The Vulca('l 88 cru iser and it s 1470cc powerplant is the largest V -twin
engine eve r mass-produced: the V ulcan 88 was' first introduced in 1987.
The 750R was first introduced last year and returns in 1988 as basically
the same package: this year's bike fea tures push -cancel turn signals.
The popular EX500 r etu rns in
1988 for its second year, in basicall y
th e sa me.package as the 1987 model.
T his year's EX250 Ninj a, however,
receives man y cha nge s. Amo ng th ose
is a change in the cra nksha ft design,
dropping the cra n k pin diameter
from 33m m to 30mm while changing
way in th e Kaw asaki cruiser ra nks,
and is basicall y th e same package for
1988. T he 1500 is backed up by th e
Vulcan 750, the 454, th e KZ305, and
the 250 Elim inator.
T he Kawasaki to uri ng depart ment
is agai n led by th e Voyager 1300.
the main bearing diame ter fro m
30mm to 28mm. T he littl e Ninj a also
ge ts a 30mm fla t-slide carb uretor
ins tead of last year's 33mm carbo T he
for ks have been in creased in size one
mi llimeter, from 35 to 36mm for
more rigi dity. .
The Vulcan 1500 agai n leads th e
Accom pa nyi ng the big six-cy linder
is the Voyager XII, and the everpo p u lar Co ncours 1000. D ua lp urpose bi kes for 1988 incl ude th e
big ~LR 65 0 , the KLR250, a nd the
•
KEIOO.
The Voyager 1300 is Kawasaki 's top-of-the- line tourer, and fea tures a
six-cylinder engine, on-board computer and air compressor.
The EX500 twin is much the same as the 1987 model. The twin-cylinder
engine is based on the EN450 with a larger bore and stroke.
Kawasaki's 1000 Concours features a six-speed transmission, shaft
drive, disc brakes front and rear, full fairing and detachable saddlebags.
The 250 Eliminator is Kawasaki's entry-level cruiser; the bike is powered
by a 248cc, four-stroke twin that produces 36 horsepower.
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