Kawasaki Launches Z900 Without Accessories and 2017 Ninja 1000

Kawasaki has launched the Z900 in India without accessories in a bid to price the naked bike even more aggressively. The mechanical underpinnings of the bike is the same as the current Kawasaki Z900 but it now misses out on the previously compulsory accessories like flyscreen, crash bobbins for the front forks, engine guards, engine casing covers, a gel tank pad, premium seat cover and pillion seat cowl with small back cushioning for the rider, a 12V charging socket on the handlebar, and a radiator guard. The Japanese manufacturer has priced the barebones Z900 at Rs 7.68 lakh, ex-showroom, pan India. This makes the bike Rs 1.3 lakh cheaper than the accessorised Z900. For the time being, the manufacturer hasn't clarified whether the accessories for this bike will be on sale or not. But if the accessories are bought separately, it costs close to Rs 1.8 lakh.

The bike competes with the recently launched affordable nakeds- the Ducati Monster 797 and the Triumph Street Triple S. The former is priced at Rs 7.77 lakh while the latter costs Rs 8.5 lakh, both ex-showroom, Delhi. The Z900 is powered by a 948cc inline-four engine that belts out 125PS of power at 9500rpm and 98.6Nm of torque at 7500rpm. Also read: 2017 Kawasaki Z900: First Look

Kawasaki has also launched the 2017 Ninja 1000 in the Indian market. The 2017 iteration of the bike comes with a wider front fairing (increased protection for the rider's legs) with taller windscreen (up by 15mm at the centre) which is more aerodynamic and is also adjustable up to three levels. The adjustment can be done without the requirement of tools. The bike comes with LED headlights which are 1.3 to 1.5 times brighter when it comes to lateral illumination on low beam, and the projection distance on high-beam is up by 1.4 times. The LED lights are also efficient and draw 50 per cent less power compared to conventional lights. The bike is powered by a Euro-IV-compliant 1043cc inline-four motor that produces 142PS at 10000rpm and 111Nm of torque at 7300rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed slipper clutch-enabled gearbox.

Suspension duties are taken care by 41 mm inverted front forks with step-less compression, rebound damping, and spring preload adjustability. The rear uses a gas-charged monoshock with step-less rebound damping and adjustable remote spring preload. The revised shock settings with new linkage have resulted in a lower seat height from 820mm to 815mm. The bike is anchored by dual 300mm petal discs at the front and a 250mm petal disc at the rear. The braking is enhanced by Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Braking System (KIBS), which helps counter the tendency of the bike to stand up while braking mid-corner. When it comes to electronics, the bike features Kawasaki Cornering Management Function which facilitates smooth power delivery and optimum brake force, while leaning. The bike also features KTRC (including traction and wheelie control).

For added convenience, the clutch lever is 5-way adjustable and the seats are redesigned for greater comfort and are damped on the underside to help reduce vibration. The 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is priced at Rs 9.98, ex-showroom, pan India. Only 20 units of the 2017 Ninja 1000 has been allotted to India and the bike is sold via Semi Knocked Down (SKD) route.