2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Kawasaki Patents Design for Naked Single

Kawasaki has registered a design patent for what appears to be a naked version of its recently revealed 250cc single-cylinder Ninja RR Mono. While the Ninja RR Mono (also known in some markets as the Ninja 250SL) is produced for the Asian market, the new design is registered with the European Union’s Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, making it more likely to arrive in western markets. The detailed design renderings reveal many clues indicating this is a naked version of the RR Mono.

A Weighty Issue

For as long as I can remember, motorcycle manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with regard to what they claim for the weight of their bikes. The “dry weights” they foisted upon us had little basis in reality. The “dry” part of that claim meant that listed weights on a spec chart were the result of all fluids being MIA from the bike, including necessities like engine oil, coolant and fork fluid (not to mention fuel), but even that didn’t fully explain the overly optimistic specs.

Japan Needs Your Help

By now, we’ve all seen pictures and video of the devastation in Japan following the March 11 earthquake and the ensuing tsunamis. Japan, of course, has contributed much to motorcycling, with the Big Four of Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, as well as tire manufacturer Bridgestone, helmet companies Arai and Shoei and many other motorcycle industry stalwarts all coming from the Land of the Rising Sun. Jon Bekefy and Greg Hatton, two motorcycle enthusiasts, industry employees  and above all, humanitarians, have set up a fundraising campaign benefiting the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan.