For some riders, no other bike will do but Kawasaki, the Japanese brand of powerful motorcycles. The manufacturer, like many other automakers, has been around for decades. Today, it is known for bangers such as the Ninja H2R, the hypersport machine that crowns its revered Ninja line of motorcycles.

The many decades in the motorcycle industry have given Kawasaki the kind of experience and technical know-how that only comes with age. Its prowess can be seen in its machines, which are some of the most eye-catching bikes available today. However, most of these machines, like the aforementioned Ninja, either come from the late 20th century or the 21st century, which is disheartening because there are a number of awesome motorcycles from the company's early years as a motorcycle manufacturer. From the humble B8 and W1 to the powerful A1, let's go over three of the most underappreciated motorcycles from Kawasaki's early years.

Although Kawasaki was founded in 1878 by Shōzō Kawasaki, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that the company decided to try its luck in motorcycle making. Throughout the '50s, it was tinkering with motorcycles and motorcycle parts. In 1969, it debuted the renowned H1, a two-stroke, three-cylinder machine considered the fastest accelerating bike in its class. However, seven years earlier, the company released the B8 motorcycle, which was the first motorcycle completely built by Kawasaki. Before the B8, Kawasaki made motors such as the 123.5cc, two-stroke, air-cooled KB-5 engine and the 247cc, four-stroke, OHV, air-cooled KH engine. The company had also been involved in a number of motorcycle projects through its Meihatsu subsidiary, releasing bikes like the Meihatsu 125, which featured the aforementioned KB-5. However, it had not built a complete motorcycle by itself until the B8.