Kawasaki W800 retro-styled motorcycle to be launched in India soon: Report

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki is reportedly planning to launch retro-styled W800 in India. Kawasaki has imported one unit of the W800 from Japan for homologation process in India.

Market launch of the W800 is expected in early 2017, reports Bikewale. There is no clarity whether the motorcycle will be launched in India as completely knocked down (CKD) or completely built unit (CBU). Since Kawasaki's below 800cc motorcycles are currently locally manufactured in India, the W800 may also come as CKD and, in that case, it will have a competitive pricing.

The W800 is powered by 773cc V-twin air-cooled engine that develops 47bhp and 60Nm of torque mated to a five-speed transmission. Based on the double-cradle and high-tensile steel, the W800 features 39mm telescopic fork up-front and five-way adjustable twin shocks at the rear. Braking power comes from 300mm disc twin-piston caliper at the front and 160mm drum brake at the rear.

Kawasaki W800 measures 2,190mm in length, 790mm in width, and 1,075mm height. It features 1,465mm wheelbase, 125mm ground clearance, 14-litres of fuel tank capacity and 217kg kerb weight. The W800 will go up against the popular Triumph Bonneville family in India. Pricing of the W800 is expected close to the Harley-Davidson Street 750 which is priced at Rs 4.9 lakh.

In May 2016, Kawasaki India imported the BJ250, also called Estrella for research and analysis purposes. The Estrella is also rumoured for India launch and it will go up against Royal Enfield's bestseller, the Classic 350. The Estrella is powered by a 249cc single-cylinder air-cooled fuel-injected engine that develops 17bhp at 7,500rpm and 18Nm of torque at 5,000rpm mated to a five-speed transmission.