The Kawasaki Z250 sports identical styling cues to its elder sibling, the Z800, a naked streetbike with minimal body panels and sharp, edgy styling.
A compact cowl with a petite visor houses the multi-reflector headlamp that adds to the bike’s mean glare. The instrument cluster encloses a large analogue tachometer with an LCD display for the speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, fuel gauge and a clock. The powder-coated black handlebar mounts comprehensive switchgear and levers finished in alloy. The muscular Z-style shrouds covering the engine enhance the overall impact created by this quarter-litre naked bike, and the 17-litre fuel tank has considerably raised flanks that blend into the tank at the lower end. The Z250 is provided with split seats and a slim rear end, similar to the Kawasaki Ninja 300.
The quarter-litre Z is powered by a 249cc, four-stroke, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine with a fuel-injection system and dual throttle valve technology to enhance fuel efficiency. Expect the Z250 to produce similar power figures as the phased out Ninja 250R, in the region of 33bhp. This power reaches the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox.
The 250cc Kwacker is held together by a steel fabricated frame, with telescopic front forks and a monoshock at rear, allied to a rectangle-section swingarm. The new 250cc motorcycle shows off ten-spoke alloy wheels, front and rear, with single petal discs at both ends. There’s a 110/70 x 17 inch tyre in front and 140/70 section unit at the rear, similar to the Kawasaki Ninja 300.
The Z250 is expected to hit showrooms by mid 2014, and should come in as the most affordable bike from Kawasaki in India to date.
Detailed report of the bike after we get astride it.
Karan Narsu