CAVOZO Kavasaki biography

Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. At the time of the creation of its main activity, shipbuilding was. Now the concern is engaged in the manufacture of aircraft, helicopters, industrial robots, hydraulic cycers, tractors, trains, engines, weapons, motorcycles and motorized veins. Despite the fact that the production of motorcycles is not the main direction of the company, the models issued by it largely established high standards for all other manufacturers.

Now Kawasaki Heavy Industries is one of the four largest motorcycles in Japan and supplies its products around the world. The history of the company began in the year when Sozo Kavasaki founded a small shipbuilding plant. Prior to this, he worked at a shipyard, studied the subtleties of merchant ships, was engaged in transporting sugar, investigating various sea routes.

Then he decided to open his own shipyard. With the support of the Minister of Finance of Japan, by the end of the 19th century, it occupies a leading position among shipbuilders and transporters of sugar to Japan. In the year, the company mastered railway construction, and later civilian. Already in the second decade of the 20th century, the large company Kawasaki was engaged in steel production, and later - the aircraft construction and manufacture of engines and electric generators.

With the beginning of the Japanese-Chinese war, the company receives many orders for the repair of courts, which in the most beneficial way affects its financial condition. After the war ended, the Cavasaki, who at that time was 66 years old, appoints the first president of Kawasaki - Kozhiro Matsukata. He headed the company for 32 years. Matsukata introduced a number of transformations, in particular, the first in the country to install an 8-hour working day, enlarged the company and brought it to Japan's heavy industry leaders.

During the Second World War, Kawasaki is the main supplier for the army, but the surrender and reset of atomic bombs put it in a difficult financial situation. All divisions of the company were reconstructed. The revival begins in the year when the leadership decides to develop small engines for installation on bicycles. This was done by the Kawasaki aviation plant, at the disposal of which there were highly qualified personnel, materials and equipment.

Unable to produce aircraft, since the release of aircraft was prohibited in Japan, the Aviation Department switched to the production of spare parts for motorcycles and small motors. In the middle of the x, in the market of small vehicles of Japan, there was a order of players. The population needed cheap and reliable means of movement, and public transport could not cope with a huge influx of passengers.

The first developments of Kawasaki were two- and four-stroke engines that were installed on Noris bicycles. Over time, the company understands that the release of spare parts and engines has no good prospects. Therefore, the production of two -wheeled vehicles begins. In the year, Kawasaki produces scooters called Bikescooter KV soon the company redeems a ruined MEGURO ManUFACTURING CO.

motorcycle manufacturer. LTD, with whom she used to be in partnership. Even in the pre -war years, Meguro produced motorcycles under the Meihatsu brand and was one of the few Japanese manufacturers that make motorcycles with the cubic meter engine volume. However, this bike was excellent quality, and Meguro was a rather large player in the emerging Japanese business production of motorcycles.

Under the Meihatsu brand, a bicycle with a suspended engine is produced, and then its forced version - in the year, Meihatsu in the tests of endurance motorcycle overcame 50 km without a single breakdown. Kawasaki Meihatsu year. In the year, the first scooter is released under the Kawasaki brand, which means the gradual oblivion of Meihatsu. It was a B7 with a cube engine.

He received an ergonomic design and used the most advanced composite materials for the manufacture of the case at that time. Kawasaki B7 year. In the year, a novelty appears, which was equipped with a cube two -stroke engine and was called B8. This motorcycle was fully developed and produced by Kawasaki Aircraft Company and became one of the most practical bikes in the market.

Kawasaki B8 - year. Having earned a reputation in industrial circles, Kawasaki is still unknown to the population and completely faceless in the world of motorcycles. This situation had to be corrected using an authoritative advertising tool. The best of all possible was to participate in races. The company's management is betting on the Japanese Championship in motocross, since so far it is only focusing on the local market and does not see the point of investing in expensive highways of the Grand Prix.

In the first competitions, a reconfigurated standard motorcycle with a red fuel tank appears in a red color. Kawasaki takes the first six seats in the Cuba class. Motorcycles became known as the “Red Bank Kawasaki”, and the brand instantly turned out to be in hearing among motorists.The company later used its first experience and painted motorcycles in races in green, which is why they were nicknamed the "green greedy".

A series of models with two -stroke engines with a volume of 50 to cubic meters comes out in the year. However, the local market has become too close. Kawasaki felt a lack of experience compared to other engines manufacturers. In addition, a crisis began in Japan, and the solvency of the population fell. This was pushed by local manufacturers to enter world markets, the most attractive of which was American.

Initially, motorcycles with single-cylinder two-stroke engines, four- and five-speed gearboxes, steel frames, hinged rear pendants, telescopic front forks, drum brakes and spinning wheels were expected. Road motorcycles were equipped with double seats, swivel signals, silencers and sound signals. Racing - developed wings, off -road rubber, increased road clearance. Thus, the company has created a variety of models using the same details and motors.

For example, a 90 cubic meter. Kawasaki motorcycles, which came to the United States, did not impress the moton -lovers there. In the eyes of a spoiled American public, they were significantly inferior to the British bikes. Then the company turns to Meguro experience and supplies a model with a one -cylinder four -stroke cube engine in the USA. But this motorcycle did not impress the Americans.

Another attempt - the cube Meguro K2 - was too similar to the British two -cylinder BSA and also failed. In the year, Kawasaki W1 with a cube engine appears, which in Japan becomes the best -selling motorcycle in its class and the largest model in the local market. These motorcycles were very popular with the Japanese police. A power of 50 liters. Success in the domestic market inspires the company's management to a new attempt to conquer the United States.

But the model was not ideal in terms of speed, ease in management and maneuverability. In these indicators, it was inferior to British and American competitors, which means that it failed again. Kawasaki W1 - year. Two -cylinder motorcycles were produced up to a year, but were intended mainly for the domestic market. After analyzing the needs of the American market, the company's managers come to the conclusion that he needs sharp and maneuverable stories.

Kawasaki motorcycles were certainly fast and powerful, but buyers wanted dynamics in overcoming the distance between two traffic lights and calm handling when passing turns. Japanese models accelerated for a long time, besides, they were too heavy. The first steps of the brand was the relief of two -stroke two -cylinder engines: the Kawasaki A1 Samurai models with a cube engine and Kawasaki A7 Avenger with a cube volume are released.

The A1 Samurai model was equipped with an air -cooled engine, a five -speed gearbox built in a block, plastic valves on each cylinder, drum brakes. Kawasaki A1 - year. In the year, the company released the H1 model with a cube engine. It was also called Math III. The motorcycle motor possessed three cylinders with an in -line transverse location, which worked in a two -stroke cycle.

Behind the cylinders there were three carburetors, due to which instead of plate valves, a controlled piston intake was used. The exhaust system was also unusual: one exhaust pipe was located on the left, on the right - two more. The model received a five -speed gearbox built into one block with a motor, a frame with telescopic front forks, drum brakes and rear suspension.

However, Kawasaki H1 also had disadvantages. A short wheelbase and a powerful motor at a sharp set of speed from the start raised a motorcycle to the rear wheel. In addition, he was difficult to enable when entering the turn and “eating” a lot of gasoline. However, all these shortcomings were more than compensated by an incredible drive presented by a motorcycle while driving.

The United States also did not stand aside: the model was very popular among the Americans. Kawasaki H1 - year. Two years later, two younger models come out in the series - cube S1 and cube S2. In the year, the S3 appears with the cube engine. Soon, the eyes of the market participants began to turn to less monstrous models, which were not so voracious.

To remain at the head of the trends, Kawasaki begins to work on creating a powerful four -stroke four -cylinder motorcycle. Here the company fails: the Honda's seasoned competitor is a few steps ahead and represents its legendary SV, however, the leadership decides to turn a delay in the release of the model for itself.

Studying the market reaction, the engineers were able to improve the designed new product in order to release a motorcycle close to the ideal to the market. It happened in the year. At the exhibition in Cologne is presented Z1, surpassing the opponent in technical characteristics.