Auto Expo 2008

Yogesh Sarkar January 18th, 2008

Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki has long history dating back to mid 80s and now Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki plan to take it one step further with Bajaj Auto retailing few of Kawasaki’s international lineup in India in near future.

Amongst the motorcycles being considered for India launch, recently redesigned Kawasaki Ninja 250 is amongst the front runner. The 250cc liquid cool baby ninja develops an impressive 30ps at 10500rpm. Apart from that, ER-6n, Ninja ZX-6R, Z1000 and Vulcan are likely to be released in India through Bajaj Pro-Biking showrooms.

Here are the photographs and specifications of the Kawasaki motorcycles that Bajaj is hoping to bring to India:

Kawasaki stall at AutoExpo 2008

Kawasaki Ninja 250 (click to enlarge)

Specifications:

Engine: 249 cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke parallel twin
Maximum power: 22.2KW (30 PS) @ 10,500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 21.0 Nm {2.14 Kgf/m} / 8,500 rpm
Compression Ratio: 11.6:1
Fuel system: Fuel injection: 28 mm x 2 (Keihin) Dual throttle valves
Ignition: Digital
Transmission: 6-Speed
Cooling: Liquid
Frame: Tube diamond, steel
Front Tire Size: 110/70-17
Rear Tire Size: 130/70-17
Front Suspension: 37mm hydraulic telescopic fork
Rear Suspension/wheel travel: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with gas charged shock and 5-way adjustable preload
Front Brake: Single 290mm petal disc
Rear Brake: Single 220mm petal disc
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.5 liters
Dimensions (L x W x H): 2,080mm x 710 mm x 1,115 mm
Seat Height: 780mm
Wheelbase: 1,400 mm
Ground clearance: 135mm
Dry Weight: 152 kg

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (click to enlarge)

Specifications:

Engine: 903cc, 4-Stroke, Liquid-Cooled, SOHC, 4-Valve Cylinder Head, V-Twin
Maximum Torque: 60.8 lb.-ft. @ 3,700 rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Cooling: Liquid
Fuel Injection: EFI with dual 34mm Keihin Throttle Bodies
Ignition: TCBI with Electronic Advance
Transmission: 5-Speed
Final Drive: Belt
Front Suspension: 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork / 5.9 in.
Rear Suspension: Uni-Track® swingarm / 4.1 in.
Front Tire Size: 130/90-16
Rear Tire Size: 180/70-15
Wheelbase: 64.8 in.
Front Brake/Rear Brake: 272mm hydraulic disc/242mm hydraulic disc
Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Seat Height: 26.8 in.
Overall Length: 97.0 in.
Overall Width: 39.6 in.
Overall Height: 41.9 in.
Dry Weight: 557.9 lbs.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R (click to enlarge)

Specifications:

Engine: 599 cc Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Maximum Torque: 40 lb ft @ 11,500 rpm
Compression Ratio: 13.3:1
Fuel Injection: DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles, two injectors per throttle body
Ignition: TCBI with digital advance
Transmission: 6-Speed
Frame type: Aluminum perimeter
Front Tire Size: 120/70-ZR17
Rear Tire Size: 180/55-ZR17
Wheelbase: 55.3 in.
Front Suspension: 41 mm inverted cartridge fork with top-out springs, stepless rebound damping, stepless compression damping, fully-adjustable spring preload
Rear Suspension: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with gas-charged shock, top-out spring and pillow ball upper mount, dual-range (high/low-speed) stepless compression damping, 25-way adjustable rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload
Front Brake Type: Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with four-piston, four-pad calipers
Rear Brake Type: Single 210mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.5 gal.
Seat Height: 32.3 in.
Dry Weight: 368.2 lbs.

Kawasaki Z1000 (click to enlarge)

Specifications:

Engine: 953 cc, 4-Stroke, Liquid-Cooled, DOHC, 4-Valve, 4-Cylinder
Maximum Torque: 72.8 lb/ft @ 8,200 rpm
Compression Ratio: 11.2:1
Fuel Injection: DFI with four 36mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles, ultra-fine atomizing fuel injectors
Ignition: TCBI Digital Advance
Transmission: 6-Speed
Final Drive: X-Ring Chain
Frame Type: Backbone, high-tensile steel tubes and cast aluminum engine sub-frame
Front Suspension: 41mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload
Rear Suspension: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with gas-charged shock, stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload
Front Tire Size: 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire Size: 190/50 ZR17
Wheelbase: 56.9 in.
Front Brake Type: Dual 300mm petal rotors with radial-mount four-piston calipers
Rear Brake Type: Single 250mm petal rotor with single-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.9 gal.
Seat Height: 32.3 in.
Overall Length: 82.3 in.
Overall Width: 30.7 in.
Overall Height: 41.9 in.

Official press release from Bajaj Auto on the eminent launch of Kawasaki motorcycles.

Bajaj and Kawasaki today announced an agreement to bring in Kawasaki’s big bikes into India. This is in continuation of their strong partnership from the mid 80’s when the first technical collaboration for motorcycle development was signed. This technical collaboration which continued since then, went a step further in 2004 when Kawasaki commenced distributing Bajaj bikes in the Philippines.

Now the partners bring Kawasaki big bike to India.

Amongst the bikes being considered for the launch is the recently launched Ninja 250. This product designed by Kawasaki for the United States, Europe and Japan is powered by an eight-valve DOHC liquid cooled 250cc fuel injection engine developing 30 PS at 10,500rpm. Combined with the 6-speed transmission the Ninja 250 is a matchless performer. In addition to the Ninja 250, other big Kawasaki bikes that are being considered for the domestic market were on display at the Bajaj Presentation in hall no. 3 at the Aut0-Expo in N. Delhi. These include the Sports Roadster the ER-6n, Super Sports bikes the Ninja ZX-6R and the Z1000, and the Vulcan Cruiser.

The Kawasaki bikes would be retailed through the chain of hi-end Bajaj Probiking showrooms. The company had kick-started the Probiking initiative in 2005 with the launch of the Pune showroom. Today ten Probiking showrooms are operational with presence in all major markets with ten more to go on-stream by end of Fiscal 2008. Designed for professional bikers the showrooms house state-of the art interactive terminals and offer prospective “Probikers” a chance to test-ride the bikes on specially designed Indoor Dynamometers.

Kawasaki, Japan will also provide the necessary service training and parts back-up to ensure that the hi-performance bikes are in peak conditions and fully live up to the expatiations of the Probikers.

Mr. Shinichi Tamba, President of the Kawasaki Consumer Products and Machinery Company comments, “India is a very important market for KHI and Bajaj us a strong partner. The Indian marker is in the cusp of progressing to bike bikes and Kawasaki is highly regarded in this segment. Soon the “flying K” and the “Kawasaki Green” will scorch the Indian roads.”

Commenting on this effort, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto said, “Both Kawasaki and Bajaj have synergized their strengths to widen the portfolio in respective markets. The domestic consumer can now experience the power of bike biking while the Kawasaki customers in the Philippines are already experiencing the range of Bajaj products for the past few years. We are in discussions to extend the Philippine business model to other countries as well.”

The good times are indeed rolling for both Kawasaki and Bajaj.

Click here to discuss the launch Kawasaki motorcycles in India

• Auto Expo Updates , Bajaj Auto , Kawasaki , Motorcycles
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