Superbike manufacturers such as Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have been taken aback by the response their high-end machines have received way up in the mountains. The manufacturers are reporting decent sales figures of their high-end bikes from Northern and North-Eastern parts of the country.

Atul Gupta, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited -

Much to our astonishment, 10% of superbikes have been bought by highlanders in Dehradun and Guwahati

The general trend among big bike manufacturers is to focus mainly on customers from metro cities, since these customers are the ones who are most likely to have the moolah to splurge on these exquisite machines. Manufacturers see Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore as the regions with the highest demand for their high-end bikes, but this recent statistic of good contributions from the mountainous regions has taken them by surprise.

Manufacturers attribute the good sales of their high end machines to the steadily rising disposable income and the availability of easy financing services. The presence of a well-trained service network and hassle free support for the bikes is also one of the factors pushing up sales of these bikes.

N.K Rattan, Head, Marketing and Sales, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India -

We have special teams to service these bikes across the country. This has boosted the confidence of the consumer, and has translated into better sales

Pankaj Dubey, Head, Marketing and Sales, India Yamaha Motor -

The actual numbers coming from the north-east mountain region are not as significant as the metros, but they are crucial. For this super-niche segment every unit sold makes a lot of difference to our sales strategy.

Though manufacturers have been surprised by the numbers reported from the mountains, the metros still lead the sales charts. Mumbai accounts for every 1 out three superbikes sold in the country, followed by Delhi and Bangalore, which account for around 20 % of the total sales of these bikes in the country.

The superbike market in India began to boom only when Yamaha brought in its YZF-R1 and MT-01 into the country during the year 2008. This was followed by launches from rival manufacturers such as Suzuki and Honda who brought in products such as the CBR 1000RR Fireblade, CB 1000R, Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa and the Suzuki Intruder.

The Hayabusa has gone onto take the lead in the superbike sales charts with a sales figure of 108 units till date. It has also enabled Suzuki to go atop the manufacturers sales chart ranking, leaving Yamaha and Honda to bring up the rear of the pack.

The superbike space in India has all the global majors presently in it except Kawasaki, who only have the Ninja 250R as their sole offering to Indian customers. But, this could change in the very near future, with Kawasaki setting up its Indian subsidiary and having said that customers in India can expect bigger and more powerful bikes from their international range very soon.

Source - Economic Times

Here are some more images of the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. The image which we  revealed yesterday was the only official image of the bike released by Kawasaki until now. These new images are of the bike being tested at Japan’s Suzuka race circuit, in order for the Kawasaki engineers to prep up the bike for the assault on next season’s World Superbike Championship title.

The 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R has been developed from the grounds up by Kawasaki, by starting the bike’s design with a clean sheet of paper. The bike shares nothing in common with the old Ninja ZX-10R. The new bike features all-new mechanicals such as the Chassis, Swingarm, Engine and Electronics.

Kawasaki will be banking on this bike to bring it back to the glory days when it was considered as a stiff rival to the likes of Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. The bike will have stiff competition to contend with from home turf as well as abroad, with BMW’s S1000RR superbike currently ruling the roost. The bike will be launched internationally sometime next year and Indian enthusiasts who want one could get a taste of this machine once Bajaj alongwith Kawasaki decides to bring it in to give fight to the offerings from Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha in India.

2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Suzuka Track Test Image Gallery

Source – Visor Down

After revealing the design sketches and a teaser video, Kawasaki has now revealed the first official picture of its 2011 Ninja ZX-10R litre-class superbike. The image revealed is of the track version of the bike and not of the production version, which will be available in Kawasaki showrooms, once the bike has been launched sometime in 2011.

The image has been released as a pre-cursor to a test of the track version’s capabilities by the Kawasaki R&D team at Japan’s Suzuka test track. The team from Kawasaki will be testing the bike for two days at the track, in order to fine tune the bike for the 2011 World Superbike Championship season.

The official image released offers us the first ‘real’ glimpse of the design and styling of the new bike and also gives us a clue as to how the production version of the bike could look like. The wait for the bike to hit the showrooms now begins as also does the anticipation of the bike hitting Indian shores.

Source – Auto Evolution

The Kawasaki Ninja 400R could be launched into the Indian two-wheeler market, once it has been debuted internationally later this year. The bike will be sold internationally as a 2011 model and so could reach Indian shores sometime next year or early 2012.

The Ninja 400R possesses a 399 cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, parallel twin, 4-stroke motor which has claimed power and torque figures of 43 bhp and 37 Nm. The Ninja 400R also has an offset rear monoshock, which looks like an element of the bike’s overall design. The bike has a one-piece seat, unlike the 250R’s split unit and a fully digital instrumentation console.

The Ninja 400R, if launched in India, could be priced around the 4.5-lakh mark, considering that the Ninja 250R retails for 3-lakhs plus on-road and the Ninja 650R will be joining the lineup at a price of around 6-lakhs on-road. If Kawasaki prices the bike at under 5-lakhs, it could find many takers for the bike, considering that there is no other 400 cc offering from any other company and the pricing translates to decent value for one’s money.

Source – Bike Advice

First pictures of three of Kawasaki’s 2011 model year bikes have been revealed by a Japanese motorcycle magazine. The three bikes are the ER-4f, ER-4n and a special Edition Ninja 250R.

The details about the technical specifications and pricing of the three bikes are not yet available as of now, but Visordown reports that the 400 cc parallel twin motors of the ER-4f/n could produce max power in the region of 70 bhp, which is just 2 bhp shy of the company’s bikes in the ER 600 cc range.

These new bikes could also find their way to Indian shores, considering Kawasaki has now setup its Indian arm India Kawasaki Motors (IKM) for its Indian Operations along with Bajaj, and it now has big plans to flood the Indian two-wheeler market with its various offerings in the near future.

3 Kawasakis for 2011 hi-res image

Source – Visordown

Kawasaki has revealed the design sketches of its all-new, next-generation Ninja ZX-10R, litre class superbike along with a short teaser video of the bike. The bike is expected to be officially launched sometime in 2011.

The next-generation Ninja ZX-10R will be developed from the grounds up and will share nothing in common with its predecessor. The next-gen Ninja ZX-10R will have a new frame housing a new engine along with a new suspension system. The next-gen Ninja ZX-10R will also feature all-new electronic hardware and software, to bring it up-to-speed with competition such as BMW’s S1000RR superbike.

The bike could also be launched in India, after being launched internationally, given the fact that rival manufacturers such as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, all have their liter-class offerings on sale in the Indian two-wheeler market and its only Kawasaki who’s missing. Will Kawasaki come and join in the Party and complete the quartet?

2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Teaser Video

Kawasaki could bring in its Kawasaki Z750 naked bike, as its flagship offering in the Indian bike market. The Z750 has a 750 cc, four-cylinder, fuel-injected petrol engine pumping out max power of 78 PS and max torque of 78 Nm. The bike could be priced around the Rs. 7-lakh mark.

IMB had earlier reported about the possible entry of the Ninja 650R into the Indian bike market, around the festive season, bearing a price tag of about Rs. 5-lakhs.

If Kawasaki does indeed launch the Ninja 650R and the Z750 at the above mentioned price points, it will fill a huge void that exists in terms of bikes available to buyers in the 3-7 lakh price range. Also, the launch of these bikes could force manufacturers such as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha to bring in their offerings in the same categories to enhance the options available to bike enthusiasts.

Kawasaki Z750 Technical Specifications

Engine and Transmission

Displacement: 748.00 cc (45.64 cubic inches)

Engine type: In-line four, four-stroke

Power: 106 PS (78.0 kW) @ 10,500 rpm

Torque: 78.00 Nm (8.0 kgf-m or 57.5 ft.lbs) @ 8300 rpm

Compression ratio: 11.3:1

Bore x stroke: 68.4 x 50.9 mm (2.7 x 2.0 inches)

Valves per cylinder: 4

Fuel supply system: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)

Fuel control mechanism: DOHC

Ignition: TCBI Digital Advance

Cooling system: Liquid cooling

Gearbox: 6-speed

Chassis, Suspension, Brakes and Wheels

Frame type: Backbone, high-tensile steel tubes and cast aluminum engine sub-frame

Rake (fork angle): 24.5°

Trail: 103 mm (4.1 inches)

Front suspension: 41mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.

Rear suspension: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock, stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload / 5.9 in.

Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-ZR17

Rear tyre dimensions: 180/55-ZR17

Front brakes: Dual discs

Front brakes diameter: 300 mm (11.8 inches)

Rear brakes: Single disc

Rear brakes diameter: 250 mm (9.8 inches)

Dimensions and Capacities

Dry weight: 207.0 kg (456.4 pounds)

Seat height: 815 mm (32.1 inches)

Overall height: 1,100 mm (43.3 inches)

Overall length: 2,085 mm (82.1 inches)

Overall width: 805 mm (31.7 inches)

Wheelbase: 1,440 mm (56.7 inches)

Fuel capacity: 18.50 litres (4.89 gallons)

Starter: Electric

Source – Bike India

The authorized distributor of Bajaj and Kawasaki motorcycles in Nepal, Hansraj Hulaschand Company, has launched the Kawasaki Ninja 250R in the Nepalese market. Hansraj Hulaschand Company commenced bookings for Ninja in the first week of April, when the bike was officially revealed to the public.

Amit Nandi, Vice-President, Bajaj Auto Limited, India -

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is a popular machine for novices and experienced riders alike. It is known for its light handling, good fuel economy and comfortable riding posture

Shekhar Golchha, Executive Director, Hansraj Hulaschand & Company -

Bajaj has already created a mark amongst all segments of motorcycles in Nepal. With the Kawasaki Ninja, we attempt to bring in a whole new segment of customers who take pro-biking seriously and enjoy it through-and-through

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R launched in Nepal possesses the same looks and tech specs as its Indian counterpart. The bikes sold in Nepal, are shipped from Pune, and then minor assembly of the bikes is carried out by the dealers in Nepal before handing over the bikes to customers.

The Ninja 250R in Nepal is available in two paint shades namely Lime Green and Ebony Black. The bike has been priced at 7,49,000 Nepali Rupees, which translates to 4,68,125 Indian Rupees.

The Ninja 250R in India has not met the expected sales targets set by Bajaj Auto Limited (BAL) in India, mainly due to its 3-lakh INR price tag. With the bike being priced even higher in the Nepalese market, I have no clue as to how many takers the bike will find there.

Kawasaki Ninja 250R Specifications

LC 4 stroke – 249cc, DOHC, 8V, FI, 24 KW (33PS) at 11,000 RPM, 22Nm @8,200 RPM.

Front Brake – Single 290mm petal disc

Rear Brake – 220 single petal disc

Gearbox – 6-speed gearbox

Kerb weight – 172kg

Fuel tank capacity – 17 liter

Front Tire – 17 inch 110/70

Rear Tire – 17 inch 130/70

Source – My Republica

Bajaj is trying to revolutionize the Indian motorcycle scene by bringing performance motorcycles. Many of them aren’t appreciating the company for this and instead term Bajaj as a greedy bike maker looking to earn profits by pricing its motorcycles higher than anyone else.

The question we ask is how many bike manufacturers in India have really taken a step in this direction apart from Bajaj? Honda has been present in India for the last how many ever years, and they have stuck to launching scooters and commuters despite having a gamut of performance products lying in their warehouse. Suzuki has re-entered the Indian market independently, but they too have not really spoken or shown any intent in bringing any high capacity motorcycles that are affordable. TVS has been working on the Apache 20 cc at a time and has no news to share at this moment.

Hero Honda..err..Anyway.

These high capacity bikes have better quality, handling and performance than any of the bikes manufactured locally, and they come at a price. Bajaj gave more people the opportunity of riding the world’s best 250cc motorcycle, and they aren’t going to place the full stop there.

Kawasaki could ride in the 650cc Ninja during the festive season this year. The vehicle could cost a couple of lakh more than the smaller Ninja, but you get more performance too.

The best part of the 650cc Ninja will be its ability to encounter traffic, pot holes, narrow roads and tight parking spaces. For 5 lakh rupees, one could buy a B-Segment hatchback, but it is pointless to look at it that way. The ardent Ninja enthusiast will be able to explain why.

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Technical Specifications

Engine – Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder, parallel twin
Displacement – 649 cc
Bore x Stroke – 83.0 x 60.0 mm
Compression Ratio – 11.3:1
Cooling System – Liquid
Fuel System – Digital fuel injection with two 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
Ignition – Digital CDI
Transmission – 6-Speed
Final Drive – O-Ring Chain
Frame Type – Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake/Trail – 25°/4.2 in.
Front Tire Size – 120/70-17
Rear Tire Size – 160/60-17
Wheelbase – 55.5 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel – 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork / 4.7 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel – Single offset laydown shock with adjustable spring preload / 4.9 in.
Front Brakes – Dual 300mm Petal Disc with 2-Piston Caliper
Rear Brakes – Single 220mm petal disc with single piston caliper
Fuel Capacity – 4.1 gal.
Seat Height – 31.1
Curb Weight – 449.8 lbs.
Overall length – 82.7 in.
Overall width – 29.9 in.
Overall height – 47.2 in.
Color Choices – Candy Lime Green, Ebony, Metallic Island Blue

Kawasaki Ninja 650R Image Gallery

With the sales growing for the Ninja 250R over the period of time, Bajaj in collaboration with Kawasaki is planning to bring up high end bikes from the Japanese bike maker.

So far Bajaj has sold around 500 units of the Ninja 250R through its probiking showrooms across the country and the response is getting better n better day by day.

Bajaj in agreement with Kawasaki will bring in more Kawasaki bikes some of them will be assembled locally whereas some of them will be brought in as CBU down the year.

As per sources we expect the 600cc Ninja to be the next to be brought into India by Bajaj. The Ninja 250R has a waiting period of about 3 months as of now and the company is planning to reduce it to half in a few months time.

The Ninja 250R is no doubt one of the best 250cc bikes in the world and its a great thing that we have this bike being sold in our country. But the bike is still out of reach of many of the bike enthusiasts in India like myself.

Source: bsmotoring