Kawasaki 454 LTD
The Kawasaki 454 has a large amount of power available for its size, at 50 horsepower, and its low seat makes it a great starter bike.
The Kawasaki 454 was manufactured from 1985-1990. 454. The bike is a two cylinder with 454 cc displacement. The engine was taken directly from a Kawasaki Ninja 900, which had an engine displacement of 908. (908 4 cylinder divided by 2 = 454 2 cylinder). The 27 horsepower 440 LTD was only a predecessor to the 50 horsepower Kawasaki 454 in terms of style- the two shared very little in terms of engineering. For example, the 454 was liquid cooled with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, and the 440 was air cooled with a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder, and a chain final gear. The Kawasaki 454 was replaced by the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 because the 908cc Ninja was discontinued and replaced by the 1000cc Ninja. The engine in the vulcan has been de-tuned more than the Kawaski 454's.
The Kawasaki 454 can rev to 10,000 RPM and has 6 gears, including a low-maintenance, final gear that is a belt drive. For brakes, it has the usual disc and drum brake combination. The acceleration of the 454 is well known, as it raced against a chevy 454 cu. in. big block corvette, and won. (http://www.454rider.com/articles.php).
A manufaturer's defect is that taking off the seat requires the removal of two bolts, which in addition to requiring tools to access the battery, also scrapes against the higher passenger backrest, eventually rubbing through the faux stitching unless that panel is removed first as well with another tool.
curb weight: 200 kg (440 lbs.)
0-100 KPH: 5.5 seconds.
0-60 MPG: 5.3 seconds
HP: 50 @ 9500 RPM.