Kawasaki To Impress India

Kawasaki, the Japanese Auto Giant, currently makes its fortunes in a slightly discreet mode in India. Despite the company manufacturing world-class bikes with superior features and performance, its tryst with India still lacks that earth shattering punch. However, Kawasaki is readying itself to deliver what was much needed from its part to settle the dues by bringing in its first single cylinder bike – the Z250SL to India.





Among the cheapest offerings from Kawasaki, the Z250 and the Ninja 300 are the ones that figure on top of the list. The reason behind most of its products being slightly higher up in pricing is because of the fact that it sources its product parts from outside India, which would then be assembled in India (CKD). Coming to the Z250SL, the latest offering that is said to be on its way to the subcontinent, the bike could be called as a sibling of the original Z250. On comparison, the Z250SL has one cylinder taken off from its engine, making it the first single-cylinder bike from Kawasaki to come to India; the headlights, the first thing that catches the eye have been restyled to make it a single headlamp cluster, unlike the usual double headlamp. Powering the Z250SL would be a 249cc single-cylinder engine, which would be imported from Thailand. It could produce 27 BHP of power and 23 Nm of Torque. In addition to that, the bike would feature a fuel tank with a capacity of 11 litres. With the importance of ABS starting to be a mandate for almost all riders, Kawasaki would be offering the bike in two variants, viz. ABS-equipped and non-ABS. Kawasaki claims that the Z250SL is lighter than its sibling by a big 20 kilos, owing to the special high-tensile steel that was used to design its trellis frame, which the bike is based upon.



It is indeed high time Kawasaki realized that the entry-level performance segment is the best bet currently in the Indian market. A host of other manufacturers have evidently made it big in this segment alone, and Kawasaki could certainly live it to the fullest if it does bring the single-cylinder Z250 to India. With Bajaj handling Kawasaki in India, the company aims at severely cutting costs by relying more on local vendors for parts that does not interfere with the mechanicals that include lights, handlebar, tyres, wheels and so on and so forth. Kawasaki also plans to launch the fully faired version of the Z250SL, known as the Ninja 250RR Mono. Kawasaki will have to fight it out from now on, especially during a time when the entry level segment is already occupied by many of the world's best. Sources have said that the bike would feature in the sub Rs 2 lakh range, making it the cheapest bike to own from Kawasaki.