A parallel twin hogs the ‘Kawa Lime-light’!

There has been a fair amount of jostling around in the quarter-litre class of motorcycles over the past couple of years. Kawasaki, as we should all remember was one of the first serious contenders in the space with the superb Ninja 250R. It was beyond question as far as credentials were concerned and the smallest ‘superbike’ that you could own. As the years have gone by, many have come and gone. Some made a bit of an impression, while one stayed to rule the roost, and it isn’t even a quarter-litre. Yes, the KTM Duke sneaks in a mention if there’s any debate about a 200cc-plus motorcycle. And while KTM has gone from the Duke to the RC, Kawasaki has chosen to go the other way. Step in the Z250. And it hopes to rekindle some magic for Kawasaki.

Design This ‘Kawacker’ bears a fair amount of resemblance with its bigger stable mate, the Z800, especially with the angular headlamp and the muscular fuel tank. It doesn’t sport a twin-port exhaust, like the Z800, but it sounds pretty impressive when you get it to sing at higher revs. The seat height is perfect and the forward bias just enough to make the Z250 comfortable for a long jaunt. The grab rails at the rear are neatly tucked into the tail section of the body work and there are enough hooks and recesses to allow you to bungee your luggage for a longer ride.

Engine, Ride, Handling Twin-cylinder small capacity motorcycles are always great fun to ride, and the Z250 just goes a step further to prove it. There isn’t much in the way of bottom-end grunt, but get the parallel-twin to rev past 7,000rpm and there is a meaty mid-range to exploit followed by a massively exciting and noisy redline. Power, all 32bhp of it, comes in at a lofty 11,000rpm while the 21Nm of torque is delivered at a similarly peaky 9,000rpm. Mated to a superbly smooth six-speed gearbox, the Z250 is a joy to shift through cogs to keep it constantly on the boil. The ride quality, however, is pretty harsh and even the smallest cracks and bits of broken tarmac on the road ride right through your system. Handling, on the other hand, is pretty good and its predictable nature allows you to have your way with it. You can chuck it into a corner and lean harder than you had imagined and still come out the other side with a broad smile on your face.

Verdict But, it is the Z250s ability to deliver the big motorcycle feel, which is the most impressive. The build quality seems solid and fit and finish is excellent. The high revving motor and the six-speed gearbox are smooth and easy to use. And the matte green paint is simply exquisite. The 37mm telescopic shocks at the front and the monoshock at the rear are set up for a stiff ride and the petal discs with great stopping power help haul in the bike comfortably for a great riding experience. However, at ₹ 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), one needs to be reminded that the Z250 does not offer ABS and essentially uses the older Ninja 250R motor. Moreover, Kawasaki hasn’t bothered with a digital rev counter or LEDs for turn signal or brake lights, all of which make the Z250 look and feel a bit outdated, especially for something that costs a fair amount of money. So, if you do decide to shell out twice the cash, compared to a Duke, for a Kawasaki, wouldn’t you rather spend a little more and get the faster, improved and special Ninja 300?

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