KAWASAKI W175 Expected in Asian Markets

The W175 is a retro-styled motorcycle with fairly simple mechanicals. It uses a 177cc, two-valve, air-cooled SOHC engine. Performance figures are relatively humble, at 13hp and 13.2Nm of torque, but the engine is carburetted in its international state of tune. Kawasaki will be bringing this motor up to BS6-spec for India and fuel injection is almost certainly going to be added on, so the power figures could change a little. The engine uses a balancer shaft to help reduce vibrations.

The styling is pure classic, with a round headlamp, a single peashooter exhaust and spoked wheels, which are wrapped with tubed tyres. The all-analogue instrument console on the international bike is also very basic and has a circular speedometer, an odometer and a trip meter. The international-spec model is also quite light, at just 126kg, but the kerb weight is bound to go up once the bike meets all the safety and emissions requirements of our market. Nevertheless, this should remain an easy and light motorcycle to manage.

The rest of the bike is quite straightforward as well, with a semi-double-cradle frame and a simple box-section swingarm. The suspension is handled by a telescopic fork with old-school rubber gaiters and a twin shock setup at the rear. The international-spec motorcycle gets a 220mm disc up front and a 110mm drum at the back. ABS is another feature that will have to be engineered in for India and it’s likely that this bike will get single-channel ABS, unless Kawasaki switches over to a rear disc.

This beautiful motorcycle is expected to hit Asian markets by first quarter of 2021.