Kawasaki updates Z1000, Z250, launches hotter Z1000 R

Kawasaki updates Z1000, Z250, launches hotter Z1000 R

We’re running out of places to put our free Kawasaki pens

Another week, another Kawasaki launch. As the searing heat hitting Maharashtra abates slightly, we were invited back to Pune once again for another Kawasaki launch on April 22. This time round, it was to fill the gaps left by the previous (very recent) 2017 model launch.

The Kawasaki Z1000 is a big bruiser of a sport naked, built around a wailing one litre inline-four motor and wrapped in weird, transformer-like bodywork that the Japanese manufacturer calls “Sugomi” styling. It’s got street cred, but not as much in terms of bells and whistles. Kawasaki has updated it for 2017, bringing it up to BS4-spec and tweaking it slightly. The mirrors are a new design and more useful, the front forks have been tweaked to provide a more supple ride, brake pads are new for better feel and the rear suspension gets a new linkage system like its smaller 2017 brethren — adding 13mm to wheel travel. Other additions include a gear indicator, shift light, revised ECU mapping (likely necessary for BS4 compliance) and 12/24z hour clock. Yes, they put that in the feature list.

The bigger surprise — though not for us, because we read email carefully — was the introduction of the hotter Z1000 R, available in two exclusive colours: metallic spark black and metallic graphite grey. Thankfully, there’s more to the bike than paint and decals. Both the standard version and the R have the same 142PS/111Nm motor and 41mm fully-adjustable shocks, but with the R, you get the coveted Öhlins logo prominently displayed on the side panel, thanks to the trademark yellow adjustable S46DR1S shock out back. Up front, we get top-spec Brembo M50 monoblock calipers with new rotors designed for rigidity and improved heat dissipation. Braided steel lines are a given.

Both Z1000 variants remain stubbornly basic in terms of electronics while the competition goes digital. You get ABS, and that’s it. No rider modes, no traction control, no adult supervision. You alone are master of your destiny, your embarrassing lowsides and hopefully not much else.

Kawasaki also announced the BS4-compliant Z250, but there’s so little to talk about there that they didn’t even bring it out for photos. But we have a price.

Prices (ex-showroom)

Kawasaki Z1000: ₹14.49 lac
Kawasaki Z1000 R: ₹15.49 lac
Kawasaki Z250: ₹3.09 lac