Roadracing World founder John Ulrich visited Kawasaki Motors Corporation USA headquarters in Irvine, California today to be interviewed by Joel Ishikawa about the introduction of the original Ninja, the 900R. Ulrich attended the worldwide press intro for the bike, held at Laguna Seca on December 15-17, 1983.

“The 900R was a revelation for its day, 16 valves, DOHC, water-cooled, cam drive off one end of the plain-bearing crank,” says Ulrich. “It was fast and handled very well for the time.”

Kawasaki is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Ninja line and Joel Ishikawa was working in the U.S. at KMC at the time the bike was introduced. Kawasaki Japan is producing a book and video marking the anniversary.

After the book is written in Japanese, it will be translated into English, company officials said.