I believe it was 1976 when Kawasaki started assembling bikes in Lincoln, Nebraska. At first it was assembling big bikes only with complete engines coming from Japan. I think the first was the KZ1000 LTD. In fact, I think they were about the first Japanese motor company to build a plant here. In the '80s, that was a plus because that way they were able to circumvent the over 700cc tariff. Kawasaki also has a small engine manufacturing plant in Maryville, Missouri where they build engines for lawnmowers, garden tractors and so on.