Kawasaki reportedly developing inline-four-powered Z250
A naked version of the popular ZX-25R sportbike, anyone?

Back in the '80s and '90s, nearly all Japanese motorcycle manufacturers had sportbikes sporting high-revving, 250cc, inline-four engines. These soulful beasts delivered impressive performance with even more impressive sound, but didn't offer the neck-breaking performance of their high-displacement siblings. These days, however, the era of the high-revving, quarter-liter screamer is all but gone. One company, however, has embarked on a mission to save this engine, and has done so rather successfully. Of course, this is none other than Kawasaki and the Ninja ZX-25R, a bike that has captured the hearts and minds of sportbike aficionados all over the world.
Powered by a 249cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, inline-four cylinder engine, the Ninja ZX-25R is the only bike in the market to offer such a unique engine configuration. It certainly makes for an exhilarating ride to hear that screaming inline-four that revs all the way to 17,500 RPM. Despit being a rather petite mill, the ZX-25R pumps out an impressive 43.5 horsepower to the back wheel, giving it a thoroughly impressive power-to-displacement ratio.

The Kawasaki Z250 is a bike some of you may be familiar wit. Back then, before it was replaced with the Z300, and now the highway-legal Z400, the Z250 was the entry-level Kawasaki naked bike to have. With a parallel-twin engine, it delivered around 34 horsepower, making it powerful enough to have a good time on. That being said, the Z250 may be making a comeback, but not in its previous, rather lackluster form. Instead, we could be seeing this bike take on a naked form of the Ninja ZX-25R.
While none of this has yet to be set in stone, there are indeed numerous reports from Japanese motoring publications surrounding the development of this bike. Just like the ZX-25R, the Z250 is expected to feature more premium components as compared to its parallel-twin ancestor. If this bike becomes a reality, it could very well sport inverted forks, a radial-mounted disc brake, and a basic suite of electornic rider aids. Of course, the star of the show will be the high-revving, 250cc, inline-four engine. Do you think this bike will have a place in the local market despite the fact it won't be expressway-legal if and when it becomes a reality?
Tagged Under
Related Articles
-
Benelli releases the 2022 TRK 502X in China with a slew of updates / News
Benelli has launched the 2022 TRK 502X adventure bike in China. The update features a slew of refinements making the already capable ADV even better.
-
Triumph officially launches the Tiger 1200 in the Philippines starting at P1,460,000 / News
Triumph Philippines proudly presents the Tiger 1200 in the local market. It’s available in four variants—GT Pro, GT Explorer, Rally Pro, and Rally Explorer.
-
Harley-Davidson could be reviving the Bronx naked streetfighter / News
According to recent Harley-Davidson patent filings, the Bronx has risen from the dead. Is it possible that this bike will become a reality soon?
-
Would you ride this wild custom motorcycle based on the Yamaha MT-09 SP? / News
Puig, a Spanish aftermarket company, has transformed a Yamaha MT-09 SP into Diablo, a futuristic concept bike.
-
Kawasaki to release new Ninja ZX-6R for 2023 / News
Kawasaki has announced the 2023 Ninja ZX-6R in the US and European market. Expect the updated middleweight superbike to enter the local market in the coming months.
Latest News
-
Benelli releases the 2022 TRK 502X in China with a slew of updates / News
Benelli has launched the 2022 TRK 502X adventure bike in China. The update features a slew of refinements making the already capable ADV even better.
-
If the Triumph Trident 660 got a sportbike cousin, would you get it if it looked like this? / News
Will the Triumph Trident get the RR treatment? Digital artist, Oberdan Bezzi makes a render to tickle our imagination.
-
Honda Philippines is recognized for its CSR efforts with a Gold SPMJ Driven to Serve Award / News
Typhoon victims received aid and the Philippine Red Cross received life-saving motorcycles as a part of Honda’s CSR efforts.