The popular Japanese motorcycle brand, Kawasaki, seems ready to expand its offerings in India, especially in the sub-500cc segment. Recently, Kawasaki launched the Eliminator 400 in India priced at Rs. 5.62 lakh (ex-showroom). Now, there are talks of reintroducing an ADV model based on the Ninja 300 platform.
Where will the Versys X-300 be aimed?
India has previously seen the Kawasaki Versys X-300 available for sale, albeit at a higher price. Being based on the Ninja 300, many parts were shared between the two models. This trend appears to continue with the new Kawasaki Versys X-300, which has been spotted testing around Pune.
Adventure and lifestyle bikes have become increasingly popular recently. Royal Enfield and Hero MotoCorp found success with the Himalayan and Xpulse 200 respectively. Alongside these winners, there have been challengers like the Yezdi Adventure, KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G 310 GS, Triumph Scrambler 400X, and the new Himalayan 450.
Honda also entered the multi-cylinder ADV/Tourer-style motorcycle segment with the NX500, priced at Rs. 5.9 lakh (ex-showroom). Currently, Kawasaki's ADV-style bike for the mainstream market is the Versys 650, priced at Rs. 7.77 lakh. If priced around Rs. 4 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kawasaki Versys X-300 could create a nice middle ground between the Himalayan 450 and Honda NX500.
Spotted Testing: Kawasaki Versys X-300
Kawasaki currently sells the Versys X-300 in international markets. A test mule has been spotted around Pune, India, bearing a strong resemblance to the global model. The Kawasaki Versys X-300 is expected to be a Sports Touring/Adventure bike. This assumption is supported by the test engineer wearing sporty riding gear including knee sliders.
The bike features a single-pod headlight and a tall transparent windscreen for wind protection. The test engineer appears to be comfortably seated with an upright riding position and centre-set footpegs suggesting a comfortable setup for long rides.
The front suspension consists of conventional telescopic forks, while a mono-shock handles the rear. The global model comes with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoke wheel setup, which was also observed in the India-spec model. However, some wish the tires were thicker, as the 100-section front and 130-section rear tires seem slim for a Rs. 4 lakh motorcycle.
While 125cc and 160cc bikes are getting USD telescopic front forks and LED lighting, it's less likely that Kawasaki will implement both on the Versys X-300. However, what's expected is the Ninja 300's 296cc DOHC liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, producing around 39 bhp and 26 Nm, paired with a slipper clutch and 6-speed gearbox. The launch is anticipated by the end of 2024.