Kawasaki Z125 and Ninja 125 test: for generation Z or ZX-R bikers ?
Unveiled in September, the Z125 and Ninja 125 land in mid-December in dealerships. Kawasaki allowed us to test its two new 2019 models on the road … then on the track (s) with Ana Carrasco, Supersport 300 world champion. Ride youth !
Z125 and Ninja 125 test page 1 – Kawasaki (re) relaunch
MT125, 125 Duke, CB125R on one side, YZF-R125, GSX-R125 or RS4 on the other … A1 license holders were already spoiled for choice when it comes to small roadsters or mini sports cars. But Kawasaki further complicates the situation by returning to the 125 cc motorcycle market with two new 2019 products !
Two weeks before Christmas, the Akashi firm will market a new offer generated by strong demand: "our Z125 and Ninja 125 are designed exclusively for Europe, at the request of our dealers and their customers," officials tell us. Japanese and European Kawasaki.
- MNC special file : All news 2019
- Ninja 125 and Z125 :
Probably jealous of the sales of their red, blue or orange comrades on the Old Continent, the Greens have decided to reinvest this important segment – not to say capital, since bikers most often have a privileged relationship with the brand that has put them the boot to the footrest.
For Kawasaki, this is in fact a second return to the 125 cc segment: in 2010 already, the Japanese brand relaunched its assault on young bikers (from 16 years old) with two models: the KLX and the D-Tracker, which shared the same fairly basic mechanics.
Unfortunately for Kawa, the trail 125 and its supermotard version have never succeeded in reproducing the successes of the KMX and KDX of another "2-stroke" … At the forefront of fashion in the 90s, this type of gear is no longer successful. Ditto for customs 125: a new generation of Eliminator was therefore automatically eliminated !
To bait and shoe the "youngsters" of the 21st century, motorcycle manufacturers are more likely to imitate their medium or large displacement bestsellers. That’s why Kawasaki is launching a mini Zed and a little Ninja this year !
In France, the Z roadster will undoubtedly attract more customers than the sporty Ninja: "we are counting on 80% of Z125 and 20% of Ninja 125", confirms Antoine Coulon, marketing and communication manager at Kawasaki France while in other countries (mainly Great Britain), the proportions could be reversed.
According to surveys carried out before the project, the main reason for buying a 125 cc motorcycle is style (37% of customers). From this point of view, Kawasaki marks the entry of big points since the Z125 strongly resembles a Z900! In the color white / black, the relationship is even particularly striking…
The lines – which start from the top of the tank, descend on the rider saddle and go up towards saddle the passenger folding seat – are almost stackable! The steel tube frames do not have the same features, but their special color in "tart apple" green skillfully brings them together..
On the other hand, we regret that the face of the little Zed does not look more like that of the 900: front view, the little "Kawette" looks more like a Honda 600 Hornet! Likewise, we would have appreciated that the exhaust was shorter on the Z125, even if it meant being larger as is the case on the Z900, precisely..
Axially mounted front caliper and straight swingarm: The mini Zed shares two reasonable choices with the Z900. It is also inspired by the Z650 by selecting a "non-inverted" fork, basic but sufficient? MNC will try to verify it during this test…
The brake discs of the Z125 are cut petal, like the vast majority of Kawasaki production (with the exception of the Ninja H2 and ZX-10R which are equipped at Brembo). Does the Ninja 125 do the same? No, because the little sports car hardly differs from the roadster in mechanical terms (read our technical point on the penultimate page).
From an aesthetic point of view, the "ZX-R" 125 looks nothing like its predecessors, unlike the Z125 … and contrary to what Kawasaki would have us believe! Only the decoration of the fairings of the "KRT Replica" special editions of the two sports cars launches a – fragile – bridge between the Superbike and the 125cc.
For 27% of customers, what matters first when buying a 125 is the brand! With its mass of high-performance models, Kawasaki registers here other precious points for its mini Ninja which circulates in a tiny segment: only half a thousand registrations in France last year for all 125 sports cars..
Made for Europe in Indonesia
The overwhelming domination of Jonathan Rea in World Superbike for four years also "marks" the minds of – warned – motorcycle speed enthusiasts. What to boost sales? In Northern Ireland, Johnny’s original homeland, perhaps. In France, MNC can hardly believe it: the Journal moto du Net would rely more on a sales jump in Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam, the fervor for motorcycle racing continues to increase. In Indonesia too? Maybe more! It is also there that the two small new Kawasaki 2019 models are produced. After all, KTM does indeed manufacture its mini Duke in India, at its partner Bajaj..
Unlike the Yamaha MT and YZF-R125 (among others) which come out of the MBK factory in France, the Z125 and Ninja 125 are therefore not stamped with an estimate "made in France", nor even a consensus "made in Europe ". The Akashi firm thus responds to the most important point for 7% of 125 customers: being financially affordable.
In their solid blue color (right between the deep Yamaha blue and the electrifying Suzuki blue), the mini Z and the small "ZX-R" are displayed respectively at 4599 and 4899 euros (count 100 euros more for more decorations. wanted). A quick market study puts the two Kawasaki in the middle, no more and no less.
For these prices (that of a recent mid-size used!), We would still have liked Kawasaki to pay a little more attention to the finish, by painting certain engine parts in black for example: radiator, starter and injection body denote too much in gray. Likewise, some cables and wires are too apparent.
On the other hand, MNC still does not understand why Kawasaki persists in putting superfluous – not to say super ugly – trim on the frames of its Zs (125, 650 and 900): covers slipped under would suffice, no ? Unless the Japanese want to hide too coarse welds? In that case…
Right next to it, the pilot’s footrest plates have a much better effect. On the right, the brake pedal seems rudimentary but its shape and cut make it perfectly functional. The footrests are generously lined with rubber on the front, but not on the rear.
On the handlebars, small or – very – large riders would have appreciated being able to adjust the distance between the front clutch and brake levers. However, Site assures that the majority of users will be perfectly satisfied with the compromise chosen by Kawasaki..
Like the price, the look of a big motorcycle appears as the main asset of a 125 for 7% of bikers … Here again, the little Zed and Ninja only half fill the contract: in photo, viewed in profile or three-quarter front, they can make an impression.
However, when viewed from the front, from the back or from above, they no longer fool anyone … And that’s good, because these two new Kawasaki 2019 models must be easy to take in "gloves"! Site will be able to verify this by trying them both in the southern tip of Spain, where the temperatures are still mild and the tarmac dry … but sometimes slippery! In the saddle on the next page,
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