New Kawasaki showroom in Kolkata & Rs 12.9 lakh Versys 1000 launched

Japanese bike maker, Kawasaki, has launched its litre-class tourer, the Versys 1000,priced at Rs 12.9 lakh ex-showroom, Pune. In line with the other five large capacity bikes (Ninja 1000, Ninja ZX-10R, Ninja ZX-14R, Z1000, and Z800) from Kawasaki’s India stables, the Versys 1000 will be brought in via the CBU route, contributing to the slightly high price tag.

While the tourer shares its in-line four-cylinder 1043cc engine with the Ninja 1000 and the Z1000, the Versys gets a slightly de-tuned version, putting out 118bhp and 102Nm of peak torque, though comes mated to the same six-speed transmission.

Typical of bikes in this segment, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 gets quite a bit of gadgetry and equipment, like a manually adjustable (without tools) windshield, ABS, KTRC traction control (with four settings), two power modes, a slipper clutch (with assist function), and a fully adjustable KYB fork and shock with provisions for preload and rebound.

In India, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 will see competition in the Triumph Tiger Explorer XC (in-line, triple, 1215cc, priced at Rs 18.75 lakh ex-Delhi) and Suzuki’s V-Strom 1000 ABS (V-twin, 1037cc, priced at Rs 14.95 lakh ex-Delhi).

IKM (India Kawasaki Motors) has also inaugurated a new showroom in Kolkata, the Japanese manufacturer’s fifth standalone showroom in the country. Like the other larger capacity CBUs, the Versys 1000 will be available only at Kawasaki’s standalone showrooms in Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata.

With the launch of the new tourer, the inauguration of the new showroom, and the reduction in price of the Z800, Shigeto Nishikawa, Deputy Managing Director, India Kawasaki Motors, expects a growth of about 50 per cent compared to last year.