Get THIS Kawasaki Bike With Just A Rs 30,000 Down Payment!

W175’s engine makes a rather underwhelming 13PS and 13.2Nm

• The W175’s looks are a bit too retro for us to like it
• The Yamaha FZ-X is the W175’s only direct rival
• Other rivals for the W175 include the Bullet 350, which does cost a whole lot more though

Kawasaki unveiled the latest addition to its entry-level W175 retro motorcycle lineup, the W175 Street, at the India Bike Week 2023 in Goa. This new variant boasts distinctive features such as updated color choices, alloy wheels, and tubeless tires while retaining the classic appeal and the reliable 177 cc air-cooled engine.

For enthusiasts eyeing the new Kawasaki W175 Street, contemplating the financial commitment? Here's a breakdown of the on-road price in Delhi and the corresponding monthly installment with a Rs 30,000 down payment, assuming a standard three-year tenure, a 20% down payment, and an estimated 10% bank interest rate.

On-Road Price (Delhi): The motorcycle is priced at Rs 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom), with the estimated on-road price in Delhi around Rs 1.54 lakh.

Down Payment: A down payment of Rs 30,000 has been considered for this calculation.

Period: An average tenure of three years has been assumed.

Interest Rate: An estimated 10% interest rate from the bank.

Monthly Installment Calculation: The monthly installment is calculated based on the down payment, tenure, and interest rate. It's important to note that buyers can choose their tenure and may encounter varying interest rates among different banks. Additionally, the flexibility of adjusting the down payment allows buyers to customize their equated monthly installment (EMI).

This is nice because the W175 is probably the only Kawasaki bike that you can buy for such a low initial down payment. All other bikes are a lot more expensive so if you want a loan tenure below somewhere around four years, you will after all have to make a much larger down payment. So yeah, the W175 has made getting into the Kawasaki family a lot more accessible for riders of different kinds of monetary backing. 

About The Kawasaki W175

Kawasaki's most budget-friendly model is priced at Rs 1.22 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 1.31 lakh, ex-showroom India. Interestingly, despite being manufactured in India, the bike has limited appeal. With few standout features and a competitive market offering alternatives for approximately Rs 17,000 more, Kawasaki may struggle to attract a significant audience for this model. 

Engine

With a modest output of 13PS and 13.2Nm from its 177cc air-cooled engine, the W175 positions itself as a commuter's choice. The bike exudes a laid-back, carefree vibe upon starting, making it ideal for cruising at speeds between 60-70 kmph. However, its performance falters at slower speeds like 25-30kmph, marking it as a comparatively sluggish motorcycle. 

Underpinnings 

The suspension setup on the W175 comprises a telescopic fork and a mono-shock. During our road test review, we observed that the mono-shock tends to be on the softer side, perhaps a bit too much. This characteristic causes the shock to bottom out over deep potholes, a common occurrence on city roads.

An even more significant concern is the stiffness of the front suspension on our uneven roads. While the bike handles slow-speed encounters with speed breakers well, at higher speeds, it struggles to absorb them, leading to a challenging ride. The quick rebound rate exacerbates the issue, providing a hard bounce back to the rider, particularly affecting lighter riders who may experience a fair bit of tossing.

Features

The W175 is equipped with a semi-digital instrument console that, in line with its retro aesthetics, may appear excessively vintage in today's modern era. Sporting an analog speedometer accompanied by a small LCD digital inset below, the console raises readability concerns. Under the glaring sun, reading the contents becomes challenging, forcing riders to squint.

An improvement worth considering would be a twin-pod console, reminiscent of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. This configuration, with one pod displaying the speedometer and the other the tachometer, not only aligns with the retro theme but also enhances readability—an aspect Kawasaki could address to elevate the overall experience of the W175.