[zebraranger]

I didnt see this coming. LINK: Kawasaki Will Spin Off Its Motorcycle Division - Motorcycle.com News

 

[fasteddiecopeman]

I THINK that their FIRST "SPIN" off was the WW2 Zero fighter during prototype flight-tests....

 

[Wally]

I read a similar article which prompted me to check this forum to see if the spin-off had been brought up yet. My questions: is this a good thing or a bad thing? and: What does this mean for the future of Kawasaki motorcycles?

 

[twowheeladdict]

Interesting that it is only motorcycles and not powersports.

I see it as a bad thing for innovation. They used Kawasaki aviation engineers on the H2 and H2R.

I also see it as a bad thing if Kawasaki Heavy Industries decides not to infuse funding and talent into motorcycles.

Kind of like saying to the Motorcycle division, "Become competitive or go away."

 

[Smiley]

Seems to me like shuck and jive geared to create another stock market entity, like opening another casino to mitigate Kawasaki losses in motorcycles and rolling stock. The spinoff's a crapshoot as to whether we get the same Kawasaki quality and innovation from the new entity and management.

Hopefully, a Kawasaki will still be a great bike.

 

[276151]

My reaction is...they plan on selling it.

 

[Jungle Phantom]

I reckon/hope that Kawasakis motorcycle finances will come back when the covid
situation is resolved.

Kawasaki is not the only mega company that is adversely affected by the covid virus.

Slightly off topic but relevant:
If you have a Japanese car, chances are it was made with a Kawasaki machine/robot.

 

[Granoturko]

I'm not really sure what a spinoff entails legally, perhaps someone with finance experience can explain?

Personally i think it could be very interesting for innovation but bad for aftermarket OEM parts and support. If i was some super rich guy acquiring kawasaki motorcycles i'd go to yamaha, honda, suzuki, ducati, and BMW and poach all their best engineers. Then i'd have them build a sub-300 pound, 700cc dual sport thumper with a kickstarter and a whole bunch of LED lighting, and spoked wheels that are fitted to accept tubeless tires, with double disc, fully turn-offable ABS and a super wide, thick seat. And i'd price it all at the extremely competitive price of $1000 dollars.

 

[Jungle Phantom]

I'm not really sure what a spinoff entails legally, perhaps someone with finance experience can explain?

Personally i think it could be very interesting for innovation but bad for aftermarket OEM parts and support. If i was some super rich guy acquiring kawasaki motorcycles i'd go to yamaha, honda, suzuki, ducati, and BMW and poach all their best engineers. Then i'd have them build a sub-300 pound, 700cc dual sport thumper with a kickstarter and a whole bunch of LED lighting, and spoked wheels that are fitted to accept tubeless tires, with double disc, fully turn-offable ABS and a super wide, thick seat. And i'd price it all at the extremely competitive price of $1000 dollars.

You've just described the now defunkt KLX (not KLR) 650. sans kick start (although R model was kick start only)

The below C model was mine: take it from me, as a Dispatch Rider who needed to
start the bike between 10 and 20 times a day 5 days a week (and often going bush on the weekends as well)
the electric start was 100% reliable. (no tubeless wheels either)

Your recipe is great though, I miss that bike more than any other I have owned:

 

[Granoturko]

You've just described the now defunkt KLX (not KLR) 650. sans kick start (although R model was kick start only)

The below C model was mine: take it from me, as a Dispatch Rider who needed to
start the bike between 10 and 20 times a day 5 days a week (and often going bush on the weekends as well)
the electric start was 100% reliable. (no tubeless wheels either)

Your recipe is great though, I miss that bike more than any other I have owned: View attachment 181195

Gorgeous bike! I wonder why it was discontinued.

 

[twowheeladdict]

I'm not really sure what a spinoff entails legally, perhaps someone with finance experience can explain?

Personally i think it could be very interesting for innovation but bad for aftermarket OEM parts and support. If i was some super rich guy acquiring kawasaki motorcycles i'd go to yamaha, honda, suzuki, ducati, and BMW and poach all their best engineers. Then i'd have them build a sub-300 pound, 700cc dual sport thumper with a kickstarter and a whole bunch of LED lighting, and spoked wheels that are fitted to accept tubeless tires, with double disc, fully turn-offable ABS and a super wide, thick seat. And i'd price it all at the extremely competitive price of $1000 dollars.

...and you would be sued by every other player out there since no one can produce that bike, and profitably sell it for $1000. In the mean time you would sell thousands of them and I would be first in line.

 

[rayj]

I reckon/hope that Kawasakis motorcycle finances will come back when the covid
situation is resolved.

Kawasaki is not the only mega company that is adversely affected by the covid virus.

Slightly off topic but relevant:
If you have a Japanese car, chances are it was made with a Kawasaki machine/robot.

I thought MC sales were booming in 2020, even with the downturn from the virus. With car production, i went to get a new Toyota Highlander in July only to be told that it would be 2 or 3 weeks since it would have to be built. The sales person also stated that they did not think they were going to be able to get any more Tacoma's for the year as the production for all was already committed. I guess it was a mistake doing the shut down in March and extending it through April.

 

[zebraranger]

I thought MC sales were booming in 2020, even with the downturn from the virus. With car production, i went to get a new Toyota Highlander in July only to be told that it would be 2 or 3 weeks since it would have to be built. The sales person also stated that they did not think they were going to be able to get any more Tacoma's for the year as the production for all was already committed. I guess it was a mistake doing the shut down in March and extending it through April.

Thats it exactly, periodic factory shut downs. Motorcycle sales have been strong this year, but many manufacturers have been having periodic shut downs over the year due to Covid breakouts, and its been killing production and availability of product. Its been the same with boat and ATV manufacturers. For instance, Bass Pro Shops hasn't had a Jon Boat in stock for the last 6 months, and thats their number one selling boat. They cant get some of their more popular larger boats either, like the Tahoe boats and the Mako center console boats, all due to manufacturing facility shut downs. Same with Cabelas.

The man that owns BPS and Cabelas (Johnny Morris), also owns all five of the boat manufacturers that they sell. So if they cant get product, every other industry that manufactures product are all experiencing the same thing. All these items have become in demand for social distancing reasons (motorcycle, boats, ATV's and RV's/campers). People are using these items to get outdoor and away from the crowds. Whats kind of funny though is that a high percentage are heading to the national parks to get away from people and the national parks have been packed with people.

 

[rayj]

Thanks for the input. Take care.