Kawasaki has pulled the veils off its latest retro roadster — the W230. The Japanese bikemaker has used the same engine from the KLX 230 S which is slated for an India debut soon. Does this mean the W230 will make it to our shores, too?
The Kawasaki W230 is powered by an air-/oil-cooled 233cc engine that delivers 1.9 kgm at 5800 rpm. This unit is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. While Kawasaki’s website doesn’t mention the power figure, the torque is slightly more than the KLX’s 1.8 kgm.
The design of the W230 is inspired by the W1 from the ’60s. Its teardrop-shaped tank, metal fenders, circular headlight, dual-pod console and pea-shooter exhaust add to its visual appeal. What it misses, in our opinion, is some chrome. Nonetheless, it looks period correct.
Kawasaki has kept the W230 rather simple with basic cycle parts. The suspension setup includes 37-mm telescopic forks and twin shocks, while braking duties are handled by a 265-mm disc at the front and a 220-mm unit at the rear. This bike runs on 18/17-inch wheel setup tubed tyres.
While the $ 5599 (Rs 4.7 lakh) price tag makes it an expensive machine in the US, especially considering that the Ninja 500 is available at a cheaper rate there, wwe hope things are different in India. With Kawasaki localising the KLX 230 here, the W230 could be, too. But will the Japanese brand risk taking a jab in the segment dominated by Royal Enfield? Only time will tell.
