[offroad]

Even though i am fan of old design bikes, this did not appeal me in the first look.

The probable reasons i can think for launching this product
(a) There is more RETRO theme in the market and looks like Kawasaki took one more step and designed a complete old school.
(b) The 'Made in India', thing might bring in numbers.
(c) The price factor making it the cheapest Kawasaki. People who want Kawasaki brand bike but cannot afford the existing ones.

People wishing to come back to biking with minimalistic features might go for this.

[Waspune]

I believe the only thing going for the W175 is its weight. It weighs 135 kgs and after removing the over engineered saree guard (that’s a Kawa thing) it should further lose 3-4 kgs.
Currently all the retro motorcycles weigh around 180 kgs and above (except Ronin). So it might entice some new riders who are generally scared of motorcycle’s weight. Should be an able upgrade from a Vespa and the likes.
Coming to the bike itself, it does seem that some corners have been cut when compared to the international W175 that’s a big hit in countries like Thailand/Manila where the riders customise their W175 to no end.
From the engine perspective the performance should be adequate within the city limits. In general the W range of bikes aren’t known for breathtaking performance, including the flagship- W800.
I hope it sounds nice, as is the case with its bigger cousins.

[igemini]

Why would somebody should buy this motorbike over say a CT 100? Any guesses? Seriously!

[Nimz]

I know this bike is getting a lot of flak. Having come from a Caliber myself some two decades ago, had this bike been available three months back when I started looking to restart my biking journey this would have been in my shortlist.

I was then very apprehensive of the 350 cc bikes and was looking for something lighter but yet old school and simple with no fancy gadgets. I had booked the FZX and cancelled so I guess I would have definitely considered this bike and taken a TD. I do think it's overpriced as is the FZX and would have rated this ahead of the fzx.

[Ashley Nair]

Sure, why not?

Why is it that only RE gets the retro badge of honor and all their elephantine shortcomings get pushed under the rug in the name of "character"? Let's give room for underperforming, underwhelming bikes at premium prices from other makes too. Let's demand Hero re-release the Splendor Cafe Racer.

RE gets the retro badge honour, as you say, because of the simple fact that they have IMPROVED. Not according to Indian standards, but globally. Please refer to cycleworld reviews, if you please. An Indian Company striving hard to deliver products which match global standards and a Japanese company delivering massively outdated products in India, since it considers Indians can be 'taken for granted', are in two extremes. I even think it is a disgrace to the honour of Indians, though some may think it outdated and over exhibitionism of patriotism.

[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by Ashley Nair

RE gets the retro badge honour, as you say, because of the simple fact that they have IMPROVED.

Thank god for that. I'd hate to see people still lining up to buy rickety REs in 2022.

An Indian Company striving hard to deliver products which match global standards and a Japanese company delivering massively outdated products in India,

RE matching gobal standards of what? Cheapness? REs sell overseas majorly because they're low-tech\low-spec and therefore are lower-cost alternatives to what's being offered by other makers. People want cheap bikes at a decent quality. RE delivers. That's the USP of the other Indian makers operating abroad as well.

And Kawasaki massively outdated? I hope you see the irony here. The W is about as outdated as the Hunter Retro and the Classic, for example. Why do you think it's justifiable that RE can not only sell outdated tech, but even get praised and rewarded for it, while Kawasaki cannot?

Kawasaki... considers Indians can be 'taken for granted'

Kawasaki is not asking Indians to do any favors. If you don't like the tiny W, you can go buy a Vulcan or Ninja or Versys or their 200+ hp monster. Or go buy RE, Kawasaki's not gonna stop you.

I even think it is a disgrace to the honour of Indians, though some may think it outdated and over exhibitionism of patriotism.

I don't even understand this. When Indian makers bring out products that India could really benefit from, like the Impulse and Xpulse, they don't get rewarded well for it. People of India have demonstrated that they'd rather spend 2+ lakhs to buy outdated, cumbersome bikes attached to some second-hand nostalgia or whatever. What's wrong with Kawasaki just wanting to get a piece of that pie?

[condor]

Originally Posted by igemini

Why would somebody should buy this motorbike over say a CT 100? Any guesses? Seriously!

Why would anyone buy a Hush Puppies over a Sandak ?

Products have a target market. Each customer to his own.

[W.A.G.7]

The thing that seems problematic to me is that there doesn’t seem to be a rear disk brake! At this price point I would have expected dual disk brakes. Apart from that it looks alright to me. I don’t care much about the looks or the retro feel - it has to be reliable when I use it, that’s it.

[SchumiFan]

Spoke wheels, tubed tyres, 175cc engine making barely the power of a 150cc one, exhaust looking like it was stolen from a junkyard containing vehicles made in the 90s, a puny telescopic suspension and a bare basic rear shock absorber and finally halogen all around.

Retro doesn't have to mean cheap or basic isn't it?

But hey it's a Kawasaki. Should be good I guess. Any word on the maintenance part? Do they charge similarly to their big brothers or this one's a little cheap?

Maybe we've been harsh on our indian manufacturers. Should give them a big part on the back for the way they've ramped up post disassociation with their Japanese partners.

Once the Jazz was launched, it made the i20 look VFM. Ronin now looks really tempting.

[neil.jericho]

Sometimes I worry that we, as a forum of enthusiasts, take the motorcycling industry way too seriously and lose sight of the bigger picture.

- To the common man, Kawasaki's brand name is worth many times more than its Japanese competitors.
- The next product in their lineup is the Ninja 300 which costs Rs 3.4 L (ex showroom).
- Considering that the Ninja 300 is no longer the affordable entry level model that it used to be, there was a gap for a lower priced model.
- Kawasaki isnt sitting on 100 different entry level motorcycles that could be introduced in the Indian market.
- For someone with a premium bike like say a Versys 650, who is looking at a second motorcycle that can be used his dad, brother etc, or maybe even by himself for local errands, why wouldnt he buy this W175? Do we really expect that he will buy a CT100B even if it is better looking, better specced and runs better?
- Badge value is highly under rated in TBHP. When BMW launched the RR 310, everyone immediately jumped up with their pitchforks. BMW got 1,000 booking in no time. Those werent customers who were lining up outside TVS showrooms.
- Kawasaki hasnt priced the bike to fail. Even if each dealership sells 1 or 2 bikes a month, that's revenue that wouldnt otherwise have come in.
- My only gripe with this launch, is that the model doesnt really fit into their Indian portfolio. I would have preferred the Z125 or Ninja 125, instead.

[no_fear]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Badge value is highly under rated in TBHP. When BMW launched the RR 310, everyone immediately jumped up with their pitchforks. BMW got 1,000 booking in no time. Those werent customers who were lining up outside TVS showrooms.

@ Neil. thanks for calling a spade a spade. While I enjoy the forum and the posts, lately there has been a lot of unneeded bashing and armchair analysis on BMW and it's decision to launch the 310 RR here. I met some of the folks of BMW HQ at Gurgaon and saw the 310RR test bike.

Current bookings is 1700, and projected to hit 2500 by end of Diwali. BMW doesn't need the self proclaimed marketing gurus at TBHP, they use real world marketing data, consumer behavior and the strength of the brand to figure out how to sell their bikes.

[karanddd]

Originally Posted by drt_rdr

I don't think this bike is that bad. I mean, even though a cursory look would give a lacklustre impression, I think this holds some promise.

I think if you jump through enough hoops anything can make sense. But it's a stupid bike. It's not particularly good looking (all the REs are better looking). It's not going to keep up with a Hunter or Ronin, at all. You can take those two anywhere. On this you'd be wringing its neck and still struggle to overtake trucks on a motorway. And weight isn't such a big deal. Plenty of people ride old and new REs without any significant effort, once you get used to it you barely notice it. 180kg isn't some behemoth number. And a true weight reduction nut would rather have a Splendor or Radeon, both of which arguably also look better and the Splendor has some cult status to boot. If I really wanted light weight at any cost, I'd get a scooter. Imagine buying this and paying 3-4k per service because Kawasaki rates and waiting weeks for spare parts where the Splendor or Hunter guy can just about install anything anywhere and keep chugging along.

[Wageabond]

Looks to be an interesting proposition by Kawasaki - if the bike runs smooth, with all typical Kawi traits - IMHO - this can be a worthy opponent to the 'retro' bikes in the market.

What I don't get is why do we write down vehicles which may be low on power and specs without taking a test ride.

[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by karanddd

I think if you jump through enough hoops anything can make sense. But it's a stupid bike. It's not particularly good looking (all the REs are better looking).

I'll not argue on personal opinions and preferences. To you, the W is stupid. To me, the entire RE catalog is nonsensical. Different strokes for different folks.

It's not going to keep up with a Hunter or Ronin, at all. You can take those two anywhere. On this you'd be wringing its neck and still struggle to overtake trucks on a motorway.

Like I said, 150s can easily keep up with older gen RE350s. So you'd have to wring their necks. So what, as long as it does the job? Not such a stretch to consider the possibility the W could keep up with a RE350. I'd personally rather wait to find out what's what in a couple of months, and then sh!t on Kawasaki if it's no good.

And weight isn't such a big deal. Plenty of people ride old and new REs without any significant effort, once you get used to it you barely notice it. 180kg isn't some behemoth number.

Just because people ride heavy bikes all the time, doesn't mean weight doesn't matter.

Yeah, it's not a big deal on nice, smooth roads, highways and all that, and as long as the bike is moving fast enough.

But try riding 180-200 kgs and 130-140 kgs back to back inside the slower traffic speeds and stop-go conditions of a metropolitan city, or on not-so-smooth countryside back roads where you have to keep changing lines to avoid this and that, and you'll quickly find out what's what.

And a true weight reduction nut would rather have a Splendor or Radeon, both of which arguably also look better and the Splendor has some cult status to boot. If I really wanted light weight at any cost, I'd get a scooter.

And why buy RE350s just to go slow? A 100cc sounds like a hell of a better deal, yeah?

Imagine buying this and paying 3-4k per service because Kawasaki rates and waiting weeks for spare parts where the Splendor or Hunter guy can just about install anything anywhere and keep chugging along.

Imagine buying anything for the sake of exclusivity or uniqueness. Are we going back to the socialist era or something?

This is apparently a made-in-India Kawasaki, not the usual CKD bike. Let's wait to find out how the spares and service costs are priced. Besides, this bike is simple as a sewing machine, not your usual twin cyl, 8 valve rocket. Chances are, common spares from other makers will be compatible if you're in a pinch.

[bf1983]

Originally Posted by karanddd

.. On this you'd be wringing its neck and still struggle to overtake trucks on a motorway. ....

That's a bit of a hyperbole. This bike can touch 110 kph (true speed) and does 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and 0-80- 8.4 seconds so it's exactly terribly slow.

And yes this bike is meant for city duties primarily which it does a great job.

Here are the performance figures of the same bike tested in the Philippines where the bike is a modders favorite.

https://www.gridoto.com/read/2210109...galkan-megapro