The Z250 is a 250cc naked from Kawasaki and it has proven mechanical bits from the Ninja 250. It competes with the Benelli TNT 300 and the KTM 390 Duke - both relative newcomers to the segment.
The Z250 generates 31.5bhp and 21Nm from a 249cc parallel twin engine - the Benelli TNT300 also follows the same engine configuration, for 38bhp and 26.5Nm from 1 more cc. The Duke gives up one cylinder but has more displacement at 373cc. It wins the power and torque war by making 43bhp and 37Nm. It is also the lightest, at 163kg. The Z250 is a mere 5kg heavier, at 168kg. The TNT weighs the most, at 196kg. Both the twins offer high-revving motors that need to be wrung to extract the most performance out of them. The Austrian has a fatter torque curve thanks to its single-cylinder motor, so it offers the most in-gear acceleration, especially at low revs.
The two twins also offer part-digital, part-analog instrumentation, but the KTM leapfrogs into the future with its TFT LCD colour screen display. The KTM also offers switchable ABS from its brakes, which include radially-mounted front callipers. The Kawasaki is the only one here without upside-down forks. Coming back to features, the KTM also offers an LED headlamp and ABS that can be configured to an 'enduro' mode which switches off only the rear ABS. The Benelli has the most soulful exhaust note here, managing to sound like more than just two cylinders with its howl at high revs, but the Z250 offers a taste of what a big bike feels like.
The Z250 and TNT 300 both retail for Rs 3.2 lakh, while the 390 Duke retails for Rs 2.3 lakh, ex-showroom, Mumbai.
