Updated: Dec 10, 2023 at 9:19pm ET Show 3 min read [UPDATE December 8, 2023: Kawasaki India has officially unveiled the 2024 W175 during India Bike Week 2023. As speculated earlier, the new model has been given all-new alloy wheels and now rolls on tubeless tires for a more reliable road-going experience. Like before, the 2024 Kawasaki W175 retains its barebones underpinnings, sporting a rudimentary workhorse of an engine. A 177cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine provides 13 horsepower and 9.6 pound-feet of torque. Suspension duties are handled by a standard non-adjustable telescopic fork and dual shock absorbers at the rear. It's worth noting that the bike's ground clearance has been lowered from 165mm (6.5 inches) to 152mm (6 inches), resulting in a slightly lower seat height for more accessibility especially for shorter riders. The 2024 Kawasaki W175 get two new colorways consisting of Candy Emerald Green and Metallic Moondust Gray, and carries an MSRP of Rs 135,000, or around $1,618 USD per the exchange rate at the time of writing.] Original post follows. Kawasaki’s W800 is often likened to the Triumph Bonneville. In fact, quite a lot of people would go as far as saying that it’s a clone of the iconic British twin. That said, Kawasaki’s W series of motorcycles has always been about embracing a classic spirit – both in terms of design and function. That being said, unbeknownst to a lot of folks in the western world is the W800’s smaller sibling, the W175. As you know, the Asian market is littered with small-displacement motorcycles a lot of folks have never even seen before. The W175 is a bike we’ve talked about on multiple occasions in the past, and for the 2024 model-year, it’s expected to get a mild refresh and be showcased at India BIke Week. Scheduled for December 8, 2023, the upcoming release has generated quite a lot of buzz within India’s enthusiast market.  In India, Kawasaki has quite a strong presence in terms of its big bikes. Indeed, given the fact that a big chunk of the bikes in India sport engines 200cc and lower, a 400cc motorbike like the Ninja 400 is considered a big bike. That being said, the W175 serves as the most affordable model in Team Green’s Indian lineup, and as such, is attractive to folks looking to get in on the brand, or simply for those who want a stylish retro commuter. The W175 has been around for nearly seven years now, but hasn’t really undergone a lot of changes. I mean, it’s a barebones, simple machine through and through. It’s powered by a 177cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine with a modest output of 13 horsepower and 13 Nm (9.6 pound-feet) of torque. It’s underpinned by a steel cradle frame, and gets simple components such as a standard telescopic fork and twin rear shocks. Given how simple the bike is, as well as the fact that it is meant to be simple, there really isn’t much to change. More From The Region: Having said that, the W175 for the 2024 model-year is anticipated to get a slew of cosmetic enhancements consisting of new colors and rim decals. On top of that, the bike is also expected to get new alloy wheels, and as such, come equipped with tubeless tires. Nevertheless, we’ll have to wait until Kawasaki officially pulls the covers off the updated W175 to know for sure, so be sure to stay tuned for that. Kawasaki just added alloy-wheels to the W175 and launched the W175 Street variant. Let’s take a look at how it fares against one of its primary rivals, the Yamaha FZ-X: DesignThe Kawasaki W175 Street’s overall design aesthetic screams retro from the moment you lay your eyes on the bike. The alloy wheels and the new paint schemes (Candy Emerald Green and Metallic Moondust Grey) do add a modern touch to it. Kawasaki has even chosen to keep the headlight halogen, adding to the retro appeal. The footpegs are high set, which might make the seating posture a bit uncomfortable for taller riders during long commutes. The Yamaha FZ-X is the retro sibling to the FZ Fi Version 3.0 and it comes with a distinctly different, neo-retro design. The fuel tank profile is boxier, and so are the side panels. It also gets fork gaiters, a different grab rail that gives it a retro feel. The tall handlebar and the mid-set footpegs should translate to a riding posture that’s fit for commuting. While the headlight housing is round, it’s a more modern LED one. Overall, the Kawasaki W175 Street looks like a retro bike with some modern touches to it while the Yamaha FZ-X looks like a modern bike with some retro touches. EngineThe Kawasaki W175 Street gets a 175cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine producing 13PS at 7,500rpm and 13.2Nm at 6,000rpm and comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. While the Yamaha FZ-X gets a 149cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine producing 12.4PS at 7,250rpm and 13.3Nm at 5,500rpm and comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Get latest updates on the automobile community Login Now As you can see, even though the W175 Street gets a bigger engine, it makes similar power and torque figures as the 149cc engine in the FZ-X. UnderpinningsThe Kawasaki W175 Street gets a 30mm telescopic fork and dual shock absorbers suspension setup and braking duties are taken care of by a 245mm front disc brake and a drum brake at the rear with single-channel ABS. The Yamaha FZ-X gets a fatter 41mm telescopic fork that goes well with the bike’s overall looks, and a modern monoshock suspension setup. The brake setup consists of a 282mm front disc brake and a 220mm rear disc brake with single-channel ABS. Here’s how the two neo-retro bikes differ in their dimensions and tyre setup: Kawasaki W175 Street Yamaha FZ-X Wheelbase 1,323mm 1,330mm Ground Clearance 152mm 165mm Seat Height 786.5mm 810mm Kerb Weight 135.2kg 139kg Fuel Tank Capacity 12.1 litres 10 litres Tyres Front 80-section tyres with 17-inch alloy wheels 100-section tyres with 17-inch alloy wheels Tyres Rear 100-section tyres with 17-inch alloy wheels 140-section tyres with 17-inch alloy wheels InstrumentationThe Kawasaki W175 Street gets a round semi-digital instrument console that looks perfectly retro with its asymmetric design. It shows readings like odometer, trip meter, clock and more. It does not get Bluetooth connectivity. While the Yamaha FZ-X gets an LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity via the Yamaha Y-Connect app that shows notifications on the console like call alerts, SMS and email alerts, phone battery level status and more. While the latter is much more functional, it takes away from the retro feel. Apart from the headlight, the Yamaha FZ-X also gets LED taillight and turn indicators whereas the Kawasaki W175 Street gets halogen units. Also, the neo-retro bike from Yamaha gets a USB charging port and traction control. VerdictThe Kawasaki W175 Street has nailed the retro charm when it comes to aesthetics and the addition of alloy wheels does make it seem more modern and practical. But despite having a bigger engine, it produces similar power and torque figures like its 150cc rival (which itself is underpowered) and also misses out on key hardware and features like a rear disc brake and Bluetooth connectivity to name a few. And for just Rs 1,200 more, the Yamaha FZ-X gives you a better package of modern performance and features along with retro-ish styling, even though its styling may not exactly be everyone’s cup of tea. But if it works for you, then the neo-retro bike from Yamaha seems like a good bet. What size rear shocks are on a Kawasaki W175?Body & Suspension. What is the curb weight of Kawasaki W175?What is the Curb weight of Kawasaki W175? The curb weight of W175is 135 kg. What is the acceleration of Kawasaki W175?How versatile is Kawasaki's most affordable offering in India. What is the fuel efficiency of Kawasaki W175?The mileage is a decent 40-45 kmpl. |
