Kawasaki Versys 250 Launched In Indonesia; India On The Cards?

Japanese bike maker Kawasaki has launched the Versys 250 in Indonesia at a price tag of IDR 61.9 million (around Rs 3.12 lakh) for the base variant. Whereas, the top-of-the-line, Versys 250 Tourer is priced at IDR 72.7 million (approximately Rs 3.66 lakh). The 250cc adventure motorcycle is the most affordable one to carry the Versys moniker. 

If you compare it to its older siblings, the Versys 650 and Versys 1000, you would find a stark difference, which isn't as prominent between the former two. The adventure bike looks bite-sized in front of its siblings, thanks to the lean and tall fairing with a single headlamp unit as opposed to the dual headlamp found on all the other premium Kawasaki motorbikes. It also features fork wheels for better off-road performance; the front is a 19-inch, whereas the rear is a 17-inch rim. The bike also features fixed handlebars, a digital instrument cluster with analogue rev counter and a charging port. Further to the side, one can notice a lean tail with carrier rails.  

Clearly, the Versys 250 is targeted at the mass market and you can notice signs of cost cutting at several places. Notice the rear swingarm which is made out of a tube and is not a single frame type. It isn’t a bad thing since an adventure bike is, by nature, more versatile, and falling short on looks can be overlooked for the sake of its function. Also, if Kawasaki plans to bring this to India, it would be easier for the company to price it competitively. Especially when we are aware that KTM is also planning to bring an adventure bike with the 390’s engine. 

The Versys 250 is powered by a 249cc, 8-valve, liquid-cooled, parallel twin motor with a power output of 34PS and a torque of 21.7Nm and is mated to a six-speed gearbox. The engine is housed in a diamond frame chassis, which offers better stability and stiffness in on and off-road conditions. 

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The motorcycle carries front telescopic fork (with 170mm of travel) and a mono-shock suspension at the back. It is equipped with front and rear disc brakes for effective stopping duties.

The colour palette consists combos of Metallic Graphite Grey/Flat Ebony and Candy Lime Green/Metallic Graphite Grey for the Versys 250, whereas the Tourer is offered with Candy Burnt Orange/Metallic Graphite Grey along with the Candy Lime Green combo, which is also available with the standard variant. 

As far as the Indian launch is concerned, Kawasaki may try to bring it in the second half of 2017, but no clear information is available on the same, for the time being. Currently, the adventure segment, in India, is ruled by the Royal Enfield Himalayan. But, with KTM and BMW preparing to bring their adventure offerings in near future, this particular segment is sure to see a massive boom.