After going all out with the Ninja H2, Kawasaki seems to have shifted its focus towards more ‘affordable’ motorcycles. Latest reports suggest that the Japanese manufacturer is now planning to add two middleweights – the Vulcan S and the Ninja ZX-6R 636, and a quarter-litre naked – the Z250 SL, to its line-up.
The Ninja ZX-6R 636 is a middleweight superbike that takes its design inspiration from its elder litre-class sibling, the ZX-10R. Built around a pressed-aluminium perimeter frame, it is powered by a four-stroke inline-four 636cc engine. This engine churns out 129bhp and 71Nm of torque through a six-speed cassette gearbox. The suspension setup is made of 41 mm inverted forks in the front and a Bottom-Link Uni-Trak gas-charged monoshock at the rear. The Ninja ZX-6R 636 comes with a three-mode Kawasaki Traction Control system, Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System and a slipper clutch. In India, it will compete with the only other middleweight superbike – the Triumph Daytona 675.
The Z250 SL (Sports Light) is a quarter-litre naked motorcycle, which will be the entry-level model in Kawasaki’s Indian line-up. Built around a trellis frame, the Z250 SL’s design has been heavily influenced by the elder siblings like the Z250 and the Z800. It is powered by a 249cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled fuel-injected mill that produces 27.6bhp and 23Nm of torque.
The Kawasaki Vulcan S is an entry-level middleweight motorcycle and sits at the bottom of the Vulcan cruiser range. Powered by a retuned version of the 649cc parallel twin engine, which is also used in the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and ER-6n, the Vulcan S produces 61bhp and 62Nm of torque through a six-speed gearbox.
The Vulcan S gets adjustable seats, handlebars and foot pegs with three settings, making it suitable for riders of different heights. It gets cast alloy units that are painted in black with a stripe in Kawasaki’s signature green. Kawasaki will offer the Vulcan S with a host of accessories like luggage racks, saddlebags, windscreens and passenger seats among others. It will compete with the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and the Hyosung Aquila Pro.
