Everybody’s been crying out for the likes of Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Triumph to launch extra accessible, entry-level retro classics within the West, however a lot of it has been in useless. Effectively, Kawasaki is reportedly able to reply that decision with its W175 LTD.
This scoop is due to Motorcycle.com, which stories that Kawasaki has obtained certification from the California Air Assets Board and the US Environmental Safety Company for the W175 LTD as a 2026 mannequin.
We’re nonetheless awaiting an official affirmation from the producer, however the approval from CARB and certification from the EPA are roughly a precursor to a brand new motorbike getting into the American market. The W175 is manufactured by Kawasaki’s India subsidiary, thus successfully turns into the Japanese bikemaker’s first moto to be made in India and exported to the US. Make what you’ll of that.
Kawasaki
At first look, it’ll remind you of the W230, which continues to be bought in a number of markets around the globe, and the larger, better-known W800. Again within the Nineteen Sixties, a Japanese agency known as Meguro was cloning BSAs. Kawasaki ended up shopping for Meguro in 1963, and thus was born its ‘W’ vary of bikes. Name it a clone of a clone, if you’ll.
All of the bikes within the W lineup function the basic spherical headlamp, spherical analog speedometer instrument cluster, spherical mirrors, a teardrop tank, twin rear suspension, and peashooter exhaust pipes. All that can be carried over to the W175 LTD.
It additionally includes a one-piece stepped seat with passenger seize handles, plus elevated handlebars. However the place it differs from the remainder of the W fashions is its engine.
It’s an air-cooled, fuel-injected 177cc single-cylinder thumper, versus a twin on the remainder of the W-badged bikes. It comes mated to a five- (not six) pace gearbox and produces a meager 13 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 9.6 lb.ft (13 Nm) at 6,000 rpm.
Kawasaki
That motor sits on a metal body with a semi-double cradle. For suspension, you get a 30-mm telescopic fork with 4.3 in (109.2 mm) of journey and two rear shocks with adjustable preload and a pair of.5 in (63.5 mm) of journey.
ABS comes as commonplace, but it surely’s solely on the entrance wheel, which includes a single two-piston caliper paired with a 245-mm disc. The rear, in the meantime, is a 110-mm mechanical drum brake. Each wheels are 17-inch cast-type.
The seat peak is listed at 30.9 (784.8 mm) inches, whereas the curb weight is available in at 297.7 lb (135 kg) – fairly mild for a small-sized ICE moto. The teardrop gasoline tank has round 3.2 gallons (12 liters) of capability. That’s so far as the specs go ay the second.
And in case you had been questioning, all images are courtesy Kawasaki Mexico, which not too long ago launched the bike in two stunning colorways – Ebony or Sweet Emerald Inexperienced.
Kawasaki
However right here’s my two cents: Most US motorbike riders are likely to lean towards heavier, higher-displacement bikes, owing to long-distance using and freeway commuting. The W175’s output could really feel underwhelming for many American riders, primarily proscribing its market attraction to commuters or moped-class consumers.
Then, should you keep in mind that the W175 is manufactured in India and will likely be exported to the US, spare components provide, vendor servicing, guarantee help, and long-term reliability could also be unsure, at the very least initially. However all these potential points might be left for when the bike lastly arrives.
For the reason that larger W230 ABS begins at US$5,699, you possibly can simply anticipate the 175 to return with a sub-$5,000 price ticket when it lastly makes its strategy to the States – the place it would face stiff competitors from the likes of the $4,799 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and the even cheaper, $4,299 Hunter 350. Then, there’s additionally the likes of $4,799 Yamaha V Star 250, which it’ll doubtless compete straight with.
Kawasaki
With that in thoughts, I wouldn’t be shocked if Kawasaki went much more aggressive on W175 LTD’s pricing. Wherever across the $4,000 – $4,500 worth level appears like an actual chance. And if that seems to be the case, it would nicely change into America’s most cost-effective retro motorbike.
By way of: Motorcycle.com, Kawasaki Mexico
