Kawasaki

New Kawasaki KX450Kawasaki also offers its entry-level motocross in the form of KX100 in India which is priced at Rs 4.87 lakh (ex-showroom)
Kawasaki has launched the latest iterations of its adventure twins- KX250 and KX450 in India at a price of Rs. 7.99 lakh and Rs. 8.59 lakh respectively (both prices ex-showroom). Both motorcycles are meant for hardcore off-roading and could be classified as proper dirt bikes. These are not road-legal motorcycles.
Bookings for the new KX250 and KX450 are open at all Kawasaki dealerships across the country. Starting with their design, both KX250 and KX450 are very similar in their styling barring a few minor variations. Underpinning the dirt bikes is a revised lightweight aluminium frame that is claimed to improve dynamics of the motorcycles.
Updated Styling, Ergoomics
Design of the motorcycles hasn’t been tinkered with, however, ergonomics on both bikes have been improved. This involves a redesigned fuel tank, a flatter tank seat and slimmer shrouds.
The Japanese bikemaker has fitted the dirt bikes with an ERGO FIT adjustable handlebar while footpegs have also been repositioned. Further, the handlebar on both bikes has been equipped with a Renthal aluminium Fatbar as a standard feature to counter vibrations.
New Kawasaki KX250
Revised Hardware Configuration
Handling of the bike has been improved too with a retuned race-ready suspension setup comprising 49mm inverted telescopic forks at front and a new Unit Trak unit at rear. Both units are adjustable for compression and rebound damping. For KW250, the suspension travel is pegged at 314mm and 316mm front and rear respectively.
For K450, the figures stand at 305mm and 307mm for front and rear respectively. Braking hardware consists of single disc brakes with 270mm rotor and twin-piston calipers at front and 250mm rotor and a single-piston caliper at rear. KX250 weighs 107 kilos while KX450 tips the weighing scales at 110kg.
Retuned powertrain
Significant updates have been made to the powertrain for improved performance. KX250 is powered by a 249cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with factory-racer tuning. While exact output figures haven’t been shared, peak power output has been increased by 1.4 PS.
New Kawasaki KX450
This has been achieved by Revised processing for the throats of intake and exhaust manifolds. Also, crankcase has been redesigned to reduce weight which has impacted performance.
A similar set of updates has also been made on the 449cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine powering KX450. Both powertrains are paired with a 5-speed gearbox. This is the first time that Kawasaki is offering a hydraulic clutch on its motocrosser range.
More importantly, both motorcycles are offered with an electric start previously not offered. There is nothing much on offer as creature comforts since these bikes are built for a different purpose. Both bikes, however, receive a launch control mode. More

New Kawasaki Ninja 650 For India
In India, 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 650 will compete against Honda CBR650R and the upcoming Aprilia RS 660
Kawasaki has launched the MY2022 Ninja 650 in India at an introductory price of Rs 6.61 lakh (ex-showroom). The updated model made its global debut a couple of months ago has received a bunch of new changes including new paint schemes, improved mechanicals and a sharper design.
Interested buyers can book the updated Ninja 650 at the nearest Kawasaki dealership or via the company’s official India website. The middleweight supersport motorcycle continues to sport an aggressive exterior design that gets accentuated with two colour options on offer- the traditional Lime Green and a new Pearl Robotic White.
Updated Styling
Design-wise, the updated 2022 Ninja 650 is largely similar to the outgoing model. It retains ZX-6R-like sharp fascia which appears to be aerodynamically enhanced. The bike’s front end is dominated by twin LED headlights with LED DRLs.
Additionally, Ninja 650 gets a new and improved windshield which is now lower and flush-fits with the upper cowl. It is set at a more upright angle to offer the rider decent wind protection.
New Kawasaki Ninja 650 For India
In both paint schemes, the engine cowl and belly pan are painted in white. The TFT colour instrument cluster is carried over from the previous model and now gets Bluetooth connectivity as standard. The console could be paired with the rider’s smartphone using the Rideology smartphone app. The blacked-out alloy spoke alloy wheels get green rims which add a nice sporty contrast.
The side turn indicators are integrated onto the front fairing whereas the side body panels feature a neat air scoop for more aerodynamic efficacy. Other styling highlights include a split-seat style, underbelly exhaust, front apron-mounted rearview mirrors, an aggressive fuel tank, and a clip-on handlebar along with rear-set footpegs which offer a committed riding posture.
Mechanical Specs
At the heart of the fully-faired motorcycle is the same 649cc Liquid-cooled, Parallel-Twin engine that delivers 67 bhp at 8,000rpm and 64 Nm of peak torque at 6,700 rpm. This unit is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Team Green continues to employ a steel trellis frame supported by a 41mm telescopic fork at front and a preload-adjustable horizontal back-link mono-shock at rear.
Braking hardware comprises a pair of 300mm petal discs chewed by 2-piston calipers up front and a 220mm disc at rear. The middleweight supersport rolls on 17-inch alloys which are shod by new Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres. In India, 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 650 will go head to head against the upcoming Aprilia RS 660 and Honda CBR650R. More

2022 Kawasaki Vulcan S CruiserKawasaki currently offers Vulcan S in India at a price of Rs 6.04 lakh (ex-showroom)
Kawasaki has launched an updated avatar of Vulcan S in the USA. While the middleweight cruiser has always been a piece of eye candy for retro bike lovers, the latest update makes it even more attractive. That said, the new Vulcan S only gets a wardrobe upgrade and no mechanical changes underneath.
The updates are purely aesthetic which consist of two new colour options namely Pearl Robotic White and Metallic Matte Graphite Grey. Apart from these new shades of colour, the Japanese bikemaker has also added a new Cafe variant which gets a handful of cosmetic tweaks and a new paint scheme over the standard model.
Updated Colour Schemes
Having said that, there aren’t any significant changes to the new Cafe trim. It wears a unique triple-tone paint scheme comprising Ebon, Pearl Robotic White, and Candy Steel Furnace Orange colours. The bike also benefits from a short and dark tinted windscreen which lends it a sportier appeal. The standard model, on the other hand, is exactly similar to the outgoing model barring the new colour options.
The Pearl Robotic White paint scheme, as the name suggests, gets a predominantly white colour with cool blue livery on the fuel tank and radiator shrouds with blue/white pinstripes slapped onto the alloy wheels. The cruiser in this colour option looks icy sharp from each angle. Moving to the other option, the Metallic Matte Graphite Grey paint scheme wears a signature Kawasaki look with the use of black and green colours.
2022 Kawasaki Vulcan S Cruiser
Similar Styling & Features
Vulcan S continues to flaunt its signature styling elements such as an inverted triangular headlight, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, underbelly exhaust muffler and black rearview mirrors which match with the bike’s frame. The cruiser remains an ergonomically friendly bike as riders can adjust the handlebar, footpegs, and seat according to their preference.
The middleweight cruiser gets a semi-digital console that features an analogue tachometer and an LCD display for readouts like speed, odometer, trip meter, ABS status, fuel gauge, etc. Sadly it does miss out on a TFT instrument console like other modern Kawasaki bikes which is offered with smartphone connectivity.
Mechanical Specs
2022 Vulcan S is still powered by the same 649 cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that delivers an output of 60 bhp at 7,500rpm and a peak torque of 62.4 Nm at 6,600rpm. This unit is paired with a six-speed gearbox. Suspension duties are handled by 41 mm telescopic forks at front and a 7-step preload adjustable off-set mono-shock at rear.
Kawasaki has priced the updated Vulcan S starting at $7,299 (approx. INR 5.5 lakh) for the standard trim while the Cafe variant comes at $7,899 (approx. INR 5.9 lakh). While there are no updates as of now, we can expect the latest iteration of Vulcan S to hit Indian markets by the end of this year. More

2022 Kawasaki Z125 PRO
2022 Kawasaki Z125 is aimed at entry-level young riders as a learner’s motorcycle
Kawasaki has launched the 2022 Z125 Pro in USA at a price of USD 3,299 which is equivalent to INR 2.45 lakh. The mini moto is a direct rival to Honda Grom 125 and will serve as an entry-level model to the Japanese bikemaker’s Z range of naked motorcycles. It is unlikely to launch in India anytime soon.
The new model comes with a fair share of updates, most of which are cosmetic in nature. That said, the overall design of the mini bike is retained with an aggressive streetfighter styling masked under its miniature size. It gets a standard halogen headlight that looks sporty at the outset.
Styling & Features
The aggressive styling is compounded by the motorcycle’s distinctive fuel tank shrouds and sharp lower cowl. While we are not sure if this one is small enough to be categorised as a ‘Monkey’, its diminutive size is enough to stress out the muscles of taller riders if they rode one for a long duration.
Some other styling highlights include golden coloured front forks, an LED taillight, an underbelly exhaust, an underbelly pan, designer alloy wheels and a single-piece saddle with a strap in the middle. The latest iteration of Z125 is available in three colour options including Metallic Flat Spark Black, Pearl Shining Yellow and a dual-tone Pearl Robotic White/Candy Plasma Blue.
2022 Kawasaki Z125 PRO
What enhances its sporty appeal are the funky body graphics on tank shrouds. In terms of features, it gets a semi-digital instrument with a digital LCD screen and an analogue tachometer with an integrated fuel gauge and gear position indicator.
Mechanical Specs
2022 Kawasaki Z125 Pro derives its energy from a 125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which generates 14.5 bhp and 9.62 Nm of peak torque. This motor is paired with a 4-speed gearbox.
Suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks at front and an adjustable mono-shock at rear. Anchorage is carried out by petal-shaped disc brakes of 200mm and 184mm rotors at front and rear respectively. Unfortunately, there is no ABS to assist the disc brakes.
Honda Grom Specs
In comparison to Z125 Pro, the recently updated Honda Grom is powered by a 9.57 bhp and 10.9 Nm of peak torque. The mini moto is coupled with a 4-speed gearbox. Riding on 12-inch wheels, the bike is supported by 31mm USD forks and a rear monoshock. Braking duties are handled by 220mm and 190mm disc brakes at the front and rear, respectively. More

2021 Kawasaki ZX25RKawasaki Ninja ZX-25R is by far the most powerful quarter-litre superbike in the global market
Kawasaki has launched the latest 2021 iteration of Ninja ZX-25R with an updated colour palette in Indonesia. The baby Ninja made its global debut in July last year and has richly earned applauds from all quarters. The fully-faired motorcycle is exclusively made in Indonesia and is currently retailed in a few select international markets.
New Colour Options
The 250cc lightweight supersport motorcycle has been termed as an efficient track machine as well as a good daily commuter. It is retailed in two trims-Standard and Special Edition. For 2021, the Japanese superbike manufacturer has introduced new paint schemes. The Standard version is available only in Metallic Spark Black finish.
On the other hand, the top-spec model of ZX-25R Special Edition is offered in three colour options including Lime green/Pearl blizzard white, metallic graphene steel gray, and probably the most attractive of them all Passion red/pearl blizzard white.
Other than the updated colour palette there has been no changes made to this mini sports bike. The motorcycle retains its overall design in its latest iteration. In fact, its design is somewhat similar to the standard Ninja 400.
2021 Kawasaki ZX25R
Prices for the 2021 iteration of ZX-25R starts at IDR 98,850,000 (approx. INR 5.10 lakh) for the standard non-ABS trim and IDR 116,000,000 (approx. INR 6 lakh) for the Special Edition variant which comes with ABS. While there are a host of entry-level quarter-litre superbikes in the market, it holds a unique distinction of packing an inline-4 cylinder liquid-cooled 250cc engine underneath.
ZX-25R Specs & Features
The 250cc motor delivers a mind-boggling 51 bhp at 15,500rpm and a peak torque of 22.9 Nm at 14,500 rpm. This unit is paired to a 6-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch for smooth and precise gearshifts.
Speaking of its hardware, its suspension setup comprises 37mm USD forks from Showa with Separate Function Fork-Big Piston at front whereas a backlink gas-charged shock absorber with spring preload adjustability is placed at rear.
Braking is taken care of by a 310 mm radially mounted single disc brake with four pistons at the front and a 220 mm single rotor with a single calliper at the rear wheel. A dual-channel ABS handles safety but only in the top trim. Ninja ZX-25R has a very accessible saddle height of 785mm. At a kerb weight of 182kg, it is interestingly heavier than Ninja 300 and Ninja 400. Some of the features on offer include traction control, a bi-directional quick-shifter, electronic throttle valves and power modes. More

2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R BS6Kawasaki Ninja H2R has no direct rival in the Indian market and has been strictly built for track usage
Kawasaki has announced the prices for the 2021 Ninja H2R in India. The track focussed motorcycle has been tagged at a whopping price of Rs. 79.90 lakh (ex-showroom) which is Rs 4 lakh dearer than the outgoing model. Since it has been built exclusively for track enthusiasts, Ninja H2R gets no headlights, turn indicators, rearview mirrors or a pillion seat.
Aerodynamic Design
Over the same styling of its predecessor has been carried forward. This includes notable design highlights such as aerodynamic winglets, sharp front fairing, rider-only saddle and a single-sided swingarm. The aerodynamic blades are positioned in a place that is otherwise occupied by wing mirrors.
The single-sided swingarm allows the exhaust muffler to be mounted closer to the bike centreline instead of adopting an underbelly design. The sports bike wears the same Mirror Coated Matte Spark Black paint just as the previous iteration of the motorcycle. Being a track-only bike, it is offered with an extremely committed riding posture hence features supporting pads on the saddle as back support to the rider during acceleration.
Dynamics ALA-MotoGP
For a litre-class motorcycle, it tips the weighing scales at a mere 216kg making it extremely nimble with a fuel tank capacity of 17 litres. The new Ninja H2R rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels on both ends which are wrapped around by 120/600 front and 190/650 rear sections of rubber. The steel Trellis frame underpinning H2R has suspended on 43mm upside-down forks at front and an Ohlins TTX36 gas-charged mono-shock at rear- both fully adjustable, which perform suspension duties.
2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R BS6
The motorcycle also benefits from an additional Ohlins electronic steering damper. Braking hardware comprises dual 330mm disc brakes at front chewed by four-piston Brembo M50 Monobloc calipers and a single 250mm rotor with two-piston Brembo caliper at rear. The sophisticated track-friendly dynamics are aided by a very powerful motor underneath.
Lightning Performance
The motorcycle retains the same 998cc, inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that pumps out 306 bhp at 14,000rpm and a peak torque of 165 Nm at 12,500rpm. The provision of a ram air intake pushes the peak power output to 322 bhp.
This engine is coupled with a six-speed gearbox which benefits from a slipper and an assist clutch along with a bi-directional quick-shifter for super aggressive shifts. The engine required unleaded petrol with an octane rating of RON95 or higher.
Performance is further aided by a plethora of ride-aided electronics controlled by a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sourced from Bosch. The IMU setup consists of cornering ABS, a multi-level Traction control system, slide control, launch control, wheelie control, and engine brake control. Additionally, the IMU gets a bank angle display and a recording function for maximum bank angle on the instrument cluster. More

Image for reference
Currently, at a price of Rs 3.18 lakh (ex-showroom), Ninja 300 acts as the entry-level product of Kawasaki in India
While Kawasaki is fending off competition from other superbike brands across the globe, the best way to counter them is to press the foot down and launch new attractive products for itself. The iconic Japanese moniker was able to pull a large section of riders by launching its entry-level supersport motorcycle Ninja ZX-25R in Asia and Australia in July last year.
The range also comprises other middleweight supersport bikes such as Ninja ZX-6R and Ninja ZX-10R. With all three motorcycles widely applauded for their performance and dynamics, rumours suggest that Team Green is now planning to expand the ZX lineup by introducing a new Ninja ZX-4R.
New Ninja ZX-4R
Reports indicate that this new Ninja ZX-4R will most likely be based on the smaller ZX-25R instead of the larger ZX-6R in order to keep the cost in check in various markets across the world. Ninja 25-R’s platform could prove to be more cost-effective since it can be extended to accommodate a slightly bigger model. For example, the front alloy wheel can house a dual disc set-up which could double up the anchorage power for ZX-4R.
Updated Powertrain
The ZX-4R, like other models in the series, will be powered by a high-revving inline four-cylinder motor but carrying a displacement of 400cc. Murmurs going around claim that this engine has been built by enlarging the bore of the ZX-25R while also adding a new set of crank and pistons.
Kawasaki ZX25R
This will be complemented by an updated ECU to ramp up the power and torque output. However, no official output figures have been revealed yet.
While ZX-25R pushes out 50 bhp, the enlarged motor in ZX-4R could likely churn out 65 horses. This would make it around 20 bhp more powerful than the 400cc parallel-twin motor of the standard Ninja 400.
Figures like these would put it against the likes of more premium supersport motorcycles such as Aprilia RS660 and the upcoming Yamaha R7. To handle the extra firepower, Ninja ZX-4R could be equipped with more premium hardware.
Updated Dynamics
This will include a pair of inverted forks at front, a linked mono-shock at rear, twin front discs with radial calipers and a single disc at rear. It is also likely to offer features like a bi-directional quick-shifter, a traction control system and multiple riding modes as standard. At this point in time, everything is mere speculation but if indeed such a motorcycle based on ZX-25R is in development, it shouldn’t be too long before it comes out. More