Sep 13, 2007

Kawasaki Ninja 250: Coming to India?

Whenever I show pics of the Ninja 250 to a motorcycling mate, the reaction is always the same. 'Isn't this the bike Bajaj was planning to launch here?' followed quickly by 'but, ugh, it looks so ugly.' I may have taken the liberty of deleting some expletives from that last sentence. Now, just to refresh your memory, here's the bike again.
Kawasaki Ninja 250RNow, Bajaj has been awful quiet on this bike in the recent past, preferring to deflect attention by saying that it has no CBU plans for the moment. But what if they intended to make this baby here. It wouldn't be too hard – they could, it's only a simple, parallel twin, right? But still, it looks dumpy and old. But, now click on the screenshot below and look as closely as you can at the green bike. That's the 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R according to MCN. Now what do you think about having the Ninja launched here? Also, MCN say the new 250 lineup will also include a ER6 style machine as well as a Versys-styled on. Also see the same pics in slightly bigger sizes here (site may not be family friendly).

More on this later... gotta run

12 comments:

SKS said...

Isn't his conflicting with this?

http://www.business-standard.com/compindustry/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu1&subLeft=1&autono=297879&tab=r

In return, it will give Bajaj, the Pune-based two-wheeler maker, design and engineering support for building high-end complex engines. Although Kawasaki has been Bajaj’s technology partner for a long time, the two have ruled out joint manufacturing of Kawasaki motorcycles in India.

first_synn said...

er.. correction, rearset. The first pic that you posted is a Ninja 500.

Anyhoo, melikes the new two fifty. Could use some duotones to break-up the bland longish lines, but that's nothing your friendly, aftermarket dude can't fix.

Would love if Kawa licenses the model for production in India. But, as i gather from the recent press releases, well; the non-lawsuit ones, Bajaj ain't interested in sourcing entire bikes from Kawa. Just technology...

Arpan said...

atleast 18 months away..

Anonymous said...

I don't mind the ugly part if it's fast , handles well and is reliable , as well comfortable and robust for our Indian conditions.

Still the new 250 is welcome ....but why oh why must every nice bike be launched after I put away my savings on something else ? My guess is it'll be here in mid-to-late 2008 as a CKD :(

Anonymous said...

if they bring it here and price it around one and a half mark then they might just have a winner on hand

Hrishi said...

Isn't this the bike Bajaj was planning to launch here? ugh, it looks so ugly.

:)

The newer version looks nice. But also looks expensive.

Anonymous said...

The 1st pic : isnt that of the Ninja 500? (see the 500r on the right side of the fairing..)The 2nd pic, though is of the 250

DIESEL said...

Err... Do Bajaj accept post dated cheques for advance bookings? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Should cost less than 1.2 Lacs ($3000 equivalent in Indian Rupees). The bike sells for $3K in the US, and is considered too small. Lol.

Unknown said...

plllzzzzz launch this byke soon...i like it very much...i m dying to buy this byke...

Unknown said...

hi this hemant if its realy launch in india so plz confirm when n whts the prize of it
ma email: h_s_solanki@yahoo.com
plz revert......

Anonymous said...

when is it arriving..??