Motorcycle-Journal Forums  

Go Back   Motorcycle-Journal Forums > Bike Talk > Cruisers
Motorcycle Journal       Suzuki Bikes       Honda Bikes       Yamaha Bikes

Cruisers Lots of chrome and an open road. Talk about it here!


Welcome to the Motorcycle-Journal Forums forums.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-23-2004, 10:01 PM   #1 (permalink)
Kickstand Operator
 
Texas Jay's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Bike: '04 VS 800 Intruder
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 252
Default Suzuki-Kawasaki connection

From what I've read, Suzuki & Kawasaki share much in common. Many magazines indicate that the two companies often make nearly identical bikes that sometimes only differ in the cosmetics.

Are the two companies linked in any way? Do they share the same assembly lines?

__________________
University of Connecticut Husky
Southern Methodist University Mustang

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" ... Edmund Burke
Texas Jay is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Suzuki Motorcycle Info  Honda Motorcycle Pictures  Kawasaki Motorcycle Resource  Yamaha Motorcycle
Old 12-24-2004, 12:01 AM   #2 (permalink)
Can Ride And Chew Gum
 
c50tiger's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Bike: 2005 C50
Location: Selma, Alabama
Posts: 2,048
Default

That was pretty well sliced, diced and julienned here
__________________

Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. - Douglas Adams
COGITO EGGO SUM: I think, therefore I am... a waffle
c50tiger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2004, 10:24 AM   #3 (permalink)
In The Zone
 
DrBob's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2004
Bike: several
Location: Decatur, GA
Posts: 2,607
Default

A quote from the press release back when it happened:

"Suzuki Motor Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. announced on Aug. 29, 2001, an agreement to form a strategic business relationship in the areas of product development, design, engineering, manufacturing of motorcycle and ATV products and components purchasing.

The first step will be to combine resources in the cruiser, scooter, motocross and ATV lines. Suzuki and Kawasaki will maintain autonomy in the area of marketing and sales, with each company continuing to use its own brand and sales network.

Both companies expect that this arrangement will help them respond to customer needs and to contribute to the healthy growth of the motorcycle industry."

Other than this "strategic business relationship" the two companies will remain completely independent. Chrysler and Mitsubishi did the same thing back in the 1980s, designing cars together and sharing components to get a huge volume discount from suppliers. They cranked out the Eagle Talon/ Plymouth Lazer / Mitsubishi Eclipse semi-sisters for years out of a jointly owned plant, and the Dodge Stealth/ Mitsubishi 3000GT semi-twins came off the same Mitsubishi assembly line. The Dodge D50 was a rebadged Mitsubishi truck, and certain Dodge cars used Mitsubishi motors. Eventually several Mitsubishi cars started using Dodge motors, and both companies got huge disounts from suppliers, giving then a larger per-car profit than any other car companies. It worked out well for both companies, which were debt ridden and needed to cut costs to stay competitive. Now that Daimler Benz owns Chrysler, and has decided not to purchase Mitsibishi, the partnership is winding down.
Suzuki and Kawasaki figured the same sort of partnership would help them compete in the areas they were loosing to Honda, Harley, and Yamaha; cruisers, scooters, and ATVs.
__________________
Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow.

You MUST obey the pug dog!
DrBob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2004, 10:50 AM   #4 (permalink)
Kickstand Operator
 
Texas Jay's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Bike: '04 VS 800 Intruder
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 252
Default

Thanks for the info.

Most people don't know this, but Suzuki is the #4 Japanese automaker. They're smaller than Toyota, Nissan, & Honda. But they're bigger than Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suburu, Isuzu, etc.

If the two motorcycle companies ever merge, I hope they use the Suzuki name. My first new car was a 1987 Suzuki Samurai "JX". That was a great little jeep-type vehicle that I customized with 16" chrome wheels, etc. I currently own a Suzuki Verona, which is Suzuki's version of the Honda Accord. I guess I'm a loyal customer.
__________________
University of Connecticut Husky
Southern Methodist University Mustang

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" ... Edmund Burke

Last edited by Texas Jay; 12-26-2004 at 09:55 PM.
Texas Jay is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Comparing Suzuki, Yamaha, & Kawasaki Hej Sportbikes & Sport-tourers 13 06-26-2006 03:49 PM
Yamaha Warrior/Kawasaki Mean Streak/Suzuki M109 farmbone Cruisers 30 11-22-2005 02:34 AM
Kawasaki ZX-6 vs Suzuki GSX 600 Novaz3 Sportbikes & Sport-tourers 6 08-31-2005 05:00 PM
Kawasaki Ninja 500R or Suzuki GS500F Taehapdo Sportbikes & Sport-tourers 7 07-13-2004 02:09 PM
Alright, Suzuki or Kawasaki? ilaoc77 Sportbikes & Sport-tourers 8 04-28-2004 01:00 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:00 PM.
Blackbird Forums


Copyright 2008, Suzuki-Bikes.com
Motorcycle-Journal Forums

SEO by vBSEO ©2008, Crawlability, Inc.