Kawasaki Begins Two-Stroke Revival
Yep, it’s happening! Less than a year after we reported on new patent filings, Kawasaki takes to social media to tease a new two-stroke motorcycle
Kawasaki has sent the internet into a bit of a frenzy tonight, with a teasing social media post that points to the Akashi manufacturer bringing back what many riders want - a two-stroke motorcycle.
We have little more to go on than the post, which isn’t more than ten seconds long and consists of a number of Kawaski fan's social media comments which call for a return to the two-stroke era. The post ends with the words “We Heard You” pointing to Team Green being on the cusp of a smokey revolution!
It is a teaser, meaning we have as much to go on as you do, although thanks to comprehensive reporting here at Visordown over the years, we can add some context. According to patent documents filed by the Akashi manufacturer, and published in July 2024, Kawasaki has been working on a new two-stroke engine. And a fancy one at that, as the new motor promised fuel injection, intake valves operated by a camshaft and a turbo.
The concept is that injection does away with carburettors, and , when teamed with the turbocharger, increases the efficiency of the engine while maintaining the advantages of a two-stroke over a four-stroke. Those advantages are what made the configuration so popular in the '60s, '70s and into the '80s, namely low weight, maximum simplicity, and lots of power. It's also thought that the engine is designed to run with a significant surplus of air in the combustion chamber, meaning it could run leaner than a traditional two-stroke. This in turn could help to boost fuel efficiency.
At the time there were rumours that the engine wasn't destined for a bike, we all thought it was a bit too good to be true and some sources pointed to aviation as the home for the powerplant. Kawasaki UK has put that theory completely to bed tonight, although what the engine ends up in - motorcycle, scooter or even hybrid - remains to be seen.
We’ll bring you more on this as we have it.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
