Kawasaki to bring its first single-cyl, Z250SL streetbike to India soon

India Kawasaki Motors (IKM), which sells its two- and four-cylinder performance motorcycles in the local market, is now gearing up to roll out its first single-cylinder model in India. Sources say that the Japanese manufacturer plans to introduce the Z250SL model around November-December this year.

Unlike the currently available Kawasaki Z250, which is powered by a parallel-twin, 249cc, 31.5bhp engine, the Z250SL is powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, 249cc powertrain that is estimated to deliver a peak power output in the range of 26-28bhp.

Besides sporting a single-cylinder engine, the lightweight and compact high-tensile steel trellis frame enables the Z250SL to weigh almost 20kg less than the Z250 model. According to Kawasaki’s global website, the Z250SL weighs 148kg for non-ABS version and 150kg for the ABS variant. The model also benefits from lightweight wheels with slim tyres.

“The rear wheel design saves approximately 500 grams in unsprung weight as compared to that of the Z250. The slim tyres are chosen for their contribution to the bike’s light, nimble handling,” claims the Kawasaki Japan website.

In an official communication to Autocar Professional, IKM’s spokesperson Shigeto Nishikawa, deputy managing director of the Indian arm of the Japanese company, refused to comment about the model.

Although, Autocar Professional learns that while the company is aiming for a rollout of Z250SL around Diwali to facilitate a good launch pad for this model during the festive season, much would depend on the readiness of local operations that involves assembly of locally sourced content as well as the imports from Thailand.

A source close to the development, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that “components such as handlebars, clutch plates, front and rear suspensions, wheels, tyres, head- and tail-lamps, electrical switches, switch housings, radiator fans and other similar parts may be locally sourced for the Z250SL. The engine and engine parts are, on the other hand, will be imported from Thailand. Kawasaki is working on localising this model to keep costs low and is sharing the part vendors of Bajaj Auto. Also, the single-cylinder engine will ensure that this model (Z250SL) would be the most affordable model from Kawasaki ever.”

The sources also confirm that Kawasaki, which is currently evaluating and fine-tuning the model for Indian conditions, is aiming at a price bracket of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for the Z250SL.

Z250 to continue to be sold in India

In view of the upcoming single-cylinder 249cc model, Nishikawa also communicated that the more expensive twin-cylinder 249cc Z250, which has a localisation content of up to 40 percent, will not be discontinued by the company.

“We don’t have any plan to discontinue the Z250,” reads his clarification on the same.

It can be recalled that at the launch of the Z250 in Pune in October last year, Nishikawa had told Autocar Professional that he had planned to sell close to 300 units of the model in one year’s time. However, it is estimated that Kawasaki has independently garnered sales of close to 150 units of this model until July 2015. The company official had also, last year, informed that the Z250 model would be sold via Bajaj Auto’s Probiking showrooms. Accurate sales numbers of the Z250 for the last 10 months, hence, remain unknown.

Once launched later this year the Kawasaki Z250SL will potentially compete with the single-cylinder 199.5cc, 25bhp KTM Duke 200, Honda’s single-cylinder 249cc, 26bhp CBR250R and other models in the entry level performance bike market.