- Kawasaki W175 spied testing for the second time
- India launch could take place later this year
- Will compete against Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Jawa Standard
Kawasaki was spied testing the W175 modern classic motorcycle for the second time in India. The previous spotting had taken place in November last year. While the India launch details are not known yet, rumours suggest that Kawasaki will introduce it here later this year. Once launched, it will compete against the likes of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the Jawa Standard.
The W175 is already available in a few international markets and the test mule spotted in India looks almost identical to that bike. But the one spied here carries minor differences like a handlebar that’s pulled further back, a larger grab rail and a saree guard that’s mandatory in India. The overall retro design of the bike is inspired by its larger sibling, the W800 available in India. It gets a round headlamp, a peanut-shaped fuel tank, ribbed pattern seat, a peashooter-style exhaust, and wire spoke wheels.
Powering the W175 is a 177cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that churns out 12.9bhp at 7,500rpm and 13.2Nm of peak torque at 6,000rpm. The engine is linked to a five-speed transmission. It’s also pretty basic in terms of cycle parts with telescopic forks at the front, dual shock absorbers at the rear, and a single disc brake.
Despite being a small 175cc machine, the W175 is unlikely to be priced attractively since Kawasaki doesn’t have a manufacturing facility in India. Expect the bike to cost somewhere around Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom).
