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    Kawasaki Motors UK Ltd
    Dukes Meadow
    Millboard Road
    Bourne End
    Bucks, SL8 5XF
    Tel: 01628 856600
    Fax: 01628 856796

    www.kawasaki.com


     
    		 
     
     
    ELIMINATOR 125
    Price £2,830 Wheelbase 1470 mm
    Capacity 124 cc Weight 135 kg
    Engine type A/C 4-S single Seat height 680 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 13 litres
    Power 12bhp@9500rpm Warranty 1 year U/M
        Ins group 4
    Ideal entry-level cruiser, powered by an economical, electric start, and a simple four-stroke air-cooled engine. Its raked forks make it long and it has an ultra-low seat (680mm). Now there's no need to sacrifice style for affordability or practicality - the coolest learner bike around. Its natural home is in town and it does look the business
       The chart below is only a guide and should be used as such
    Oct 1997 cost new £2,940 secondhand £1,305 year 97R mileage 13,000
    *********** cost new £3,105 secondhand £1,380 year 98R mileage 12,000
    *********** cost new £3,105 secondhand £1,450 year S mileage 11,000
    Nov 1998 cost new £2,965 secondhand £1,525 year 99S mileage 10,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,600 year T mileage 10,000
    Nov 1999 cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,675 year V mileage 8,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,700 year 00V mileage 8,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,725 year W mileage 7,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,750 year X mileage 6,000
    Jan 2001 cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,775 year 01X mileage 5,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,850 year Y mileage 5,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,925 year 51 mileage 4,000
    Jan 2002 cost new £2,820 secondhand £1,975 year 0251 mileage 3,000
    *********** cost new £2,820 secondhand £2,025 year 02 mileage 2,000
    *********** cost new £2,830 secondhand £2,050 year 52 mileage 1,000
           
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    EN 500
    Price £4,790
    see below    		 Wheelbase 1595 mm
    Capacity 498 cc Weight 199 kg
    Engine type A/C 4-S liquid -cooled parallel twin Seat height 715 mm
    Transmission 6 speed Fuel Capacity 15 litres
    Power 34kW(46PS) / 8,000rpm Warranty 1 year U/M
        Ins group 8
    EN500A1 first imported to replace the LTD450. Full custom styling with pull back handlebars, teardrop tank, low stepped seat with backrest, 19inch front 15inch rear and 7 spoke cast alloy wheels, chrome front mudguard, headlight, speedo and warning light housing, and is finished in ebony.
    Dec 92 finished in red & grey,
    Jan94 with wire spoke wheels, painted (rather than chromed) front mudguard. No longer has leading axle forks or chromed warning light housing, finished in turquoise/white.
    Jan 95 finished in red with dark grey panels,
    Feb96 with chain final drive, tank-top instrumentation, slash cut silencers, smaller carburettors, lower compression and other detail mechanical changes, finished in red.
    Jan97 finished in black.
    Jan 99     discontinued
    The chart below is only a guide and should be used as such
    Feb 1990 cost new £3,099 secondhand £1,210 year 90G mileage 31,000
    ------------- cost new £3,340 secondhand £1,310 year 91H mileage 29,000
    Nov 1991 cost new £3,392 secondhand £1,405 year 92J mileage 26,000
    ------------- cost new £3,840 secondhand £1,480 year 93K0 mileage 24,000
    Jan 1994   cost new £4,095  secondhand £1,600 year 94L mileage 21,000
    ------------- cost new £4,095  secondhand £1,650 year M mileage 20,000
    Nov 1994  cost new £4,350  secondhand £1,750 year 95M mileage 19,000
    ------------- cost new £4,490  secondhand £1,800 year N mileage 18,000
    Mar 1996  cost new £4,895  secondhand £1,925 year 96N mileage 17,000
    ------------- cost new £4,895  secondhand £2,000 year P mileage 15,000
    Jun 1997  cost new £4,925  secondhand £2,050 year 97P mileage 14,000
    ------------- cost new £4,925  secondhand £2,200 year R mileage 13,000
    ------------- cost new £4,628   secondhand £2,300 year 98R mileage 12,000
    ------------- cost new £4,790  secondhand £2,400 year S mileage 11,000
     
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    VN 800 CLASSIC
    Price £6,030
    see below    		 Wheelbase 1600 mm
    Capacity 805 cc Weight 235 kg
    Engine type A/C 4-S V-twin Seat height 705 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 15 litres
    Power 55ps Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 10
    Based on the old VN800,
    Jan 1995 full custom style machine with wire wheels, chrome exhaust system with both silencers on the right, round chrome air filter cover, stepped seat, teardrop tank, forward footrests, speedo in tank top console, finished in red or black with optional panniers and screen.
    Jan 1996 'Classic 800' on air filter cover
    Nov 1996 with revised handlebar grips and finished in dark blue/silver or burgundy/cream, 'Classic 800' on air filter cover.
    Feb 1997 now with wider ratio gearbox, revised handlebar mountings and LED neutral light. Finished in blue or black.
    Jan 1998 finished in turquoise/silver or bronze/burgundy
    Jan 1999 finished in black/cream or red/aubergine, each broad contrasts stripe to centre mudguards with fatter tyres, an even lower seat and heavy cruiser-style mudguards, with mid-fifties styling. Powered by a punchy V-twin engine in a 'rigid' frame, which actually uses Uni-Track suspension for class-leading handling. Lots of dress-up-parts are available to personalise the VN, from chrome bits to panniers and screens. As close to the Harley ethos as you can get without the vibrations & high price.
    The chart below is only a guide and should be used as such
    Oct 1995 cost new £6,495 secondhand £2,775 year 96N mileage 17,000
    ------------- cost new £6,550 secondhand £2,875 year P mileage 15,000
    Oct 1996 cost new £6,550 secondhand £2,950 year 97 mileage 14,000
    ------------- cost new £6,550 secondhand £3,050 year R mileage 13,000
    ------------- cost new £6,153 secondhand £3,200 year 98R mileage 12,000
    Apr 1998 cost new £6,315 secondhand £3,300 year S mileage 11,000
    Nov 1998 cost new £5,520 secondhand £3,450 year 99S mileage 10,000
    ------------- cost new £5,520 secondhand £3,600   year T mileage 10,000
    Nov 1999 cost new £5,675 secondhand £3,675 year V mileage 8,000
    -------------- cost new £5,920 secondhand £3,800 year 00V mileage 8,000
    -------------- cost new £5,920 secondhand £3,900 year W mileage 7,000
    -------------- cost new £5,920 secondhand £4,000 year X mileage 6,000
    -------------- cost new £6,020 secondhand £4,050 year 01X mileage 5,000
    Nov 2001 cost new £6,020 secondhand £4,150 year Y mileage 5,000
    -------------- cost new £6,015 secondhand £4,250 year 51 mileage 4,000
    --------------- cost new £6,015 secondhand £4,325 year 0251 mileage 3,000
    --------------- cost new £6,015 secondhand £4,400 year 02 mileage 2,000
    --------------- cost new £6,030 secondhand £4,475 year 52 mileage 1,000
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    VN 800 DRIFTER
    Price £6,030 Wheelbase 1600 mm
    Capacity 805 cc Weight 235 kg
    Engine type A/C 4-S V-twin Seat height 705 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 15 litres
    Power 55ps Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 10
    Aug 1999 Drifter introduced, deep sculptured fenders covering wire spoked wheels, single fishtail exhaust muffler. Finished in red or beige
    Nov 1999 finished in blue or beige
    Jan 2001 finished in red
    Nov 2001 finished in black
    Styled like the VN1500 Drifter, the concealed Uni-Trak rear suspension gives this machine all the looks of a rigid frame - without the discomfort. Engine gains from Throttle Position Sensor to boost torque. A lot of style and styling is everything with this bike
           
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    VN 1500 CLASSIC FI
    Price £8,330 Wheelbase 1665 mm
    Capacity 1470 cc Weight 299 kg
    Engine type L/C 4-S V-twin Seat height 700 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 19 litres
    Power 64.1hp Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 12
    It has an elegant, mid-fifties styling which is powered by a really torque 50 V-twin engine. The engine is a treat if you like low-rpm thudding,mated to a five-speed box with low-maintenance shaft drive. Electronic fuel injection makes a welcome appearance and improves drive in the low and midrange. The single front disc struggles to haul the VN down from high speeds, but then this is more of a low-speed poser's bike anyway. With this classy cruiser you can turn heads at a hundred paces and enjoy the low speed thrust of those mighty pistons
    The chart below is only a guide and should be used as such
    Oct 1995 cost new £8,595 secondhand £3,650 year 96N mileage 17,000
    ********** cost new £8,595 secondhand £3,800 year P mileage 15,000
    Oct 1996 cost new £8,695 secondhand £3,925 year 97P mileage 14,000
    ********** cost new £8,695 secondhand £4,075 year R mileage 13,000
    Jan 1998 cost new £8,198 secondhand £4,300 year 98R mileage 12,000
    ********* cost new £8,360 secondhand £4,450 year S mileage 11,000
    Nov 1998 cost new £7,520 secondhand £4,675 year 99S mileage 10,000
    ********** cost new £7,520 secondhand £4,900 year T mileage 10,000
    ********** cost new £7,720 secondhand £5,050 year V mileage 8,000
    Nov 1999 cost new £7,720 secondhand £5,200 year 00V mileage 8,000
    ********** cost new £8,020 secondhand £5,350 year W mileage 7,000
    ********** cost new £8,020 secondhand £5,500 year X mileage 6,000
    Jan 2001 cost new £8,320 secondhand £5,575 year 01X mileage 5,000
    ********** cost new £8,320 secondhand £5,725 year Y mileage 5,000
    ********** cost new £8,320 secondhand £5,850 year 51 mileage 4,000
    Jan 2002 cost new £8,315 secondhand £5,950 year 0251 mileage 3,000
    *********** cost new £8,315 secondhand £6,050 year 02 mileage 2,000
    *********** cost new £8,330 secondhand £6,150 year 52 mileage 1,000
           
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    VN 1500 DRIFTER
    Price £8,330 Wheelbase 1655 mm
    Capacity 1470 cc Weight 304 kg
    Engine type L/C 4-S V-twin Seat height 730 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 19 litres
    Power 64.1 hp Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 12
    While recreating the classic styling elements of those classic machines from the golden age of motorcycling, the Drifter makes no technological concessions to the past, because from the big bore fuel injected V-Twin engine and SOHC 8-valve heads to the front and rear disc brakes, the Drifter is a showcase of modern engineering. The new Drifter has a new paint, a new seat and more chrome. Screams 'look at me' as effectively as any American product
           
           
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    VN 1500 NOMAD FI
    Price £9,320 Jan 2001 Wheelbase 1665 mm
    Capacity 1470 cc Weight 335 kg
    Engine type L/C 4-S V-twin
    8-valve    		 Seat height 720 mm
    Transmission 5 speed shaft drive Fuel Capacity 16 litres
    Power 64bhp@4900rpm Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 12
    Long-distance cruising has never been so comfortable - or so elegant. Lashings of silky-smooth touring power from a super-efficient fuel-injected engine, and with a plush suspension configuration and seating and stylish integrated luggage fitted as standard, you can head for the horizon in comfort. This VN has massive grunt from that huge engine, and its smoother than before thanks to the new fuel injection(2001). The seat's very comfortable. It's not fast, but it has the sort of easy manners that let you stay in the saddle when sportsbike riders are aching to get off, or having to stop to fill up every hour. Twin discs are a welcome addition from the Classic spec, and the screen is very effective. A good take on the custom tourer ideal.
    Introduced April 1998
           
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    VN 1500 MEAN STREAK
    Image 1
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    Price £8,330 Wheelbase 1705 mm
    Capacity 1470 cc Weight 289 kg
    Engine type L/C 4-S V-twin Seat height 700 mm
    Transmission 5 speed Fuel Capacity 17 litres
    Power 71hp@5500rpm Warranty 2 year U/M
        Ins group 12
    The new Mean Streak is a big, bad streetfighter. It's a hot-rod version of the VN, complete with tuned engine, upside-down forks, six-pot callipers and chunky three-spoke wheels. It's big,[heavy mother] and if that's the way you like your bikes, it delivers in spades. And that weedy power output's dwarfed by the wedges of torque available from tick-over, giving the sort of pull that you expect from a big cruiser, but don't always get. The suspension's far better than the other VN models (rear shocks are adjustable for pre-load and rebound damping), and the brakes are excellent. Ground clearance is slightly improved over the other VNs, and thanks to engine mods there's a bit more go despite a new catalyser exhaust. The best VN yet. The engine manages to be smooth and lumpy at the same time, and the handling's far better than you'd expect from something this lardy and low. The cruiser with an attitude
    OK,I only bought this bike 3 days ago, but have managed to do about 500 miles in spite of the weather.
    I re-started motorcycling July 03 at the age of ( a very youthful) 59 and with a lot of espousal angst, by buying an R850R, but quickly tired of it through lack of performance and vibrations.
    I then bought a Susuki GSX1400 ( never like to do things by halves) and loved it: so much so that in short succession I had an FJR Yamaha,Bandit 1200S,another Suzuki GSX1400 and just before the Kawa a Honda CB1300.
    Strangely although my priority was fast vibration-free motoring, I found that I got bored - and the CB1300 wasn't particularly comfortable either.
    So, changing tack, bougt the Kwacker: what fun!!
    You'd have though that the vibes were out to get you but not at all.The engine sounds lumpy and thumpy but the extraordinary thing is that you don't feel it through your bum - unless you are sitting still in traffic for a long time.
    So the rubber mounts really do work and with the longest single ride so far of about 180 miles, no pain at all. I found that I could easily shift my feet position from the front to the rear pegs ( best at speed ) and I've no doubt this helped because it changes the incidence of bum position to seat.
    I've heard and read of criticism of the brakes but am happy to say that they have given me no cause for concern, tho' it has to be said that my fastest emergency stop was from 92mph only.
    Weight simply isn't a problem. The Honda weighs 224Kg , the Kwak about 285 but you just don't notice the extra ( I guess it might be somewhat different if you drop it and try to pick it up!). Low seat height undoubtedly helps here and tight turns are if anything easier than anything else I've had.
    Tank range is annoying - I haven't managed better than 110m so far and this on m'ways as well as short trips. I wonder why, for such a huge machine?
    I have already ordered a screen - the smaller of the two available from the makers - and engine crash protector bars. The former because wind blast above 70 is uncomfortable and the latter because they will obviously save a lot of expensive damage if bike dropped - I hope.
    Overall, huge fun, great looks, relatively sporty handling and not for the shy - it's amazing the amount of attention attracted wherever it's parked.

    Regards,
    G.Sheridan-Wallis
           
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