Kawasaki Ninja 250/300 will get its next generation in 2017 and the new bike will have a completely new design while the engine will be upgraded to deliver better performance.
The Kawasaki Ninja 250 and 300 have been very successful competitors in the sub 500cc segment, however due to the launch of new motorcycles such as the Yamaha R25 and R3, the Japanese product seems to be loosing grip. But, the manufacturer seems to have planned a come back with the next generation models expected to come by the end of 2016. The all new bikes will come with a number of cosmetic changes and will be powered by an upgraded in-line twin-cylinder engine for a more sporty ride.
Indonesian media has shared images of a catalog that has the 2016 Ninja 250 with a design very different from the existing motorcycle. The new design is more aggressive with a new slanted covering for the projector headlamps, similar to that of the H2 and the fairing has also changed although it comes in the same shape. The current generation Ninja is inspired by the ZX-10R and the facelift will follow the tradition. However, no official news about the specifications, engine or design are out yet.
The 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 250/300 were also rumoured to come with a four-cylinder engine but that seems highly unlikely. The updated models like always will reach the Indonesian market first and then will come to Indian shores. The Ninja 250 is for countries like Thailand where bikes above 250cc are heavily taxed. Kawasaki is bound to introduce a lot of upgrades to keep with the growing competition while Honda is reportedly developing the CBR250RR with a very futuristic design and Suzuki is also working on quarter-litre bike that is expected to be launched by the end of 2016.
The Indian market got a replacement for the Ninja 250 in the form of the Ninja 300 in 2013, which is due for an update since then. The current generation bike is powered by a 296cc, parallel-twin engine that produces 39 BHP at 11,000 RPM and 27 Nm of torque at 10,000 RPM which comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is priced at Rs. 3.5 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) and is the costliest among competitors like the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC 390. Rumours also suggest that Kawasaki could up the displacement to 350cc to better take on its rivals.
Source – Warungasep.net