Kawasaki KZ200
Encyclopedia
The Kawasaki KZ200 was a street cruiser
produced between 1980 to 1984 by Kawasaki Motorcycles
.
In Indonesia
, the motorcycle is also known as Binter
, which is the abbreviation of Bintang Terang meaning Bright Star in Indonesian language
, derived from the distributor's corporate name in the country. Therefore, Indonesians
are more familiar to recognize the cruiser
as Binter Merzy or Kawasaki Binter.
With 200 single cylinder cc
, it was considered one of the biggest engine capacities of mass-production motorcycle in Indonesia
in the early 1980s.
. This configuration lasts until the latest production batch in 1982.
By 1983, the motorcycle adopted the CDI
system until the production stopped in 1984. The early production of this specification is called Merzy CDI, while the latter were launched with new model of fuel tank
and referred as Merzy Cobra.
It was once planned that Kawasaki Motorcycles
would launch a new model with improved engine capacity of 250 cc. However, due to the Indonesia's governmental regulation at that time, the plan was turned down. The regulation limited the engine capacity of maximum 200 cc for public motorcycles during the period.
Cruiser (motorcycle)
Cruiser is the term for motorcycles that mimic the design style of American machines from the 1930s to the early 1960s, including those made by Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior and Henderson. The market for models evocative of the early cruisers has grown to embrace 60 percent of the U.S...
produced between 1980 to 1984 by Kawasaki Motorcycles
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Consumer Products and Machinery Company
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine is a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries that produces motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles, jet ski personal watercraft, and general-purpose gasoline engines. Before the 2011 fiscal year it was called Consumer Products & Machinery...
.
In Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the motorcycle is also known as Binter
Binter
Binter was the name of two airlines, both subsidiaries of Iberia LAE, both airlines flew CN-235's :* Binter Canarias* Binter Mediterraneo - acquired by Air Nostrum, another Iberia subsidiary, in 1998 and absorbed its operations. It replaced the remaining CN-235's with ATR-72's....
, which is the abbreviation of Bintang Terang meaning Bright Star in Indonesian language
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, derived from the distributor's corporate name in the country. Therefore, Indonesians
Demographics of Indonesia
The population of Indonesia according to the 2010 national census is 237.6 million, with 58% living on the island of Java, the world's most populous island....
are more familiar to recognize the cruiser
Cruiser (motorcycle)
Cruiser is the term for motorcycles that mimic the design style of American machines from the 1930s to the early 1960s, including those made by Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior and Henderson. The market for models evocative of the early cruisers has grown to embrace 60 percent of the U.S...
as Binter Merzy or Kawasaki Binter.
With 200 single cylinder cc
Cubic centimetre
A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm...
, it was considered one of the biggest engine capacities of mass-production motorcycle in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in the early 1980s.
Development history
The production began in 1980, starting with conventional ignition systemIgnition system
An ignition system is a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture. Ignition systems are well known in the field of internal combustion engines such as those used in petrol engines used to power the majority of motor vehicles, but they are also used in many other applications such as in oil-fired and...
. This configuration lasts until the latest production batch in 1982.
By 1983, the motorcycle adopted the CDI
Capacitor discharge ignition
Capacitor discharge ignition or thyristor ignition is a type of automotive electronic ignition system which is widely used in outboard motors, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws, small engines, turbine-powered aircraft, and some cars...
system until the production stopped in 1984. The early production of this specification is called Merzy CDI, while the latter were launched with new model of fuel tank
Fuel tank
A fuel tank is safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled or released into an engine...
and referred as Merzy Cobra.
It was once planned that Kawasaki Motorcycles
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Consumer Products and Machinery Company
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine is a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries that produces motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles, jet ski personal watercraft, and general-purpose gasoline engines. Before the 2011 fiscal year it was called Consumer Products & Machinery...
would launch a new model with improved engine capacity of 250 cc. However, due to the Indonesia's governmental regulation at that time, the plan was turned down. The regulation limited the engine capacity of maximum 200 cc for public motorcycles during the period.
Specifications
- 200 cc displacementEngine displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
- 5-speed transmissionTransmission (mechanics)A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
- Front disc brakeDisc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
, rear drum brakes