Kawasaki Z250

Z250 is a naked sports bike from Kawasaki which is specially crafted for International markets like India. It is an entry level premium naked sports bike which is now officially available in India for INR 3.09 lakhs (ex-showroom New Delhi). Let’s get into the detailing of this bike.

Design and Style

Z250 belongs to the premium Z series of Kawasaki bikes and it borrows the head turning design from its elder siblings like Z800 and Z1000. The deep positioned face and sharp side fairing of Z250 resembles a lot to its elder siblings. The V-shaped front styling of Z250 features its edgy headlight and compact tinted visor with clear lens indicators on both sides. The sharp front cowl also complements the designing of this bike. It has a short front fender which looks dynamic with noticeable lines on it. The design of its black colored alloy wheels and disc plates is similar to the full fairing version of this bike, Ninja 250. The bike features tank shrouds which further get extended into V-shaped side fairing. The exposed black finished engine and side panel suits the color scheme on this bike. The elongated fuel tank nicely merges into the split seat of Z250. The up-swept muffler and rear cowl further enhances the visual appearance of this bike. The rear cowl also features its full size LED tail light while its short rear fender carries the clear lens side indicators and number plate. The fatty rear tyre and naked chain adds muscularity to this bike while the gap between its rear tyre and cowl gives it the true essence of a street bike.

Instrument Console

The bike features a combined analogue digital instrument console which can also be seen in the new Ninja 250R. The bike has an analogue tachometer with all essential indicators placed around it. The yellow colored LCD features digital speedometer, odometer, clock, 2-trip meter and fuel gauge.

Engine and Gearbox

The twin cylinder, liquid-cooled 249cc BS4 engine of Ninja 250R makes its way to this bike. This 4-stroke, DOHC engine pumps out a power output of 31.5 bhp at 11000 rpm. The maximum torque output of 21 Nm is accessible at 10000 rpm. This bike is equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox with one gear down and five gears up-shift pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

Kawasaki Z250 is lighter than its full fairing variant as a result of which it feels on the faster side. The bike reaches 0-100km/hr in less than 7 seconds. The DOHC engine offers you strong high speed performance with high level of refinement. The bike lacks any type of vibration and harshness when rev hard. In fact, this engine has been designed to give you strong mid and high range. The power arrives at 11000 rpm which is quite enjoyable on highways. The smooth gearbox of Z250 comes with tall gear ratios which work effectively. It can easily cross the speed mark of 150km/hr in its second gear. The instant throttle reaction makes it faster than other naked bikes. It feels best around 8000 rpm in its sixth gear. The bike avoids frequent gear shifts on highways but requires some effort from you in city to maintain its momentum. The light clutch and gearbox of Z250 adds right feel to the ride of this bike. The engine sound keeps on increasing with its speed but never feels disturbing.

Mileage

You can expect anything around 20-25km/ltr.

Comfort while Driving

The low positioned handle bar and rear set foot pegs gives you sporty riding posture on this bike. The road visibility is quite clear and you will also enjoy the clear view of instrument panel. The highly fabricated seat can hold you for hours comfortably. The slim fuel tank of this bike offers nice space to your inner thighs which gives you strong hold over this bike around corners. The compact handle bar of Z250 provides firm palm grip and stays vibration less at high speeds.

Storage Space and Safety Features

The naked bike lacks any type of storage space. Its pass button and powerful headlights are its vital safety features.

Suspension and Brakes

The bike shares its suspension and braking system with Ninja 250R. It also features hydraulic telescopic forks of 37mm at its front and swing arm with gas charged mono shock absorber at the back. Z250 has a front disc brake of 290mm and single rear disc brake of 220mm. These are both petal disc brakes for advanced braking.

Ride and Handling

The bike is based on the same platform of Ninja 250R but feels completely different in terms of ride and handling. The short handle bar feels more convenient and offers light handling. The bike feels exceptionally confident around sharp corners thanks to its wheelbase of 1400mm. You can easily steer this bike through city traffic as it follows your command properly. The bike has a high ground clearance which makes it easy for you to turn this bike around corners at slow speeds. The strong suspension system also digests potholes easily and gives you the confidence to take this bike off road. It can cross most of the obstructions easily and enjoys solid road grip thanks to its fatty tubeless tyres. The bike handles brilliantly off road and keeps you away from any type of stress. The petal discs give you the complete sense of control on this bike. With precise braking and light handling, it’s a perfect city runner.

Tyre Size, Shades and Variants

The bike has 17 inches alloy wheels. Kawasaki may launch a single variant of this bike in three different colors.

Verdict

The bike has dynamic looks and offers impressive performance. Looking at the rising demand of street bikes, Z250 has bright future in India.The main rival of Kawasaki Z250 is KTM 390 Duke. The bike sounds like a good package and with a reasonable price tag from Kawasaki, there are full chances that this bike may succeed in our Indian bike market.

Infographic

VIEW FULL SIZE