Kawasaki is reportedly planning on launching a 175cc motorcycle to our shores soon. We can expect the given motorcycle to arrive in 2021, possibly during the first half of the year. Sources say that the motorcycle in question could be the W175, which is sold in a few markets across Asia.
The W175 is basically a retro-styled cruiser motorcycle, which is quite popular in other Asian markets. The segment here is slowly gaining recognition here, with many companies bringing affordable cruisers of their own to go with the flow. Kawasaki is next in line and the company does feel that this could be the right time in doing so.
The W175 is one of Kawasaki’s most affordable products available there. It retails at a price of Rp.29.9 Million in the Indonesian market, which is equivalent to Rs.1.5 lakh here. Thus, we can expect the motorcycle to more or less sport the same price tag when it gets launched in India.
Engine-wise, the W175 employs a 177cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor. This can produce 13 BHP of power and 13.2 Nm of torque. It does come mated to a 5-speed gearbox, which also has a balancer shaft in order to reduce any sort of vibrations.
However, the given engine is to be updated to the BS-VI emission norms when it makes its presence in our market. This could eventually result in a change in its power and torque figures, which could be lower than its international version. The W175 could feature heavy levels of localisation like in other markets, which could turn to it being quite an affordable product for its segment.
When launched, it will be taking on the upcoming Royal Enfield Sherpa 250, Benelli Imperiale 250, Honda H’ness 350 and the popular Royal Enfield Classic 350. The W175 will in turn also bring some sort of nostalgia here, since it will be the first 175cc product coming from the Kawasaki stable since the Eliminator, launched way back in 2002. While the Eliminator did not get the success it craved for, Kawasaki will hope for the W175 to break their jinx in the 175cc space here.
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GALLERY: Kawasaki W175
