Scooter Service Special

Winter Motorcycle Health Check

Winter Health Check

W800 Website

At the time of its release, the W1 was Japan’s largest-displacement motorcycle, and boasted top-level horsepower. Designed to be the fastest, most powerful machines of their day, Kawasaki’s W Series models are now better known for a beauty that never goes out of style, and the rich character of an air-cooled engine.
To this day, Japan’s original big bikes continue to command a deep respect.
To ride a W is to feel the pride of being connected to such illustrious roots.

The new W800 Cafe is the latest evolution of a brand that spans 50 years. With numerous parts updated compared to previous W800, the W800 Cafe retro model has been thoroughly modernised to deliver rider-friendly machines with easy handling and good stability on the highway. But not all of the changes are visible – Kawasaki’s dedication to preserving the image of the original model can be seen in the air-cooled Vertical Twin engine that meets strict modern emissions standards, the double-cradle frame with completely revised rigidity care of thicker pipe walls, and the carefully crafted exhaust sound of a Vertical Twin with a 360 degree crankshaft. For a taste of history, look no further than the W800 Cafe.

The W800 Cafe’s sporty, clubman-style handlebar and cafe seat put the rider in racier frame of mind, while its cafe-racer-image front cowl completes the classic, sporty styling of this machine.

Limited numbers of the W800 Cafe have been ordered due to arrive later in 2019. Both models are available as indent orders.

We have released a W800 sub-website which you can visit here http://w800.kawasaki.co.nz/

Kawasaki announces KLX230

Kawasaki announces the KLX230. The all-new 2020 KLX230 slots in between the KLX140 and KLX250S and is aimed at trail riders.

The new KLX is road legal and LAMS approved and is due on NZ shores in August 2019.

Kawasaki’s new KLX230 was purpose-built for serious dirt fun, with both its engine and frame designed from the beginning with trail riding in mind. The all-new 233cc air-cooled, 4-stroke Single engine delivers ample low-mid range torque, and its simple construction makes it ideal for trail runs. The all-new compact perimeter framer was designed to offer the handing stability needed for confident trail riding.

KX inspiration can be found in the slim ergonomics and aggressive styling. The new, highly capable dual purpose machine (with 21″/18″ wheels) – equipped with Kawasaki’s first dual-purpose ABS – is powerful, light, and manoeuvrable, making it an ideal partner for attacking the trails.

Providing a light, manoeuvrable package was a key consideration. Designing the simple air-cooled engine concurrently with the easy handling perimeter frame helped keep the KLX230 compact, while the balance between the engine and frame results in performance that can be enjoyed by a wide range of riders.

KAWA GIRLS AT FIELDAYS

Kawi Girls at Fieldays

Kawi Girls Courtney Duncan and Avalon Biddle will be on the Kawasaki Fieldays stand from 14th to 15th June in Mystery Creek.

We are excited at the prospect of having these 2 athletes on our site at Fieldays both Friday and Saturday.

Both girls have shown their grit and determination this season with Avalon Biddle taking the 2019 NZ Supersport 600 title on a ZX-6R Supersport and Courtney currently dominating the WMX series on a KX250.

Both girls will be onsite, sharpies in hand for autograph sessions during th

Kawi Girls at Fieldays

KIWI KAWASAKI ACE DUNCAN RULES IN PORTUGAL

Otago’s Courtney Duncan (Kawasaki KX250), with the red championship leader’s number board after her dominant display in Portugal at the weekend. Photo by Pascal Haudiquert.

New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan is back where she belongs, on top of the world.

The 23-year-old from Otago rider from Palmerston, near Dunedin, was in scintillating form at the weekend’s second of five rounds for the 2019 Women’s World Motocross Championships in Portugal, taking her Kawasaki KX250F to convincingly win both her races and snatch the championship points lead.

Riding for the British-based Bike It DRT Kawasaki racing team, Duncan has been the dominant rider of the series thus far.

She won the opening race of the world championships in The Netherlands last month, but then crashed heavily while leading race two and fought back to finish the race in seventh. Unfortunately, she was forced to settle for fourth overall that weekend.

But now, with back-to-back wins in Portugal, it means she has won three of the four races run this season and enjoys a four-point lead over Dutch rider Nancy van de Ven as they prepare for round three in the Czech Republic on July 27-28.

In her first race on Saturday, Duncan exited turn one in second position, but needed just half a lap to sweep into the lead. She immediately opened up a two-second lead by the end of the opening lap.

The flying Kiwi increased her lead to a comfortable 10 seconds by mid-race and she eventually swept to victory by more than 12 seconds over German rider Larissa Papenmeier.

In race two on Sunday, Duncan took the lead on lap two and quickly opened up a gap on her pursuers. In the end, Duncan finished more than 30 seconds ahead of runner-up rider van de Ven.

“I got blocked in at the first turn in that second race, but I didn’t panic, sorted out a good place to make a clean pass and could race away.

“I’m just taking it race by race at the moment and not really thinking about the championship.

“It was a great weekend – from qualifying on pole, then two race wins and taking the red (championship leader’s) plate … I really can’t ask for much more,” Duncan told BikesportNZ.com.

“Now it’s a big break again (before the next round in the series in the Czech Republic), but I’ll use this opportunity to continue to build. I’m very excited to get back to work and get better.

“Thanks to the whole DRT Kawasaki team for all the effort and everyone for support and also to Kawasaki Motors Europe, Kawasaki New Zealand and Monster Energy for showing their faith and giving me this opportunity.

“The amount of messages I’ve received from back home has been crazy really. I appreciate it.

“I’ll be going back to New Zealand to keep doing the work and come out swinging at Loket (in the Czech Republic),” said Duncan.

This season is Duncan’s first on the Kawasaki bike and she is well on target now to emulate the Women’s World Cup successes achieved by fellow Kiwi Katherine Prumm when she took her Kawasaki KX250F to finish top in the world in 2006 and again in 2007.

Duncan has come close to winning the Women’s Motocross World Championships in three previous seasons, but has frustratingly fallen short each time.

Twice she was denied the world title through injury and then lost the title by just two points on the other occasion.

More determined than ever to finally achieve her goal, Duncan made the decision to join the highly-experienced British Kawasaki squad run by Steve Dixon.

“They’ve given me an awesome opportunity and I’m very motivated to put them on top in 2019. A fresh start was what I needed and I couldn’t be more excited than to do that with Kawasaki. Kawasaki New Zealand have also come on board to support me at home, for which I am also very thankful.”

WMX Championship Top Five:

Courtney Duncan (NZ, Kawasaki) 89 points; 2. Nancy van de Ven (Netherlands) 85; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (Germany) 82; 4. Amandine Verstappen (Belgium) 67; 5. Lynn Valk (Netherlands) 63.
Photo courtesy Pascal Haudiquert

Credit: Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Link: https://kawasaki.co.nz/duncan-wins-portugal/20 May 2019

GONZALEZ WINS AS CARRASCO FINDS NO LUCK AT HOME

Gonzalez

THE OPENING ROUND OF THE NEW-LOOK WORLDSSP300 CHAMPIONSHIP TOOK PLACE LAST WEEKEND AT THE SPANISH CIRCUIT OF MOTORLAND ARGAON, WITH A WIN FOR KAWASAKI AND TWO PODIUM PLACES FOR THE NINJA 400 IN TOTAL.

Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez, only 16 years of age, took his Kawasaki ParkinGo Team to the very top step of the podium at his home race.

Last year he scored three podiums in this exciting class, designed around young riders, but to record his first WorldSSP300 race win a home left the teenager from Madrid almost speechless. He had also taken pole position after Superpole Qualifying, with a new best lap of 2’06.938.

Title challenger in previous season Scott Deroue (Kawasaki Motoport) had a remarkable ride from 14th on the grid to third place, picking off rivals at just the right time to get him into the leading bunch in the final lap.

Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec), the reigning champion, was well in the multi-rider fight for the podium places but was unlucky to fall on lap six after being hit from behind, losing the chance to start her title defence in style. Like all her competitors she will have eight more chances to go all-out for race wins, in a season that runs from Motorland in April to Losail in October.

Ana, the first woman to win a full FIM World Championship in roadracing, does not leave her home around without any reward. She set a new lap record on lap two with a 2’07.487 on her impressive run through the leading positions.

With over fifty young hopefuls trying to take ultimate glory in the FIM Supersport300 World Championship in 2019, qualifying has to be split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ groups, with the fastest few from each group joined on the final starting grid for the race on Sunday afternoon by the top rider from a ‘last chance race on Saturday.

A few talented riders needed to qualify for the grid via that last chance race route, and even some others like Deroue and Carrasco found it relatively tough in qualifying. No less than 36 riders started the 11-Lap race today.

Bruno leraci (Kawasaki GP Project) was another top ten rider at Motorland on a a Ninja 400, in eighth place. Robert Schotman (Motoport Kawasaki) just missed out on the top ten places in 11th. No fewer than 11 of the top 20 riders were on Kawasakis today.

Proof of just how competitive this class can be found in the fact that the top seven rider were covered by just 0.891 seconds at the chequered flag in Motorland.

In the current championship standings with just one race gone, Gonzales leads with 25 points, Hego De Cancellis has 20 and Deroue has 16. The next round will take place in a few days time, as Assen in the Netherlands, with raceday on Sunday the 14th of April.

Manuel Gonzalez, stated: “I do not have words for this race win because it was so difficult – but I enjoyed it a lot! The last lap was so tough because the slipstream in the main straight was difficult to manage. But I overtook De Cancellis in the last corner. Thanks to all the team for the hard work they have done here. See you all at the next races.”

Scott Deroue, stated: “Yes it was incredible to come through for a podium. This weekend was quite hard and in qualifying I was not really good. I was not the best place on the grid so I knew we had to do something. I was just pushing, pushing – like unbelievably hard I think this is one of my best races ever. I already won some races in this class but I think this race was the best ever.”

Ana Carrasco, stated: “It is a pity to not score. We had some issues in the practices sessions and I started the race from the fourth row the race itself I felt to be very fast, and comfortable, so much that we actually set a new lap record. Some bikes had better acceleration but in braking and top speed I was super strong. In the crash two guys in front of me touched and I had to close the throttle – then some hit me from the back. It is a shame because I am sure I could have finished on top. I just wanted to say thanks to all the people that come to see me here at Motorland, to my team and Kawasaki, I am on the bike again in only four days, at Assen – I can’t wait!”

AVALON BIDDLE CREATES NZ HISTORY WITH TITLE WIN

Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle (Kawasaki ZX6R), comfortable winner of the Supersport 600 class in this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships.

APRIL 7, 2019: Canterbury’s Avalon Biddle created history when she wrapped up the New Zealand Supersport 600 title in Taupo on Sunday, the first female to win this coveted Kiwi motorcycling crown.

The 26-year-old racer from Rangiora has previously won major trophies in New Zealand and abroad too, but this perhaps ranks as among her most cherished.

It was a landmark win when she snatched victory in the New Zealand TT Championship Trophy race at the third round of five in this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships at Hampton Downs last month and her momentum continued on with her claiming the national Supersport 600 title at the final round of the series at Taupo’s Bruce Mclaren Motorsport Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Biddle (MTF Finance Kawasaki ZX6R) had started the weekend at Taupo a commanding 29 points ahead of her main rival for the title, Manukau’s Toby Summers (Carl Cox Motorsport Kawasaki ZX6R) – the dynamic duo totally dominant in the class – and there was a heart-stopping moment for Biddle when she crashed out of the first of her three Supersport 600 races on Saturday afternoon.

Fortunately for her – and unfortunately for Summers – he also crashed in an unrelated incident in the same corner.

With neither of them scoring points in that outing it meant the margin between them remained intact and so Sunday’s two 600cc races would decide the outcome.

Further misfortune for Summers occurred in race two with another non-finish – that race being red-flagged twice and eventually declared a non-scoring race – and so Biddle was crowned champion with a race to spare.

Biddle and Summers had been so far in front of the other riders this season that none of this affected the overall outcome and Summers was still able to finish the season runner-up, with Te Awamutu’s David Hall winning the final race of the weekend and clinching the third podium spot for the series.

“I never expected this today. After being taken out in the first corner of the first race here at Taupo and not scoring any points and then the next race being red-flagged twice and nobody scoring any points … it was just lucky that I had such a points buffer to start the day,” said Biddle.

“When I first started racing 600s I never thought I’d ever be in this position.”

“I wasn’t thinking so much about creating history. I just wanted to win for all the people who have supported me for so long, Cheryl and Phil London from WIL Sports, Kawasaki New Zealand and MTF Finance have backed me and I wanted to reward them. I have respected and looked up to guys who have won this in the past, riders such as Craig Shirriffs, Sam Smith and my partner Jake (Lewis) too.

“There was so much going on this weekend. We were really well prepared with two bikes ready to go and my mechanic Ozzy (Feilding’s Chris Osborne) is probably the hardest working man in the paddock and I’m thankful to him. I had good speed this year too, with four out of five pole positions won. It all came together for me.”

She said she intends to race in Australia later this year, with “plans to be announced … watch this space”.

Other class winners after the weekend’s final round of the series at Taupo were Glen Eden’s Daniel Mettam (Superbikes); Palmerston North’s Jacob Stroud (Supersport 300 class); Papamoa’s Leon Jacobs (250 Production class); Jacob Stroud (Superlites); Whangamata’s Ben Rosendaal (650 Pro Twins); Australia’s Yanni Shaw (125 GP); Hamilton’s Jesse Stroud (GIXXER Cup) and Taupo’s Andy Scrivener and Tina McKeown (sidecars).

Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Photos by Kawasaki NZ