles and stand-alone engines, Kawasaki Motors Ltd is now rolling out a new corporate identity which reflects both the heritage aspect of this global enterprise and to symbolise optimism of the future.

The River Mark – which is a stylised representation of the Japanese character meaning River – first appeared in the 1870’s at which time it was seen on the flags of ships owned by the Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard, the forerunner to Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Being formed by Shozo Kawasaki in 1878, the company first concentrated on ship building fulfilling the desire for Japan to export goods, and for the island nation to take its place on the international trading arena. With a solid reputation for marine innovation and construction quality, the ambitious company soon expanded into civil engineering, rolling stock and steam engine manufacture finally breaking the bounds of earth by creating its first aircraft.

At key points during the century plus evolution of this vast company with its global reach and reputation, the River Mark has been used, its application being restricted to Kawasaki’s most significant products of their time. In the modern era, the River Mark once more came to prominence as it appeared boldly on the cowlings of the unique to Kawasaki, Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R machines powered by their in-house designed and manufactured supercharged engines unveiled in 2015.Now, on 6 October 2021, Kawasaki has declared that the time is right to adopt the famous River Mark as its Corporate Identity symbol and for this simple yet effective round logo to be the main identifying symbol for the combined efforts of its many companies and their diverse products in both commercial and public consumer environments.

Commenting on the roll out of the new logo, Mr Masaya Tsuruno, Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors Europe said:

“The world has changed immeasurably in the century plus history of the Kawasaki company – none more so that in the past few years. As we roll out our new corporate identity with the River Mark at its core, we look to take a next, bold step in terms of technology and engineering as well as enhancing the lives of countless people around the world with a focus on sustainability and emerging green technologies. While some things change others remain constant such as our commitment to be the best in our chosen fields; the River Mark is a fitting symbol of this commitment.”

Kawasaki’s any roads Versys 1000 has successfully established a place for itself in the hearts of numerous riders in the past few years, and that success story looks set to continue in 2022 as Adventure Calls once more.

Appealing to truly ambitious riders who want to explore beyond the comfort and endurance limits of most machines, the Versys will be available in three versions for 2022. The SE model is the leader of the family featuring an enviable specification that includes a wide range of electronic rider aids and technical features as well as offering electronically damped front and rear suspension as standard. Featuring Showa’s advanced Skyhook suspension technology, the attitude of the SE is focussed on the machine staying in the same relative position as the road surface undulates with the suspension action absorbing the movement via constant adjustment thanks to its super-fast reaction speed.

As range partner, the SE is complemented by an S model that continues into 2022 offering the same rider aids as the SE yet relying on a more traditional non-electronically damped suspension set up. The list of rider aids that both machines feature is extensive including electronic cruise control, an IMU enhanced control package, traction control, power mode selection, integrated riding modes, an up/down quick shifter and an integrated ABS braking system.

From a chassis point of view, the S and SE also have full LED lighting including cornering lights, TFT meter panels with Bluetooth connectivity to the riders’ smartphone via the Kawasaki Rideology App and the convenience of a large windscreen and protective hand guards. Available with colour coded clean mount panniers plus a top case as accessory items, both the S and SE models will be available in a variety of Editions in 2022 ranging from Tourer to Grand Tourer.

Finally, completing the trio of Versys 1000 models available for the new season is a standard or “entry-level” version giving riders on a more limited budget an opportunity to discover why so many thousands of owners have such an affinity with the Versys concept.

Offering the same base specification as both S and SE models in terms of the engine and chassis, but without such items as cornering lights, TFT meter panel, integrated riding modes and highly durable paint of its siblings (or the SE electronically damped suspension), the standard machine does however offer the accessory option to add an up/down quick shifter, large windscreen, heated grips and hand guards plus the accessory pannier and top case luggage options common to the other machines in the 2022 Versys 1000 range. Standard, S and SE, for 2022 there truly is a Versys 1000 for every budget and every rider.

Available from the end of January 2022, the colours and prices for all three editions will be:

Versys

Candy Lime Green/Metallic Spark Black (Standard £10,399, Tourer £11,199, Grand Tourer £12,099)

Versys S

Emerald Blazed Green/Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Spark Black (Standard £13,099, Tourer £13,899, Grand Tourer £14,999)
Metallic Graphite Gray/Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Flat Spark Black (Standard £13,099, Tourer £13,899, Grand Tourer £14,999)

Versys SE

Emerald Blazed Green/Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Spark Black (Standard £14,999, Tourer £15,799, Grand Tourer £16,699)
Metallic Graphite Gray/Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Flat Spark Black (Standard £14,999, Tourer £15,799, Grand Tourer £16,699)

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Kawasaki will start a Retrovolution in 2022 with the introduction of the new Z650RS. Augmenting its already hugely popular retro sport line, the Z650RS will open the mid-capacity class to a wide range of riders. Recognised as being at the forefront of the rapidly expanding retro sport scene, Kawasaki has the unique advantage of close to fifty years of Z heritage and this has been brought to bear on the design of the new 2022 machine.

Targeted at younger riders and those in the early stages of their riding career, the Z650RS is predicted to also appeal to those who fondly recall the launch of the iconic “son of Z1” Z650-B1 in 1977. The delicate balance of old and new, retro and current has been expertly achieved by the Kawasaki design team with clever Z references abounding.

At the heart of the new machine is an updated version of Kawasaki’s venerable 649 cm3 water-cooled, parallel twin engine used in both the current Z650 and Ninja 650 models. With a justifiable reputation for durability and performance, the assist and slipper clutch equipped engine unit has also formed the basis of machines raced to success at the gruelling Isle of Man TT races. Tuned in the case of the Z650RS for low and mid rev response, plus characteristic invigorating high rev performance, the engine is rated at 68 PS (50.2 kW) and will also be available from Kawasaki dealers with a 35kw power down kit fitted creating an A2 compliant machine.

In terms of the chassis, the frame is a tubular trellis type construction providing both lightness and agile response to aid reassuring handling capabilities. Its narrow aspect also allows riders to easily reach the ground at a standstill and manoeuvre the bike on the move with equal ease. The seat height for European models will be 820mm with a low seat accessory option at 800mm.

Focusing on suspension, the front duties are undertaken by ø41mm conventional forks with Kawasaki’s highly rated horizontal link rear suspension acting on a shock that is adjustable for pre-load. Braking is care of dual twin piston front calipers acting on retro-style 300mm round disc rotors instead of Kawasaki’s customary petal style rotors while at the rear a single piston brake acts on a 200mm rotor all assisted by Bosch advanced ABS.

Specification is one thing but the styling of the Z650RS is whole new ball game. Evoking myriad memories of the Z650-B1, the paint and pinstripes are a faithful reproduction of the green version of the earlier machine while the iconic “duck tail” cowling behind the seat and faithfully crafted side panels also play homage to the 1977 machine. Even the seat and its stitching pattern reveal a familiar fastidious attention to detail attention by Kawasaki stylists.

A round, LED headlamp lights the way while the dual analogue style “artillery shell” shaped meters include a digital centre panel for rider information. The adoption of gold multi-spoke type wheels is truly the “icing on the cake” while further embellishment is possible via a range of Kawasaki Genuine Accessories. Without doubt the new Z650RS will ensure that 2022 is the year of “Retrovolution”.

2022 Z650RS – Three Colours & Three Distinct Styles

* Metallic Spark Black – £7,549

* Candy Emerald Green – £7,699

* Metallic Moondust Gray / Ebony – £7,699

AVAILABLE FROM NOVEMBER 2021

With few, if any, rivals, the Kawasaki sport touring Ninja 1000SX has been one of the stand-out machines of recent years. Carving itself an enviable niche as a machine that has supersport handling and DNA combined with the comfort and flexibility to tour solo or with passenger, the Ninja 1000SX has won the highest praise winning countless magazine and web site road tests.

Now in its fourth iteration, the Ninja 1000SX has been gradually refined and features a magical mix of features that combine to create a machine with real pedigree. The recent adoption of a sporting four into one exhaust and more angular cowling combine with radial mount mono-bloc front brake calipers, a radial mount master cylinder and horizontal back-link suspension plus up/down quick shifter to display authentic Ninja credentials.

And from a touring perspective, clever touches abound. In terms of luggage capacity, the combined total capacity of the accessory panniers is an impressive 56l plus a clean mount pannier system means that the supersport style of the machine is not marred by an ugly framework when the panniers are removed. Seat comfort has also recently been upgraded along with greater wind protection from a screen offering a wide range of adjustment to fine tune the ride.

In terms of electronic rider aids, the assistance is myriad thanks to the adoption of an IMU that, along with the ECU, measures inertia in six axis plus electronic cruise control as standard. Alongside this, selectable integrated riding modes and a cornering management function are standard as well as power mode selection, KTRC traction control, supersport level ABS and smartphone connectivity between the all-digital TFT colour meter and the riders’ smartphone via Kawasaki’s Rideology App.

Default choice for a legion of riders who want their machine to multi-task and excel at whatever it is asked to do, the 2022 Ninja 1000SX will deliver a truly unique combination of competencies.

Colours for 2022 will be:

Metallic Diablo Black/Pearl Robotic White
Emerald Blazed Green/ Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Graphite Grey
Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Grey/Steel Grey/ Metallic Diablo Black

Re-energising one of Kawasaki’s most lusted after paint schemes from the 1970’s, the new Z900RS SE model for the 2022 season will be available in the classic “Yellow Ball” livery of the original 1972 Super Four, model Z1.

Although the most obvious sign of this new variation on the stunningly popular Z900RS theme, the modifications do not stop there. Again, reminiscent of the type of tuning performed by enthusiasts back in the day, the Z900RS SE comes equipped as standard with an impressive array of other quality specification upgrades including changes to suspension and braking components.

An easy spot at the rear of the machine, the SE model features an Öhlins S46 rear shock with preload adjuster. Featuring an aluminium body with single-tube construction, the large ø46 mm piston plus internal oil and gas chambers separated by a floating piston result in a superior sense of grip and handling.

And up-front changes have also taken place with the 41mm inverted front fork not only resplendent with gold-coloured outer tubes but with standard settings refined to create an ideal balance of front/rear poise and reaction across the whole range of suspension travel.

Braking too has seen a change with the adoption of a Brembo caliper and rotor package for the front end. The twin ø300 mm Brembo front discs are gripped by Brembo M4.32 radial-mount monobloc calipers served by a smaller-diameter Nissin radial-pump master cylinder (down to ø17.5 mm from the ø19.1 mm on the standard model) activating braking action through stainless-steel braided lines delivering greater stopping power while offering linear progression when operating the lever.

Cosmetically, the Z900RS SE, which features the “RS” letters of the model logo on the side covers finished in red, is differentiated even further via black alumite radiator side covers and FI cover plus gold coloured multi spoke wheels. The “icing on the cake” of course is the so-called “Yellow Ball” paint scheme pulling on the heart strings of dedicated Z1 fans plus legions of new riders attracted to the ever-growing retro sport scene willingly immersing themselves in Kawasaki’s decades of unique Z heritage.

The legendary Ulster Grand Prix might have been postponed again for 2021, but the iconic Dundrod circuit just outside of Belfast in Northern Ireland has been the scene of success for many Kawasaki riders over the years.

First held in 1922 on the older 20.5. mile Old Clady Circuit, the current 7.401 Dundrod course was introduced in 1953. Since then, it has established itself as the world’s fastest road race, with the current record an incredible 136.415mph average lap!

With such an illustrious history, the event has seen lots of success for Kawasaki-powered riders. In recent years, Dean Harrison has taken his Ninja ZX-10R to the top step in the Superbike class while the likes of Christian Elkin, Dan Cooper, Derek McGee and Ivan Lintin have all taken honours in the Supertwin category.

Prior to that, victories across the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock races came at the hands of Ryan Farquhar, Connor Cummins, Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson. A number of these wins came from the McAdoo team, and with no race for 2021, we thought we would catch up with McAdoo Kawasaki Team Manager Jason McAdoo

“The McAdoo team has a long history with the Ulster Grand Prix, first racing there in 1983 – our first year as a team – with Paul Cranston.

It’s a special circuit – so fast and flowing but with all the hallmarks of a real road race. The event was originally Northern Ireland’s world championship round and always had that special feel about it. The legendary Joey Dunlop won his five F1 world titles with the Ulster GP as one of the rounds, as did Brian Reid in his F2 championships years, who later raced for the McAdoo team in 1993 and 1994.

We’ve competed there with many riders over the years and got our first podium with Alan Irwin. Our first wins at the Ulster GP came with Bob Jackson in 1997 and it was a special feeling to say the least. Bob was fantastic around Dundrod winning many races on the circuit – another highlight was pushing Philip McCallen all the way on our ZX-7RR Kawasaki in the 1997?Superbike race before an exhaust problem saw him settle for second.

We went on to have success at the circuit with Ryan Farquhar but perhaps the most exciting days came in 2006 when Ian Hutchinson was riding the McAdoo Kawasaki bikes.

‘Hutchy’ rode superbly all week and smashed the 600cc lap record at 125.433mph on the McAdoo Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. This achievement was eclipsed though when he went on to set a new outright world record lap of 130.828mph on the McAdoo Ninja ZX-10R – a speed which labelled Dundrod as the fastest circuit in the world.

This record had been broken before we returned to the Ulster in 2009, this time with Manxman Conor Cummins riding for the team. Conor was flying and with TT podiums that year was confident of more success at?Dundrod. His confidence was well-founded when Conrod again gave the team a new world record lap of 133.28mph, going on to win two Superbike races on the ZX-10R. It was a brilliant event for us, especially as Kawasaki were celebrating 25 years of the ‘Ninja’ brand and leaving there again as world record holders was a fitting celebration.

The circuit lends itself to fantastic racing with so much slipstreaming and high speed corners. We’ve been involved in some fabulous races there including Michael Dunlop and more recently the late James Cowton who scored another podium for us on the Kawasaki 650 Supertwin in 2016.

Adam McLean won the Supertwin race at Dundrod in 2018 and, hopefully, we can have more success there in the future. The event has so much history and support always attracting huge crowds – we can’t wait to get back there in 2022.”

We can’t wait for the 2022 Road Racing season to get underway and we can’t wait to return to the Ulster Grand Prix to see how our Team Green riders and teams get on!

OLYMPIC MEDALIST DECLAN BROOKS VISITS SUZUKI GB

Tokyo Olympic medalist Declan Brooks visited Suzuki GB last week to meet the team, show off his medal, and collect his new SV650.

Brooks claimed bronze in the freestyle BMX at the 2020 Olympics, the first time the sport has been included in the Games, but when not performing backflips and bar spins in mid-air the 25-year-old can often be found swapping pedal power for horsepower.

After passing his test in 2019 but being confined to an A2 licence, Brooks was finally able to graduate to a full A licence earlier this summer, and last week arrived at Suzuki’s UK headquarters to swap his restricted SV650X for a full power SV650.

While on site, the Team GB athlete was warmly welcomed by Suzuki’s motorcycle division, and spent the morning recounting tales from the Olympic Games while posing for photos with the team.

He said afterwards, “It was great to get up to see everyone at Suzuki and to pick up the new bike. They laid on a bit of breakfast, which was nice, and it was good to chat about BMXing, the Olympics, and just talk bikes. I don’t think it matters if it has an engine or not, if you’re into two wheels then you can get into any type of bike sport, and they spent a lot of time asking about BMX, the sport, and how we do what we do.

“It was good to swap to the full power SV as well. I’ve had to spend a couple of years on the restricted one but obviously rode the unrestricted version for my test, and we went out for a bit of a ride after I’d picked it up as well. I definitely think I’m going to like having a bit more power and I'm looking forward to getting some miles in before the end of the summer.”

Suzuki GB head of motorcycle marketing, Ian Bland, added, “It’s not every day you get to hold an Olympic medal, so we’re very grateful for Declan for coming in and meeting the team and sharing his experiences. It’s an incredible achievement and one he should be proud of. It’s also great to see he enjoys bikes with an engine in the middle as well as pedals, and has now passed his test and is embarking on his own motorcycle journey.”

SCOTLAND'S FOUR CORNERS CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY

Gordon Stuart is no stranger to motorcycle endurance rides, having completed various challenges previously, from John O’Groats to Lands’ End in 2016, to crossing the Arctic Circle in 2018, all in aid of UK brain injury charity Cerebra and special care babies’ charity Tiny Lives. Originally, Gordon intended his next challenge to be much further afield, until the Covid-19 pandemic had other ideas. Forced to look closer to home, he settled on riding his V-Strom 650XT between the four corners of mainland Scotland: 800 miles – with less than 50 miles of motorway – in under 24 hours.

Continuing with tradition, Gordon would complete this ride to raise money for Tiny Lives, a Newcastle-based charity supporting the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. The charity supports over 750 babies and their families annually, and aims to raise £250,000 a year to maintain this support. Gordon and his wife received this support on two occasions, for their daughter Isla born in 2014 and then again with son Hugo born in 2017, with both spending time on the Neonatal Unit following premature births.

“Tiny Lives holds a special place in my heart,” he explained, “and with this ride I wanted to raise money and give back as a way of saying thank you for their care.”

In the run up to completing the four corner challenge, Gordon prepared by riding in the evenings around Northumberland and doing day routes of a few hundred miles, with limited motorway use. The challenge would be Gordon’s first long trip on the V-Strom 650XT, the do-it-all middleweight adventure machine, equipped with Givi Outback Trekker panniers and camping equipment on the pillion seat.

But at midday on Friday 16 July, Gordon set off from the Mull of Galloway, the southernmost point in mainland Scotland.

“The Mull of Galloway was stunning,” Gordon described on reflection. “I was lucky to visit on a lovely morning where from the top of the hill, where a lighthouse sits, I could see the Lake District to the east, Isle of Man to the south and Northern Ireland to the west.

“From there I headed north into Dumfries and through to Galloway and Ayrshire, following the coast between Stranraer and Girvan, before turning northeast towards Glasgow and then onto Stirling, which I reached at around 15:00, and had a brief stop.

“The ride between Stranraer and Girvan along the southwest coast was unexpectedly fun; sweeping bends, large rolling hills, with the terrain of Argyll and the Isle of Arran in the distance across the water. This made me pleased I’d ridden a route that wouldn’t have been on the list.”

After Stirling, it was onto Perth and the motorway section of the ride, which took Gordon past the imposing 220ft National Wallace Monument to the north of Stirling. On this stretch of the ride on the M9, Gordon found his V-Strom was comfortably keeping up with the traffic despite being loaded up, admitting he, “wouldn’t want to do a tour like this on a different bike.”

From Perth, Gordon headed east to Dundee through rush hour before turning north towards Montrose, Aberdeen, and then onto Peterhead where he made his next pit stop at 19:00. While there, he visited the most easterly point in mainland Scotland at Keith Inch, part of the Port of Peterhead, utilising the 650's nimbleness in town when looking for the port. From Peterhead the route headed west towards Inverness where Gordon stopped again, briefly, at 22:00.

Once back on the road, Gordon turned north to follow the NC500 route up the North East Coast to Thurso, then onto Dunnet Head, the northernmost point in mainland Scotland. It was at this point that the temperature dropped but Gordon powered on assisted by his heated vest (and an Alan Partridge audiobook!), arriving there for a scheduled stop at 01:00.

“At Dunnet Head I had a much needed, 90-minute rest in my pop-up tent, which, weirdly, was one of the most normal experiences on the trip: I was no stranger to solo camping, but social-distancing and masks was still very much out of the ordinary.”

Following the closest thing he'd get to a good night's sleep, he headed south from Thurso to Inverness before moving south-westerly along Loch Ness to Fort Augustus, where he stopped briefly again at 07:30am, before continuing onto Fort William.

“Riding south from Thurso towards the NC500 coastal route at sunrise was a delight,” Gordon recounted. “The road rides high over the plains of Caithness with unspoiled views of the northwest Highlands in the distance. And the route following the Great Glen from Inverness down to Fort William is something to behold. Again, I was lucky to ride in nice weather and doing so early in the morning meant, apart from a few deer, I had the road to myself.”

At Fort William, Gordon headed west towards Mallaig before turning south into the Ardnamurchan peninsula. This brought him on to the home straight towards the finish line at the most westerly point of Scotland’s mainland, Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, where he arrived at 11:21am, 23 hours and 21 minutes after setting off.

“The A830 from Fort William to Lochailort via Glenfinnan – and its famous viaduct – was possibly one of the best roads I’ve ever ridden on a bike; sweeping bends, dips and peaks, it was like the best rollercoaster I’ve been on with good views of the road ahead, long lochs, and mountains to the side. Great fun.”

Gordon had done it: 800 miles, all four corners of Scotland in under 24 hours.

“I was absolutely shattered but it was an amazing feeling to have completed the challenge,” Gordon said on reflection. “I was a little bit emotional actually. It was been beautiful the whole time, and it was amazing knowing I had so many people behind me.

“The bike was really comfortable, and it handled the twisty A and B roads of Scotland sublimely and was really confidence-inspiring. You can just throw it into the corners, and you know it will come out the other side where you want it to, it’s just easy to ride. It just seems such a workhorse. You can pile it high with gear and it just doesn’t care.”

Despite this ride not being part of Gordon’s original plan, he was glad he was able to make something positive out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Looking ahead to his next adventure, Gordon hopes to complete a multi-country Arctic ride to Russia (with no-less than 13 border crossings) to complete his years long ambition of riding a motorcycle across the Arctic Circle.

To donate to the Tiny Lives charity, click here.

BRAND NEW KATANA FUEL TANKS NOW IN STOCK ON VINTAGE PARTS PROGRAMME

Brand new, genuine Katana fuel tanks are now in stock and available on Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme, after the Japanese firm remanufactured a limited run.

With an RRP of £746.76 including VAT, the brand new fuel tanks fit GSX1100SD and GSX1000SZ Katanas and are finished in the glorious silver and adorned with the same red Suzuki lettering.

Suzuki GB aftersales co-ordinator Tim Davies, said, “We’re really excited to have these new Katana fuel tanks in stock, in the UK, and that the factory have been able to reproduce this limited run.

“No one needs me to point out how iconic the Katana is and how they’re still so sought after, and we see so many restorations or custom builds based on the bike. Of course, over time, bikes left to stand can suffer from all sorts of problems with stale fuel or water and moisture in the tank, so being able to replace it completely for a brand new, genuine item is a great thing to be able to do for a bike that is 40-years-old.”

Designed by Hans A. Muth and Target Design, the Katana was like nothing before it. It was a radical departure from current motorcycling fashion and was a sales success for Suzuki.

Other parts still available for the Katana include centre stands, brake and clutch levers, clock surrounds, sprocket covers, con-rods, pistons, and piston rings, an array of gaskets, valves, cotters, seals, and springs, and even the carburettor intakes pipe rubbers.

The new fuel tanks and other parts on the Vintage Parts Programme can be ordered through authorised Suzuki dealers.

CLASSIC SUZUKI SUNDAY FINALLY RETURNS TO THE SUPER SAUSAGE CAFÉ

After a year’s sabbatical following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Classic Suzuki Sunday is set to return the Super Sausage Café on 19 September.

Previous years’ events have seen packed crowds at the biker-friendly café off the A5 near Towcester, as Suzuki – through its popular Vintage Parts Programme – and Team Classic Suzuki display a range of 1970s, 80s, and 90s road and racing machinery.

Displayed at this year’s event will be the Team Classic Suzuki Katana endurance racer, which John Reynolds and Pete Boast raced to victory at Oschersleben. Sticking with the Katana theme, the outfit’s project Katana, based on world superbike underpinnings, will also feature.

Added exotica comes courtesy of a factory RGV250 racer from the 1997 Japanese championship, as ridden by Noriyasu Numata in its orange Rizla Suzuki livery.

Suzuki GB will also show off the GSX-R1100 and Bandit 600 rebuilt by apprentices on its Apprenticeship Programme, plus an RGV250 and the 1985 GSX-R750F restored at Motorcycle Live in 2015, as part of the model’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

Aftersales marketing co-ordinator, Tim Davies, said, “We are so incredibly happy that we’re able to put this event on again. It’s not far from Suzuki HQ and feels something like a home event, and after the year we had in 2020 we’re really excited to get back to the Super Sausage Café and bring our vintage fleet along with us. As well as the bikes we’re bringing, however, we are always keen to see what other people bring to the event, from GSX-Rs to GTs and everything in between. Traditionally there has always been a fantastic turnout, and being an outdoor event we’re hoping to see the bike park filled again this year.”

The Super Sausage Café can be found off the A5, between Towcester and Potterspury, Northampton, NN12 7QD.

SUZUKI'S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN ON DISPLAY AT MOTORCYCLE LIVE

With Motorcycle Live 2020 cancelled due to the global pandemic, Suzuki is celebrating its Grand Prix world titles a year later to make up for it. With Joan Mir winning last year’s MotoGP world championship for Team Suzuki Ecstar, Suzuki is marking his – and its other six – world championships at Motorcycle Live 2021.

Mir’s title-winning GSX-RR will be displayed in its resplendent anniversary livery, alongside Kenny Roberts Jr’s 2000 title-winning RGV500, Kevin Scwantz’s 1993 RGV500 in its famous Lucky Strike colours, Franco Uncini’s 1982 RG500, Marco Lucchinelli’s 1981 RG500, and Barry Sheene’s 1976 and 1977 world championship-winning machines.

Suzuki GB’s Tim Davies said, “Joan may have won last year’s championship but with the way of the world we never really got to celebrate it with fans and customers. So this year we’ve assembled all seven of our world title-winning Grand Prix machines for show-goers to see and look around, and it’s the first time ever all of these bikes will be displayed together.”

Away from the race bikes, Suzuki will display its current model lineup, including the newly-launched GSX-S1000GT, which blends sporting performance with touring practicality, thanks to a lightweight, agile chassis and a 152PS, superbike-derived engine, a comfortable riding position, and a suite of electronics that includes cruise control, traction control, a bidirectional quickshifter, selectable power modes, and smartphone connectivity all controlled through a colour TFT dash.

Also displayed for the first time will be the third generation Hayabusa, the latest iteration of the iconic hyperbike that gets the most comprehensive suite electronics of any Suzuki, ever, plus updated styling that remains faithful to the original and an engine that delivers turbine-like, creamy power throughout the rev range.

Other new-for-2021 models making their Motorcycle Live debut will be the GSX-S1000 naked and the A2-friendly GSX-S950, plus the refreshed Burgman 400.

From on-road to off it, the latest RM-Z450 motocross machine will feature, along with an SR75 Suzuki-prepared RM-Z250, while a DF350 marine engine and a KingQuad will even showcase Suzuki’s capabilities across its divisions.

From the Vintage Parts Programme stable, a GT250 EX7 that started life as one of Suzuki GB’s original press bikes will front a display of classic road and race bikes that will also include an original GSX-R750F and a 1999 Hayabusa, plus fan-favourite and three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds will be present over the show’s two weekends.

Suzuki can be found on stand 3E15 in hall three.

For show information and tickets click here.

Kawasaki Motors UK is pleased to announce that it is returning to Motorcycle Live on December 4th – 12th 2021. After the cancellation of the physical show in 2020, this year will mark the return of fans to the NEC Centre and Kawasaki will be showcasing the full range of 2022 models alongside a host of features and activities.

For 2021, Kawasaki will be located in Hall 2, and will have the full suite of soon-to-be-announced 2022 models for fans to get up close and personal with. The Kawasaki UK staff will also be on hand throughout the nine day event to help visitors understand the latest innovations and discuss the many features and benefits of the new model range.

In addition to the latest models, Kawasaki will also have a host of British Superbike riders in attendance on the stand over the event, holding interviews and meeting fans for autographs. Having turned green for 2021, the California Superbike School will also be featuring on the stand, giving visitors the chance to book their place for the 2022 season.

For those visitors looking to get on two wheels for the first time, there will be a dedicated Kawasaki Rider Training Services area as well as a fleet of Z125s in the MCIA Try Ride Zone. The Kawasaki shop will have the latest official clothing and merchandise on sale, while Club Kawasaki members will be able to take advantage of their discount and again be able to access the exclusive member’s area for a break from the hustle and bustle of the show!

Tickets for the 2021 show will be available soon from www.motorcyclelive.co.uk.

EURO5 GSX-R125 AND GSX-S125 ANNOUNCED

Suzuki has pulled the covers off its Euro5 GSX-R and GSX-S125 machines, with the new learner-friendly models available in dealerships next summer.

In 2022 the GSX-R125 – which has become the weapon of choice in the Freetech 125 Endurance Championship having won the title two seasons in a row – is available in the signature MotoGP blue with the bold, white SUZUKI graphic adorning the fairing, as well as a black and grey take on the trademark design, offset by red wheels.

The GSX-S125, which uses the same DOHC, free-revving single-cylinder engine as its fully-faired sibling, comes in a blue, black and silver, as well as a more subtle black and grey. A more eye-catching white and black with red decals and red wheels completes the set.

Both machines use a compact LCD dash and get Suzuki’s easy-start system. The GSX-R125 also features a keyless ignition system.

Pricing to be confirmed.

STANDARD PETROL IS CHANGING TO E10 – KNOW YOUR FUEL

Know Your Fuel. In the Summer of 2021, the standard petrol grade in the UK will be changing to E10. The introduction of E10 petrol will help reduce CO2 emissions associated with petrol vehicles.

The good news is, most motorcycles are also approved to use E10 petrol, but for those who like to keep their classics running, they should check compatibility just in case. For the few vehicles that need it, E5 will continue to be available at most larger forecourts in the ‘super’ grade. E10 contains up to 10% bioethanol.

The DfT have created the E10 Fuel Checker which enables riders to search for their PTW and check compatibility, prior to arrival at the pumps. Some PTWs made prior to 2011 will need to continue to use E5 petrol, which will remain available as the super grade petrol option at the pumps. Riders are being advised to use the super grade E5 option if there is any doubt in compatibility.

With news of a new fuel composition being introduced in the UK later this year, and the constant need to be more economically friendly, we’ve enlisted the help of our partners at the RAC to explain how these changes will affect you and your Kawasaki.

What is E10 fuel and why are we talking about it?

E10 is a biofuel made up of 90% regular unleaded and 10% ethanol – hence the E10 name.

Standard unleaded fuel contains up to 5% ethanol and can be used in any petrol-engine vehicle without problems or the need for modification.

In a bid to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Department of Transport (DfT) has confirmed that E10 petrol is being introduced to UK forecourts in September this year.

The benefits of E10

It’s estimated that the greener fuel could reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking up to 350,000 cars off the road in the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The next 15 years will be absolutely crucial for slashing emissions from our roads, as we all start to feel the benefits of the transition to a zero-emission future.

“Before electric vehicles become the norm, we want to take advantage of reduced CO2 emissions today.
“This small switch to petrol containing bioethanol at 10% will help drivers across country reduce the environmental impact of every journey.”

The E10 blend is already used in other countries such as Belgium, Finland, France and Germany.

Robin Wright, secretary general of environmental campaign groups ePURE, said: “Displacing 10% of Europe’s petrol with ethanol through E10 fuel, a fuel widely available in France, Finland and Germany, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from petrol vehicles by over 6%.

“But more ambition and greater use of ethanol is needed. Brazil currently mixes its petrol with up to 28% ethanol, so why not Europe?”

Finland is leading the way in Europe. E10 fuel has increased its share of petrol sold each year since it was introduced at the beginning of 2011, with the Finnish Petroleum and Biofuels Association reporting a 63% share in 2015.

How does it affect you?

As many as 600,000 vehicles on our roads in 2020 aren't compatible with E10 – you can see if your vehicle is compatible with the new fuel by visiting the official E10 online checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Whilst the government website lists compatible models, it is currently outdated for Kawasaki motorcycles. Below is the list of older models that Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have tested and approved for use with E10 fuel.

Any earlier model year should use a non E10 fuel whilst those manufactured later are approved for E10 fuel use. The fuel details are also detailed in the owner’s manual and shown in the fuel identification label located on the fuel tank.

Model	From Model Year
KLX125	2009 onwards
D-Tracker 125	2009 onwards
KLX250	2008 onwards
Ninja 250R	2008 onwards
Ninja ZX-6R	2007 onwards
ER-6n	2006 onwards
ER-6f	2006 onwards
Versys	2007 onwards
Z750	2007 onwards
W800	2011 onwards
VN900	2006 onwards
Z1000	2009 onwards
Z1000SX	2011 onwards
Ninja ZX-10R	2006 onwards
ZZR1400	2006 onwards
1400GTR	2008 onwards
VN1700	2009 onwards
VN2000	2008 onwards

Club Kawasaki and RAC have put together a unique offer that combines 12 months Club Kawasaki and 12 months Kawasaki Assist for one great price from £70.00. For full details, please visit: www.kawasakiassist.co.uk

SAVE £500 ON THE SV650 THIS SUMMER

Suzuki has added the ever-popular SV650 to its Summer Savings campaign, with the V-twin middleweight now available with a £500 off test ride incentive.

It means the machine that arguably launched the booming middleweight naked market can be had for just £6,099.

The SV650 produces 73PS, is capable of averaging nearly 70mpg in every day riding conditions, and uses Suzuki’s easy start function and low RPM assist.

Owning an SV650 became almost a rite of passage for riders progressing from smaller, learner-friendly machines. Today it finds favour with new and experienced riders alike thanks to its manageability and fun, easy-to-ride nature.

Terms and conditions:

£500 test ride offer applies to purchases of a new SV650 only. The motorcycle must be purchased and registered between 16/07/2021 and 30/09/2021 to qualify. Offer may be extended or withdrawn at any time.

NEW WINTER OFFER ON SUZUKI TWINS

Suzuki has announced a new offer across its twins range – from its range-topping V-Strom 1050XT Tour to the popular SV650 – with 2.9% APR representative available over a three year agreement, with no deposit required and an additional £500 off test ride incentive.

Running from 1 December 2021 until the end of March 2022, the offer is available on both PCP and HP deals. The V-Strom 1050XT Tour is included in the offer, complete with three-piece aluminium luggage – as is the V-Strom 1050XT. Both machines use Suzuki’s proven 1037cc V-twin engine, boasting an abundance of torque in the low and midrange.

Models using the equally-famed 645cc V-twin, known for its free-revving character and reliability, are also included in the offer; both the V-Strom 650XT and V-Strom 650, plus the SV650 middleweight naked and its café racer-inspired stablemate, the SV650X.

The offer means the SV650, arguably the bike that spawned the current middleweight twins market, can be had with an RRP of just £6,099 after taking a test ride. And with no deposit required it removes the need to find a lump sum up front, while 2.9% APR ensures lower, manageable monthly repayments.

Or if you’re dreaming of adventure, taking a test-ride see’s the V-Strom 650’s RRP comes down to £7,499, and the V-Strom 1050XT Tour, with 112 litres of storage capacity in its aluminium luggage, is just £12,399.

And with plenty of stock available in dealerships, there’s even time to put one in the garage before Christmas.

Credit is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Suzuki Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) is only available through Suzuki Finance, a trading style of Suzuki Financial Services Limited. Registered office: St, William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 5BH.

Alex Lowes will remain an integral part of the Kawasaki Racing Team for the coming seasons, having agreed a new multi-year deal that will take him into his third year as an official Kawasaki WorldSBK rider.

The contract signing was witnessed by Mr Masatoshi Yoshioka, Director of Corporate Planning Division, Kawasaki Motors Europe at the recent Assen round of the 2021 FIM WorldSBK Championship, where Alex retained his overall fourth place in the points table.

As well as returning as a full KRT Superbike rider next year Alex will also strengthen his bond with Kawasaki and his KRT squad as he and Jonathan Rea will be joined by 2021 Kawasaki superbike debutant, Lucas Mahias, to compete in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours race later this year.

With a race win and seven other podiums to his credit since he joined Kawasaki in 2019 Lowes continues to find a greater affinity with the new Ninja ZX-10RR, his team and his pit crew, led by Marcel Duinker.

Before the 2022 season there is the small matter of the rest of this year’s championship to go. Five rounds have been completed with a further eight to go, depending on local regulations around the global pandemic.

Alex Lowes, stated: “I am really happy to have signed once more with the Kawasaki Racing Team, the most successful team in the current era of WorldSBK.

After a strange first year in the team last year due to the global situation and with such a short season it has been good to start this year at some different tracks and I am understanding the bike a lot more. It has also been slightly frustrating this year because I feel like we started strongly but the results are not quite where we would want them to be right now. We have a lot of potential and I am still in the top four of the championship, close to the top three, which is the target for this year.

I will be working hard for the next few weeks to make that next step to be regularly challenging for the podium. Honestly, I feel like it is close, so with this team and all these guys around me – with the relationships we have been building – everything is in place now to push things forward.

I am really thankful to stay in the team next year, and proud of the faith that Kawasaki has shown in me. In our job there is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than the results that you see on the track so I am really happy about this new deal with KRT. A massive thanks to all the guys behind the project, to Guim and Biel Roda, Steve Guttridge and all the people at KHI in Japan for believing in me again.”

KRT Manager, Guim Roda, concluded: “Alex started with KRT during the Covid pandemic. He needed to learn quickly and concentrate on making championship points in those first three months; not easy. For 2021 he started the season strongly and we are all working to make those important steps to improve the performance of the overall package.

We are so happy to have Alex and he is highly motivated to continue with the KRT project. With this two-year agreement we are convinced that we will now build on these firm foundations to create the strongest package with him, Marcel, his Crew Chief, the Ninja ZX-10RR and the entire KRT organisation.”

2021 Alex Lowes Rider Statistics:

2021: Races: 15, Wins 0, Podiums 4, Superpoles 0
Career Race Wins: 2 (1 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 28 (8 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 1 (0 for Kawasaki)

#NinjaSpirit #FaceYourself

Editors Note: the accompanying image was created within Covid protocols

For the second round of the EWC World Endurance Championship, the Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar Team managed to run an exceptional 12 hour race on the famous Estoril circuit in Portugal. Once again, the experience of the riders and the mechanical reliability of the Kawasaki Ninja allowed them to consolidate their second place.

The good weather and the heat were evident for the whole 12 hours of race. At 10am, Jeremy Guarnoni on the #11 got away to a very good start and went straight from 8th to 5th position. He stayed there for several laps before making his first pit stop earlier than his competitors for strategic reasons. Indeed, team manager, Gilles Stafler had foreseen this scenario.

Following the excellent performance of the Ninja ZX-10RR and some crashes and unforeseen events of competitor bikes, the #11 found itself elevated to second position.

Unfortunately, after more than three hours of racing, the intervention of the safety car did not benefit the SRC Team and it lost about 10 seconds on the first placed machine

.After a number of twists and turns, the lime green bike was in first place around the halfway mark and led for most of the second half of the race until a fuel failure interrupted this domination. Erwan Nigon had to push his dry machine to get back on track with David Checa in third position.

Jeremy Guarnoni then put in a superb final stint to see the #11 finish second after a fierce battle with the #333 machine.

Again, all three riders set a very fast pace with exemplary consistency to lead an exceptional race. The Dunlop tyres excelled throughout the race despite the very high temperatures, and a track that was raised to 58 degrees at one point!

This second place on the podium allows the Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar Team to take the lead in the 2021 FIM EWC World Championship.

Six-time consecutive World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea, has achieved another of his personal goals by passing his UK motorcycle test.

Winner of the world championship at his first attempt on Kawasaki machinery when he joined the Kawasaki Racing Team in 2015, the 34-year-old native of Northern Ireland repeated the feat by passing his Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and motorcycle tests both at the first attempt.

Undertaking one to one training with Stephen Mills of Moto Training, Rea learned new skills and new ways to ride on private training areas and the public road using a Kawasaki Z650 supplied by Moto Training as part of their accreditation as a Kawasaki approved KRTS training school.

It is not uncommon for professional riders at the highest level of motorcycle sport to have no full motorcycle licence but for Rea this is a pathway to greater things as he considers which machine to ride now that he has a huge range of choice.

Commenting, Rea told something of his journey while thanking Stephen Mills of Moto Training and hinting at what his next step as a fully qualified road rider might be.

“I am so happy and proud to have passed my motorcycle test. It’s been something I have wanted to do for such a long time but with my sporting commitments and busy calendar it has been tough.

I took advantage of the lockdown due to the pandemic to study all the theory materials such as the UK Highway Code.

My priority was to reach out to an instructor that I would feel comfortable with and found Stephen Mills of Moto Training in Northern Ireland. He taught me all about riding a motorcycle on the road which is completely different to riding on a circuit.

You have to be much more aware as the environment is much less controlled and even I was able to learn new skills and techniques. The training has not just made me a better motorcyclist but also more aware when I am driving my car.

Now comes the pleasure of deciding which motorcycle in the Kawasaki range is perfect for me and my riding needs. I am pretty sure I know what fits my lifestyle and I will unveil my choice in the very near future.”

A video record of Jonathan’s training can be found on his YouTube page: Jonathan Rea

At midday, the chequered flag was waved after 24 hours of racing and the Webike Kawasaki France Trickstar SRC Team finished second aboard the famous #11 Ninja ZX-10RR – a magnificent podium.

The three riders Jérémy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon and David Checa have again shown their skill and perseverance. Kawasaki, the most successful manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was not far from adding a 15th victory to its record tally.

The beginning of the race was marked by many twists and turns, with some competitors crashing out on the first corner. Starting from 7th position, Jérémy managed to make up two places before the safety car intervened.

From then on, Ninja #11 continued to run smoothly, with excellent consistency. One thing led to another and the team moved up to second place overnight, an ideal scenario creating a strategy that paid dividends at race end. Indeed, the Ninja equipped with its Trickstar exhaust and Dunlop tyres performed perfectly throughout the race and especially at night in the cooler temperatures.

Gilles Stafler, Team Manager of the SRC Team: “Even if I came to win the race, I am very happy with this second place. It was very hot, the competition was tough, and as long as the chequered flag was not shown, anything could happen! But we managed to put up a very good fight, which allows us to score important points for the Championship
The whole enterprise did a great job together, the team cohesion and the long experience of the staff and riders allowed us to get this place today. The Ninja ZX-10RR once again showed its extraordinary reliability and performance.”

The team thanks to all its partners, especially ELF, Dunlop, Webike, Trickstar, Tivoly, Primset, NGK, RK without whom this would not be possible.

Last week, Brands Hatch circuit in Kent played host to the opening California Superbike School of the summer. The two-day event marked the first time the school took to the track with the new fleet of Kawasaki machinery.

With the school turning green for 2021, the iconic circuit was the first time instructors and students hit the track with the ZX-10R, Z900 and Ninja 650. In true California style, the sun was finally shining, and over the two days 120 riders of all abilities were able to enjoy the very best conditions possible.

For many of their attendees, it was their first time with California Superbike School, which meant they spent their day progressing through the Level One course. These introductory sessions are designed to help address the six most common issues that riders make, allowing them to improve their confidence and bike control.

Those riders who have already completed level one spent their day progressing through Level two, three, and four. Each step up takes everything learnt from the previous module and builds upon that to improve confidence, body position, awareness and knowledge. In between each track session, students get regular classroom-based briefings, as well as one-to-one debriefs, to help them understand what they are doing on track and areas for improvement.

One attendee, Jay, was not only making his California Superbike School debut but also returning to the track for the first time in 30 years! “I’ve had a brilliant day. I’ve been riding bikes since 1977, but this was the first time I’ve done any kind of track tuition – and actually the first time back on track since 1990!

It’s been an incredible experience and while being out on track is amazing, I’ve found the classroom and technical side of things fascinating. It has really helped me to understand what I have been subconsciously doing wrong when riding on the road and allowing me to understand the areas I need to focus on to not only improve my lap time but also my road riding too. Each session focuses on a different aspect of riding, and then in that last session, I was able to put it all together, and I could really tell the difference.

I’ve been riding one of the school’s ZX-10Rs which is just an amazing bike. I’ve not ridden sports bikes for around ten years, and I just couldn’t believe how easy it was to ride. The Ninja is just an awesome machine, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be putting a deposit down on one in the next couple of weeks!”

Speaking after their first event with Kawasaki, Gary Adshead of California Superbike School added, “We’re incredibly proud to have Kawasaki join us in a partnership with California Superbike School and it was a pleasure seeing so many new and old faces at our first U.K. event of 2021. The students I spoke to were very enthusiastic about our switch to Kawasaki and those who rode the hire bikes absolutely loved them. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Kawasaki Motors U.K.”

If you want to improve your skills and enjoy a day with the California Superbike School, then there are multiple dates throughout the summer still available:

Cadwell Park

Wednesday, June 16
Thursday, June 17
Wednesday, August 04
Thursday, August 05

Bedford Autodrome

Monday, July 12
Tuesday, July 13
Tuesday, August 31
Wednesday, September 1

Donington Park

Tuesday, July 27

The official Kawasaki UK supported British Superbike team, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, has today unveiled its all-new Ninja ZX-10RR livery for the 2021 campaign.

Lee Jackson and Rory Skinner pulled the covers off the 2021 machine at FS-3 Racing’s new state-of-the-art workshop in Coventry. With an all-new Ninja ZX-10RR for 2021, the British Superbike race-winning team have created an eye-catching new look that is sure to stand out on track.

The distinctly Kawasaki green Superbikes closely resemble the base model Ninja ZX-10RR design, while the front of the new integrated winglets carries the distinctive orange that has become synonymous with the FS-3 Racing team.

FS-3 Racing Kawasaki will be giving the livery its public debut at the final pre-season test at Donington Park on June 8th. The proven team still has a unique opportunity for a title sponsor to join for the 2021 season, allowing a business to experience the benefits that come through association with a successful and experienced team, a global manufacturer and the championship organiser. Interested parties should contact with Ross Burridge at Kawasaki Motors UK, via email at rburridge@kawasaki.co.uk.

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK: “The 2021 FS-3 Racing Kawasaki livery is one that is sure to stand out from the crowd and it’s great to see the iconic Kawasaki green in abundance. The all-new ZX-10RR has already had a fantastic debut on track at the hands of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, so we can’t wait to see what Lee and Rory can do when the British Superbike Championship gets underway next month!”

Nigel Snook, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki Team Owner: ‘’Designing the 2021 FS-3 Racing livery presented a particular challenge. How to showcase the radical new aerodynamic shape of the ZX-10RR fairing nose without losing the classic Kawasaki Team Green look which can be traced all the way back to the 1970s. We hope you’ll agree that our predominately green livery with with its black and white highlights will make it easy to spot Lee and Rory out on track. Plus, of course, we’ve included a nod to our team trademark orange for the engine air intake. Naturally, the livery is echoed in the design of the rider’s RST leathers”.