Book excerpt: Although it is Japans smallest motorcycle manufacturer, Kawasaki has had a huge impact on the motorcycling world. Here is the full story of this famous marque, including road and competition bikes. Ian Falloon delivers the background history of the Kawasaki company; chronicles the early racing days; Kawasakis two-stroke production bikes; the Green Meanies - the HR version of the 500cc four-stroke; the highly successful Superbike and Endurance racers of the 1970s; and the bikes of the 1990s which ushered in a new era of performance up through the ZX-12R introduced for 2000.