Kawasaki has launched a new variant, called the KRT Edition, of the 2017 Ninja 650 in India. The KRT tag, an abbreviation for the Kawasaki Racing Team, has been lent to a small range of Kawasaki motorcycles previously and the Ninja 650 is the latest one to get it.

The new variant is purely a cosmetic update to the recently revised Ninja 650 and features two new decals, a prominent ‘650’ in yellow on the flanks  and a Kawasaki Racing Team decal on the underbelly fairing. The rest of the motorcycle is unchanged from the standard variant and is priced at Rs 5.49 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India), which is Rs 16,000 more than the standard version.

The Ninja 650’s popularity is down it its 649cc motor and also its relaxed ergonomics. The motor, a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, produces 67.3hp at 8,000rpm and 65.7Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. What makes the Ninja 650 a versatile entry-level premium motorcycle is also its friendly 790mm seat height, a 15-litre fuel tank and a manageable 196kg kerb weight, which makes it enjoyable within the city and out on the highway in equal measure. The Ninja 650 KRT Edition will be available alongside the existing model and will not be sold in limited numbers.