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Auto Expo 2008 Coverage: Kawasaki Ninja 250R in Bajaj Probiking Showrooms soon..!!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Kawasaki Ninja 250R coming to your Bajaj Probiking Showroom.. Soon..!!

A Baby Ninja (250R) was strategically placed in the center and ahead from all the other Kawasaki products displayed at the Bajaj Pavilion.

If that’s not hint enough, then a senior Bajaj Official present in the Pavilion told me that chances of the 2008 Ninja 250R coming to India is pretty high..!!

Isn’t she a sight for sore eyes..??

Of late everything has been falling into place for me..

# Quit my I.T job in Bangalore (still can’t call it “Bengaluru”)

# Joined a company where my boss talks about doing stoppies on his Apache RTR 160

# I get access to Auto Expo 2008 on the day reserved for the press (thanks to my new job. Talk about being in the right place in the right time.)

# Only to be greeted by the news that Bajaj will bring the 2008 Ninja 250R in India

In one sentence, “Life is beautiful..!!

Just take a peek at three of my posts made in October 2007.. “Nostradamus” couldn’t have done a better job I’d say.

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R..!! Bring this one to India please [October 14, 2007]
I’d rather ride a 250-400 cc slowly through a pothole, than “Day Dream” of riding the R1 on the Golden Quadrilateral..!! [Oct 27, 2007]
30 BHP, 250 cc, Twin Cylinder Bikes are for Ladies..!! [Oct 28, 2007]

I still maintain that 250 cc, twin cylinder bikes are for ladies.. but considering my financial constraints, I can’t think of a better way to age gracefully and lose the rest of my hair.

The Price hasn’t been decided yet but the Ninja 250R is expected to appear in India by Mid 2008.

By the way, the 2008 Ninja is manufactured in Thailand and sold for $ 3,500 in the U.S. So if Bajaj could get the the Ninja 250 in “CKD” (Completely Knocked Down) or “SKD” (Semi Knocked down) kits (to ease the custom duties), then we could probably get the Ninja 250R for anywhere between 2.0 – 2.5 lakhs.

Tech Specs of the 2008 Ninja 250R sold in the U.S.A:

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, parallel twin

Displacement: 249cc

Maximum power : 32PS (31.56 hp) at 11,000rpm

Maximum torque: 21.7Nm at 10,000rpm

Cooling: Liquid

Carburetion: Keihin CVK30 x 2
(The European 2008 Ninja 250R features “Fuel Injection” instead of Carburetion and produces slighty lesser peak power of 30 Ps)

Transmission: Six-speed

Final drive: O-ring chain

Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel

Wheelbase: 1390mm(NA Model) – 54.72 in

Front suspension / wheel travel: 37mm hydraulic telescopic fork

Rear suspension / wheel travel: Uni-Trak with aluminum linkage / Preload Adjustable

Front tire: 110/70-17

Rear tire: 130/80-17

Front brake: Single 290mm hydraulic petal disc with two-piston caliper

Rear brake: Single 220mm petal disc with two-piston caliper

Overall length: 2080mm

Overall width: 710mm

Overall height: 1115mm

Seat height: 780mm

Dry weight: 151kg

Fuel capacity: 18 liters

Color choices: Lime Green, Ebony, Passion Red, Candy Plasma Blue

Price (for U.S): $3,499

source: 2wheelsindia.com

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R 2008 sport bikes

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:00:00 +0000

You have to love Kawasaki’s rationale for improving their already blisteringly-quick 2008 ZX-10R: Give the new components to Kawasaki’s Japanese Superbike rider Akira Yanagawa, have him thrash them to destruction in Japan’s super competitive All Japan Superbike series, any bits that pass the test then get given to the production test team, tweaked, adjusted and generally improved upon, then they are handed back to Yanagawa for more testing.

So, if you don’t like this year’s ZX-10, talk to Yanagawa, although from where I’m sitting, there’s not much wrong with it. Yanagawa himself gave it glowing reviews after his first test ride.

made for wheelies .

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Site

So what’s new for 2008? Pretty much everything actually. A new engine for starters, which includes secondary fuel injectors, oval throttle bodies and reshaped intake ports. A new exhaust system and ram air ducts to increase intake flow. A slipper clutch and improved gear ratios allow more aggressive down shifting and better power delivery.

And to go with the new engine is an all-new frame setup including a new two piece sub frame, a new swing arm (pressed instead of cast) longer steering tube, and increased strength to the main frame by using increased wall thicknesses, and changes to the frame stampings.

New forks, new rear shock, bigger, thinner brake discs and new wheels that are squeeze cast, whatever that is. And to top it all, a complete new styling package

All this means – lighter, more aerodynamic, more powerful, better handling. In short, faster. The 2008 Ninja ZX-10R might bear the same name as it’s predecessor, but that’s it. All-new, all-fun. I can’t wait to get my hands on one.

So what do the reviewers think? Awesome just about sums it up. There is a review by motorcycle.com in the links box, but they loved it – “smaller, skinnier and sharper,” is how they describe it.

Kawasaki’s plans for World Superbike domination rest on this bike, and how well it performs will soon be seen. With the WSBK rule changes for 2008, it will be interesting to see if a four cylinder can stay the course against a larger capacity V-Twin. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch. This is Kawasaki’s official WSBK entry for last year, the Neos Banca Ninja ZX-10R – 10 kilos lighter than the stock bike, tell me you don’t want one and I’ll call you a liar. I wonder how much they want for last years bikes?

Kawasaki GTR1400 First crash video

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:22:00 +0000

Here’s the first crash on the all-new Kawasaki GTR1400 – courtesy of some French mates of ours at top motorcycle magazine Moto Journal.
The testers were at the launch of the bike last week, then set out to film a mickey-take of French TV show Turbeauf.
Turbeauf is one of France’s longest-running Top Gear type shows and is well-known for testing large cars in America – hence the parody of a cosseted journalist enjoying the high-flying fruits of his job abroad.
During the video you’ll see the test rider fall asleep during the briefing, heading out to the American restaurants for some essential foreign food, falling over in a pedalo and taking you for a tour of his hotel suite. Note the sunglasses that are kept on throughout (you may even be able to spot the price tag still attached).
At the end of the shoot, the idea was to fake a spill in order to wrap things up neatly for the parody – but while the camera was still rolling, test rider Zef Enault thought he’d grab the chance to try out the GTR through some more ‘enthusiastic’ turns.
The sounds of broken fibreglass and grinding metal can be heard very clearly – every panel on the bike was wrecked in the fall.
Luckily, Enault was not hurt and limped away to make his excuses to Kawasaki bosses further down the road… turn the sound up and stay with the movie until the end for the crunching crash.Source:- MCN