6 Products Manufactured by Kawasaki

When you think of motorcycles, there are probably a few brand names that immediately come to mind, like Harley Davidson and Kawasaki. Kawasaki has been making motorcycles since the 1960s and produces them all over the world, including in Japan and Lincoln, Nebraska, so it’s no surprise that the company is so closely associated with motorcycles.

However, Kawasaki is a very large company and produces a wide range of vehicles, equipment and products, including some that are completely different from motorcycles. In addition to motorcycles, Kawasaki also produces equipment for aviation, marine and rail travel, rather than vehicles themselves. For example, Boeing produces the unique 787 Dreamliner passenger plane, but Kawasaki is responsible for producing its landing gear, the front of the fuselage and the fixed trailing edge of the wings.

Additionally, Kawasaki manufactures all kinds of industrial equipment, including for the energy industry, and is also contributing to the development of cleaner energy solutions, such as wet biomass fermentation systems and hydrogen storage devices. Kawasaki also manufactures and sells much smaller products, such as equipment and apparel that accompany leisure and off-road vehicles. This includes accessories essential for Kawasaki motorcycles, such as tank bags and fire extinguishers, as well as merchandise such as hats, t-shirts, and hoodies. Here we take a closer look at six different products that you’ll be surprised to know Kawasaki manufactures.

In fact, Kawasaki Heavy Industries has been making rail cars and train equipment for longer than motorcycle or motorbike engines. In fact, Kawasaki’s first rail car rolled off the assembly line and onto the tracks more than 100 years ago, in 1906. Just a few years later, the company built its first steam locomotive, before switching to electric trains in the 1950s. Many of Kawasaki’s trains and rail cars can be found in Japan, but also around the world, including in New York City’s famous subway system, which carries more than 3 million passengers a day. Kawasaki began supplying cars for the transit system in 1982.

As New York City’s population grows and public transportation becomes more important than ever, the city has been looking for ways to increase ridership without building new tunnels and tracks. In 2023, NYC Transit unveiled the new R211 subway car, manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which is the system’s first to feature an open aisle design with accordion-like walls connecting the train cars, allowing passengers to move freely between cars and allowing for more efficient personnel movement. The doors are eight inches wider than those on existing NYC subway cars, reducing boarding and alighting times and increasing passenger flow.

The new Kawasaki-built R211 subway cars also come equipped with more modern features, such as security cameras, additional accessible seating, brighter lighting and signs, and digital displays that can provide more information about stations. Even if you’ve never ridden a bike before, if you visit or live in New York City and ride the subway, there’s a good chance you’ve ridden a Kawasaki.

Many of Kawasaki’s customers are off-road enthusiasts who ride the brand’s motorcycles and ATVs, so the company also makes other apparel and equipment to cater to this demographic, including backpacks that are just as useful for off-road enthusiasts as they are for those who need to carry everyday items like hiking gear or an office laptop.

The Kawasaki Knife Lake Roll-Top Dry Pack has a 45-liter capacity and features a PVC tarpaulin bag with waterproof welded seams and waterproof materials, making it ideal for harsh outdoor use. Two mesh side pockets and an external waterproof pocket with toggle zipper provide ample storage options, and the buckled roll-down top gives easy access to the main compartment. The padded back and adjustable padded shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry over long distances.

If you want a smaller (or more affordable) backpack, Kawasaki’s Slimming Backpack is another option. This backpack measures 10 x 17 x 3 inches and features deep storage compartments despite its slim design. In keeping with the brand’s aesthetic, this commuter backpack is dark gray with green zippers and features the Kawasaki logo on the pull zipper and main compartment. With an interior pocket, two mesh pockets on the sides, and three more exterior pockets, you’ll have plenty of storage options. Adjustable straps and a padded back make it comfortable to wear. Both backpacks sold on Kawasaki’s online store will be delivered within a week of purchase.

Kawasaki is well known for its motorcycles and dirt bikes, but there is another mode of transportation that the brand recently decided to start manufacturing: the Nosilsu e-trike. The concept originally came from an internal brainstorming program conducted in 2020. The idea behind Nosilsu, like other e-trikes such as Sinclair’s IRIS, is to expand personal transportation to a wider range of people who don’t have access to motorcycles, such as seniors and delivery drivers, as well as to provide a cleaner form of electric and manually driven transportation in light of climate change and the push for more sustainable transportation.

An e-trike’s three wheels provide a better balance and more comfortable ride than an e-scooter or bicycle. Both fully electric and electrically assisted models are available, the latter of which can be propelled by traditional bicycle pedals if desired. Combining compact mobility technology honed over years of motorcycle development with an extremely stable design of two front wheels and a third rear wheel, e-trikes use synchronized steering and tilting mechanisms to provide a smooth, safe ride.

Noslisu has a low-mounted luggage rack between the two front wheels, but there are additional models available designed for delivery drivers. They include an even larger capacity that allows you to carry goods while keeping the vehicle balanced. This makes them ideal for personal use as well, such as when you want to go grocery shopping or run other errands. However, you will need a driver’s license to operate the fully electric model, which is powered by a 500-watt rear hub motor and can travel around 30 miles on a single charge. It’s not yet available in the US, but you can buy one in Japan for just over $3,000 (USD).

In addition to expanding its lineup of electric motorcycles and electric three-wheelers, Kawasaki is also investing in another source of clean energy: hydrogen energy. The high-tech engines can use double-sided hydrogen fuel cells. While traditional EVs offer many advantages over current technology, hydrogen energy is appealing because it can be refueled quickly and has a longer range. There is still a chance that hydrogen-fueled vehicles will become as much a part of the commercial market as EVs, and if they do, Kawasaki is ready to facilitate (and profit from) that movement.

Hydrogen energy, like gasoline and electric cars, requires its own infrastructure, and the company already produces several ways to transport hydrogen fuel, including building large liquefied hydrogen carriers and trucks that look like traditional fuel trucks but use insulation technology it developed to transport liquefied hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Celsius.

Similarly, another product manufactured by Kawasaki is a trailer that can carry and transport compressed gaseous hydrogen, allowing the clean fuel source to be easily transported from hydrogen production facilities to off-site hydrogen fueling stations (similar to how gasoline is transported to gas stations) or it can be stored on the trailer itself and supplied to hydrogen vehicles.

In 2020 and 2021, it seemed like just about everyone was making face masks. And there was a good reason for that: People were looking to personalize their masks just like they would any other piece of clothing, so it’s not surprising to see people on the street wearing branded masks with, say, their favorite sports team’s logo. Kawasaki is selling a three-pack of three different brands of face masks for under $13. (You’re better off finding them at your local Kawasaki dealer, though, since they’re no longer sold directly online.)

One is a plain black mask with the Kawasaki logo and “Let the good times roll” written in white. The other is a black mask with a repeating Kawasaki green line logo. The third is a black mask with a green and blue camo American flag with the brand name printed underneath. Both the camo flag and green line repeater masks are made from 100% sublimated polyester, while the Good Times mask is made from 100% cotton and screen printed.

While these cloth masks are not as ideal for preventing COVID-19 and other airborne diseases as medical-grade masks like N-95 masks, KN95 masks, or P100 masks, they are certainly better than nothing. They can also be extremely helpful if there is another surge in COVID cases or an inevitable outbreak. However, you don’t have to wait for such an unfortunate event to use these Kawasaki face masks. They are also great for keeping dust and debris out of your mouth and nose while dirt biking or off-roading. If you’re a Kawasaki fan, you may find yourself doing so in the near future.

Believe it or not, Kawasaki Heavy Industries also manufactures submarines, as well as vessels that contribute to “modernizing maritime safety and oceanographic research,” such as deep-sea research vessels. The company also manufactures deep-sea rescue vessels (DSRVs). To date, the company has manufactured more than 80 submarines. In 2023, Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered the second Taigei-class submarine, the White Whale, to the Ministry of Defense. This is the 30th submarine built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard since World War II. The White Whale took more than two years to build and is 84 meters long, 10.4 meters tall, and only 9.1 meters wide at its widest point. It displaces 3,000 tons.

Powered by two Kawasaki Heavy Industries 12V 25/25 SB diesel engines and one electric propulsion motor, the submarine uses high-strength steel for its pressure hull. The lithium-ion battery system has been optimized for increased underwater durability. As one of the newest submarines to deploy in the open ocean, the White Whale is packed with the latest technology, including various automation systems, enhanced safety measures, improved surveillance using advanced sonar, and improved stealth capabilities. As the Japanese Navy officially ended its operation of all-male submarine crews in 2018, the White Whale also incorporates several facilities for female crew members.