Microreviews

Kawasaki Ninja 250R has finally been launched in India after so much of waiting. But it seems the price may play a spoilsport. It has been priced at Rs. 2.7 lacs. Compare this price with the 225cc Hero Honda liquid-cooled and fuel-injection bike priced at Rs. 91000 only.

Ninja will be imported as completely knocked down (CKD) units and will be assembled at Bajaj’s Chakan plant. This means that Kawasaki has successfully avoided the import duty (almost 100%) on foreign made bikes and cars. Just imagine the price if Kawasaki would have decided to directly import the bike. Nevertheless, the bike still seems to be overpriced. Let us have a quick look at the features of the bike and then compare it with other bikes present in the Indian market to see whether Ninja can justify its price of Rs. 2.7 lacs. Here we go…

Features and specifications:

• 250cc liquid cooled engine
• 6-speed transmission
• DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft head) – this is helpful in boosting power of the bike, but only at higher torques.
• Two-caliper single disc brakes. Front hydraulic 290mm. Rear 220mm petal disc.
• 18 liter fuel tank
• 151 kg dry weight (without fuel, engine oil and liquid coolant)
• Digital ignition
• Max torque – 22 Nm @9500 rpm
• Top speed – 170 kmph
• Fuel efficiency – 25-30 kmpl

Compare this with Pulsar 220 or the new Karizma ZMR, and you will find that Ninja 250R takes the top slot in features, power and top speed, but loses on fuel efficiency and price.

Kawasaki Ninja 250R	Hero Honda Karizma ZMR	Bajaj Pulsar 220
250cc Liquid cooled engine 6 speed transmission 17″ wheels 18 liter fuel tank Max torque – 22 Nm @9500 rpm Top speed – 170 kmph Fuel efficiency – 25-30 kmpl Price – Rs. 270000	225cc Liquid cooled engine 5 speed transmission 18″ wheels 15 liter fuel tank Max torque – 18 Nm @6000 rpm Top speed – 126 kmph Fuel efficiency – 25-30 kmpl Price – Rs. 95000	220cc Air cooled engine 5 speed transmission 17″ wheels 15 liter fuel tank Max torque – 19 Nm @6500 rpm Top speed – 144 kmph Fuel efficiency – 35-40 kmpl Price – Rs. 75000

Price of Ninja 250R in USA is $4299, which means approximately Rs. 2.1 lacs. If people in USA are paying only Rs. 2.1 lac for this bike, then why the hell should we be paying more? This could be blamed to the reason that Kawasaki is not manufacturing any of the bike parts in India. Even though the bike is coming as a knocked down unit to India, it still attracts a lot of import duty. If Kawasaki could have entrusted Bajaj of being more than just a technology partner, then we could be buying cheaper Kawasaki bikes. Probably Kawasaki did not find Bajaj manufacturing good enough for its bikes.

Probably we could wait a bit more, and expect the prices to come down. The bike is superb; no doubt about that. But it seems to be a bit heavy on the pocket.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Rating with price tag: 6/10

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1. Hero Honda launches Karizma ZMR
2. Bajaj Pulsar – Copycats!!!
3. Yamaha Fazer 150 – Review
4. Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi – 2009 : Usage and Price review

Tags: 250r, Bajaj, bike, fuel efficiency, Hero Honda, Karizma, karizma zmr, kawasaki, kawasaki ninja, ninja, ninja 250, ninja 250r, price, Pulsar, pulsar 220, speed, torque