Founded in 1896, Kawasaki became one of Japan's industrial conglomerates, with shipbuilding, railroad rolling stock, and electrical manufacturing plants.
In 1960, it took over Meguro motorcycles, one of the only Japanese companies that made a 500cc bike. Kawasaki produced its own bike a year later and quickly gained recognition for its high-performance engines.
The liquid-cooled Ninja made its debut in 1983 and is still in production. The 2011 Ninja can accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour (62mph) from a standing start in under 2.5 seconds, and it's capable of completing a standing quarter mile in about 9.83 seconds. That's faster than any Ferrari.
The racing halo -- if not the Ninja's distinctive lime-green paint -- extends to Kawasaki's more conservative models. The Vulcan name has been used for its touring and cruiser-type motorcycles since 1984. The massive Vulcan 2000 Classic LT goes for $15,999.
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