Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R: All You Need To Know

[Update: Kawasaki has launched the Ninja ZX-25 in Indonesia. Know prices and more details here.]

The small 250cc Ninja managed to steal the limelight at Kawasaki’s Tokyo Motor Show booth. So what’s so interesting about this one? We tell you in five simple points 

This year’s Tokyo Motor Show was quite dull as major manufacturers failed to bring anything exciting. However, Kawasaki wasn’t one of them even though it brought just two brand motorcycles with it: the all-new Z H2 and the Ninja ZX-25R. Now, we already knew what the Z H2 was going to be like, but what surprised us was the quarter-litre pocket rocket from the Japanese bike maker. Because how often do you come across a 250cc inline-four motorcycle? Here are the five things that you need to know about this insane track tamer:

Is powered by a 250cc inline-four! 

Even before its unveiling, the ZX-25R was in the news for quite some time thanks to its engine. It’s currently the only motorcycle in its segment to get a 250cc liquid-cooled, inline-four motor. Kawasaki hasn’t revealed the specs yet but if rumours are to be believed, this powerplant will produce around 60PS! That’s 11PS more than the Ninja 400. Talk about sibling rivalry.

Gets top-notch components:

It’s pretty easy to confuse the ZX-25R with the other bigger Ninjas because of the top-notch cycle parts that it’s boasting of. Suspension duties are handled by a Showa SFF-BP fork at the front and a horizontal backlink monoshock, both of which could be fully adjustable. It comes equipped with a trellis frame, which seems to be similar to that of the Ninja 400. Stopping power comes from disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS is offered as an extra safety net. It comes shod with Dunlop Sportmax tyres. 

Comes with tonnes of electronic goodies!

If the rumoured power figure is true, then there needs to be some sort of electronic intervention to tame this pocket rocket, right? Well, how do Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) and different power modes sound to you? Moreover, it gets a quickshifter as well! 

Looks Too Similar To The Ninja 400:

We had hoped for Kawasaki to give the ZX-25R a mean and aggressive stance to suit its character, aside from lending the bike its own identity. But instead, we got a motorcycle which looks too similar to the Ninja 400. It gets the same LED headlamp as the Ninja 400, Ninja ZX-6R and the 2020 Ninja 650. 

Will it come to India? 

The chances of it coming to India are highly unlikely, to be honest. The ZX-25R is one of the most extreme 250cc motorcycles out there and it comes equipped with some really sophisticated cycle parts, which could drive the asking price up immensely. There’s no word about its international pricing but if, and that’s a big if, it comes to India via the CKD route it would bear a price tag of more than Rs 5.0 lakh, making it a very expensive proposition for its segment.

Image source: Powerdrift