Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Those numbers are in the ballpark of Moto3 bikes, aren't they? Hard to believe as that will pack some serious tech. And even if they do, I hardly see it coming to the Indian shores.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Indian shores! It won't ever reach here like that. Such power-packed small bikes are useful for the western nations, which cap the displacement in accordance with rider level.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Normally speaking, more cylinders (like 4) means each cylinder has lesser cc (like 250/4 = just 62.5cc) and can rev higher due to lesser piston travel...

Theoretically, this is truth.

Practically too, BUT. The 90's were a different era with lesser regulations and today, there are following implications:-


1. To get it to 19000 rpm means a very lightweight & strong crank and engine setup, because a Kawasaki is expected to be smooth and reliable. Tough! And this means exotic materials, extensive testing and heavy cost!!

2. Pneumatic air valves are almost compulsory at this level of revs. And 16 of them, no less. Adds to cost!

3. Fuel injection is a necessity to meet emissions. But its just not enough. You need heavy catalytic converters in the exhaust. Plus, it might be regeared just to meet emissions. And I hope they pass emissions after all this, because there's a chance they won't.

4. All this would mean that we're probably looking at a very high price tag, a reasonably heavy machine that achieves a power which can be achieved by a far lighter 600cc single by KTM for far lesser cash.
Put it together and I'm not seeing a ex showroom tag of less than Rs. 6-7 Lacs anyhow (abroad, not here).


But all hope is not lost.


The latest Kawasaki Ninja 400 suggests that a change is happening within. They also made the legendary H2, so I would only say, maybe they have some tricks up their sleeve?
It should be a fun machine though, not Moto3 but fun!

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Drool-worthy! Awesome, and would get that 4 cylinder growl!

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

This has all the hallmarks of becoming a runaway success world over, following the same success philosophy of Duke 390. That is fun thrilling performance within a smaller engine capacity, at a accessible price point. This shouldn't ideally cross more than ₹4.99 lakhs on road when coming to India.

Seeing the earlier 90's motorcycle ZXR250 videos on youtube, this will easily put a smile on your face with that sweet 4 cylinder sound. And that F1 like sound when touching 19,000rpm is just blissful. It also sounds like an angry ZX10R at just 25-50kmph, haha!

Considering they've been testing for more than 6 years now, they would've figured out a way to pass strict EURO6 norms.

I'm more interested in the naked version of the same, will look like a mini Z900 with the Sugomi styling.

Cheers!

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

It's like all going back to good old days of the 90's! When we had those crazy 4 cylinder 250cc bikes, 6 cylinder Honda CB1000X.

In case if someone does not know, the smallest 4-cylinder bike that is till currently on sale in 2019 is the Honda CB400 and CB400 SF, it has never crossed the Japanese shores and redlines at 13K rpm and has max rpm of 15K rpm!

Kawasaki has been doing some great innovative and out of the box things in last decade like with supercharged H2R, added to that now a 4 cylinder 250cc bike from Kawasaki will be one of the most exciting things to look forward to in coming days.

Every other manufacturing is struggling with slow and low sales for their bike 1000+ cc bikes and the market is dying due to their bad reputation. Future is all with either electric or down-sizing is the way to go forward, we are already seeing this trend with Car engines are getting down-sized losing a cylinder left and right and adding turbos to it to make up for lost power.

KTM showed us you don't need bikes to have fun and like every experienced rider says you don't need more than 600cc be it in any part of the world. I know people who sold superbikes and have gotten smaller 400-800cc bikes. Even Harely wants to make 338cc bikes now for the same reason to cater to down-sizing and shirking big bike market. BMW already got their smallest 310cc bike ready.

600cc is going to become the new 1000cc equivalent.
250cc with 4 cylinders/twins/hybrid assist? is going to be the new 600cc segment equivalent.

Looking forward to this bike, even though it might never ever cross Indian Airspace in the first place, forget landing here.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Of course, they were amazing. Let me know what you think about my earlier post though. As of now, Ninja 400, an inline twin cylinder that makes max power @ 10krpm, is costing 4.99L Ex showroom, not on road.


So, what makes you believe a high quality, 2 more cylinder, more powerful, faster Kawasaki shall be the one to be priced lesser, that too not presently, but in some distant future with inflation added?
Wish to know your opinion on the same.

In India, it is opposite. We're choosing Litre class over 600cc.
The source is a reliable guy over my FB, the last month sales figures for 600-1000cc bikes showed that ZX6R sold just 8 units, while ZX10R did 44 units, Hayabusa did 30 units.
The bestsellers? Yup, the 650 twins from Royal Enfield, around 32k or so.


Also, worldwide more 600's have been discontinued over 1000's, the little margin is not worth the investment in Euro 4 compliance.
I think only Kawasaki & Yamaha remains. Triumph are expected to be back with a 765cc, probably targeting Euro 6 directly, but no concrete news yet.


All the time people were nuts that why not sell 600 instead of 1000. Now that a 600cc is here officially, why aren't these guys seen in the showrooms with their chequebooks??
That's why companies can't take opinions from forums & facebook, you see!
When customers actually reach the showroom, they see that ZX10R has amazing electronics to manage the power, plus reduced chassis dimensions almost like a 600, increased resale value, better low end torque, cc frame of mind, etc.

So, ZX6R being the only "competitive" 600cc in the Indian market right now, doesn't sell all that well. God knows where we're going.


My opinion is, expect a thunderous welcome, a lot of interest, lots of test ride requests too.
But do not expect that much sales at the prices expected from this kind of engineering. And have less expectations of this launching in India, although Kawasaki's recent actions suggest otherwise.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Well said Sir, True that companies can't rely on words from keyboard warriors from forums and YouTube/FB.

I remember all the hype for a sub ₹2L on-road priced 373cc bike, which was never unheard of and a new feat in form of Dominar. Which made the manufacturer to believe and claim that they will sell is 10K units per month, but when it actually showed up to showrooms we all know how that story ended up.

Even with RR310 all the hype on social media, forums based on testing prototype leaks, but the number of those people converting into actual bookings were less than 5% of the crowd.

Same goes when I'm paying 12L for a 600cc, I'd rather pay 3-4L more and get a 1000cc instead because we are Indians and we want most bang for buck, the price differential is not more than 20-30%.
But say if the 600cc was at 50-60% cost of a 1000cc, then things would be a different story.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

You won't believe, even my Duke 390 was a hair below 2 Lacs on road, It was 1.96L.

Your post made me think....

We all know how iron is as cheap as ₹1.5/ kg in our country, or anywhere, so alloys/ materials is not the big cost. The involved R&D is the bigger cost. This means that most competition 4 cylinder motorcycles will be priced close to each other, whether 600 or 1000.
Sad fact.

And you can definitely get a 600cc at 50-60% of its price, except it won't be a lightweight, corner craving monster. Like Benelli 600i, etc. R&D is the thing!


BUT, the positive side to this fact is, you can go for a 1400cc for just a little cash above litre class, that's 400 extra cc's- case in point, Hayabusa.


In the end, I think these are isolated machines and no one can replace the other... The slower machine is more agile, the faster is more rigid. And the weight too.

I would still want to keep a ZX6R if I had a choice, although I'm not sure how I'll react at the showroom.

Re: On the Kawasaki ZX-25R 2020: 4 Cylinder 250cc - First picture from Japan

Looks like the brother of ZX6R! Power figures not revealed yet.. Should be close to 50bhp i reckon..