Up Front

UP FRONT

KAWASAKI’S NEW ’76 LINEUP

MOST MOTORCYCLE factories are looking back on 1975 as a year of overproduction and sales frustration. Most that is, but not all. Kawasaki is a notable exception because in this hectic year it pulled firmly ahead of Suzuki and is currently running neck and neck with Yamaha for the number two sales position behind Honda.

Perhaps in an effort to maintain momentum, Kawasaki had an early model introduction. Briefly, its new offerings are as follows: a new 175 street-legal enduro; the same 175 without lights; a 125 without lights based on the KS street-legal enduro model; a 400cc Jet Ski for those aquatically inclined; and an all-new 750cc vertical Twin with contra-rotating engine balancing weights and disc brakes on both ends.

Nothing was shown in the 250 and 400cc enduro range, but rumor has it that mid-year models will be available. I saw and rode a 400cc ISDT model in Japan and it has potential. If the factory can get the weight down, it will be fantastic. Incidentally, this bike was not street-legal. Both lights and speedo were present, however, just as on the MR175 Honda.

KZ750 SPECIFICATIONS