Team-BHP - Rumour: Kawasaki considering a 250cc Versys

Some of the websites both in India and in countries like Thailand and Indonesia are talking of the possibility of Kawasaki creating a Versys with a 250 cc engine or a 300 cc engine. One is available on the Z 250 while the other is on the Ninja 300. As of now this is only a RUMOUR with Kawasaki not responding to a mail that I had sent to them. Most seem to think that it will be a 250 based on the existing Z 250 platform and engine. The only reason why any credence need be given to the rumour is because Kawasaki cannot sustain their operations by selling only very expensive models. In India Kawasaki pay the rents for their showrooms as well, so if they want to be profitable and in the public eye they can be so only if they launch a little less expensive and smaller capacity engined versions of their big bore machines.

The picture below is a rendering and not likely to look like the Versys 250 if does come into the market. The copyright of the picture belongs to the person who has created it.

This news is indeed a shot in the arm for adventure touring segment, which is still in its infancy in India. Though there have been some baby steps in the right direction with Bajaj launching AS 200 and AS 150, adventure bikes as a separate segment have yet to establish themselves in this 'Dhoom Bike' crazy country of ours :). Hopefully Versys 250 (and the rumoured Duke 390 adventure)will change that. I have a feeling that if KTM 390 Adventure is launched (I hope it does), it will give a fillip to the fledgling segment, as they did with the streetbike secment with their explosive Duke 200 and even better 390 at superlative price points. In keeping with the same, KTM 390 Adventure will have the added advantage of competitive pricing, sharing parts with Duke 390 and benefitting from being produced in India. What Kawasaki has to do to stay relevant in the game IMO is:

Provide competitive pricing, most important (keep it under Rs 2 lakh - a tall order, the Versys being a twin, and being imported)
Power (Duke 390 Adventure will have the same mill as Duke 390, so the Power will be in the region of 40 BHP, way above the Versys )
Safety (ABS will come as standard in Duke 390 Adventure).

If Kawasaki has these sorted, then maybe the Versys 250 has a chance to make a dent in this yet unexplored segment. Otherwise, despite the bike being good (it will be, with the Versys DNA), it may not take off in a cost conscious, image conscious India. Only a few dedicated adventure enthusiasts , who take to the hills and into the unexplored regularly will actually purchase this bike. Kawasaki will have to keep the costs down.

One way to do it is to start production in India (It is long due. With close competitors back home like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki having become established players in the Indian Market, Kawasaki has yet to make a start).

Second is to partner with a local player with enough expertise in frugal engineering - Bajaj or Hero would be ideal choices.

If the costs are not managed, while at the same time if it is not an attractive package (sufficient power/ torque, safety, style) then it may go the Inazuma way.

I hope someone in Kawasaki is listening:confused:

Cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ku69rd (Post 3769315)

How good are the rumors that KTM Adventure 390 would be launched?
Have been listening to this for quite some time but to no avail

There have been a lot of websites suggesting it, with some hinting that it may be delayed and may not be launched in 2015.

Let's hope it does get launched, after all. This will open up another segment in biking and it'll be another first for KTM/ Bajaj in India. :thumbs up

But this being an altogether new segment, and with our countrymen's penchant for faired 'Dhoom Bikes', any manufacturer hoping to do decent numbers will have to keep the bike's cost realistic, make it look sufficiently handsome (KTM 1190 Adventure, anyone?) and bestow it with lots of goodies/ safety (ABS, good tyres, throaty exhaust, hard luggage at an affordable price) just to pique the curiosity of regular bikers and keep the cash registers ringing.

Cheers !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhide (Post 3769558)

Let's hope it does get launched, after all. This will open up another segment in biking and it'll be another first for KTM/ Bajaj in India. :thumbs up

Cheers !

I will be very keen and eager to see the KTM Adventure 390. It does promise a lot(atleast on paper) and even if it delivers half of it, that should be a winner.

Did check on a few import database websites, none of them show that 390 Adventure has been imported. As a matter of fact KTM does not have anything called 390 Adventure as what has been reported by these websites.

Anyways the hope is to still wait on.

This seems to be a yearly phenomenon but rumours of Versys 250 are back again after they first came into being last August. This time however, bikewale are showing some supporting documents that seem to indicate that the bike will atleast be made in Indonesia.

"The documents show that Kawasaki Indonesia has registered two codes: Kawasaki LE250B and KawasakiLE250C. Since the code for the 650cc Versys is LE650C, it’s quite likely that one of the new codes is for a new mini-adventurer. At the moment, the Royal Enfield Himalayan is the only motorcycle in this segment. However, BMW appears to be joining in with the G310GS very soon. So it only makes sense for Kawasaki to get this bike up and ready soon".
From Bikewale.com