50th Anniversary Heads Up

Hard to believe I'm this damn old, but I believe during the Summer of 2024 there will be some sort of event to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Kawasaki Plant's opening in Lincoln NE. I'm planning on volunteering to help with the event, and will let you know if there will be enough cool old history stuff for a Motorcycle Guy to plan to attend. Unfortunately motorcycles are no longer built in Lincoln, the last 2 wheeler rolled off the line in 2005. I hated it at the time, being the Production Motorcycle Mechanic I was out of a job. But this led to a really cool job being a mechanic/half assed fabricator in the R&D Dept. until my retirement in 2018. There are a few nice examples of bikes built at the Plant in the Product Display Area, but to my current knowledge no KZ 900A or B. There is a beautiful 1984 Ninja, I think it is possibly the bike that was the 500,000th vehicle built in the Plant. Also a representation of the first motorcycle off the line in January 1975, a blue KZ400 with black and gold stripes.
If someone wanted to make the trip, Speedway Motors also has a World Class Museum in Lincoln.  

I will let you know more, as I learn more!    Mike

Thanks.  Since you mentioned it: I think this KZ400 was on EB quite a while ago. not sure what year it is but guessing around '75.

Yup!  looks like a 75 model to me.  We also made a red "standard" model with the black/gold stripes. IIRC, it was kick-start only, drum brake on the front and no tach, speedometer only. 

Mike

I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.


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Sounds like a great event, please keep us posted on dates as I am only a few "states" over from you!

Nebr_Rex wrote:

I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


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We'd be up for that!

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

krazee1 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


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 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.


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Nebr_Rex wrote:

krazee1 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.

Gordon M.?

Mike
.

 

krazee1 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

krazee1 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

I'll have to ask my brother what he knows about this.

Is your brother a current or former employee?   He may be an acquaintance of mine.  If anything, it is in the very early planning stages, still probably a minimum of 15 months away.
Mike


.
 His name is Gordon, He works in maintence.

Gordon M.?

Mike
.

Gordon F.