Kawasaki Bikes in India

In 1960, Kawasaki established its own motorcycle manufacturing facility. Six years later, they came out with their most notable effort, the 650cc W1 model. However, it wasn't until 1969 that Kawasaki emerged as a big player in the global motorcycle landscape. This was due to the release of the 500cc H1 model (also known as Mach III). Among the H1's unique attributes were good power, high performance, and an exhaust roar typical of the 3-cylinder models.

In 1972, the Kawasaki unveiled Japan's largest motorcycle of then, the Kawasaki Z1. It featured an air-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 903cc, DOHC engine, which was Kawasaki’s first 4-stroke engine with a state-of-the-art, unique mechanism. The Z1, a pioneer of the Supersport models, solidified Kawasaki’s reputation as a premium performance bike maker. It also remains deeply engraved in the public conscience as one of the most superlative Kawasaki bike models to date.

In 1984, Kawasaki forayed into India when it agreed to provide technical assistance to Bajaj. The collaboration was then known as Bajaj Kawasaki. The first bike jointly developed by these two motorcycle giants was the 100cc Bajaj Kawasaki Boxer. By the turn of the century, Bajaj became self-reliant in terms of technology and product development. Then, the Kawasaki name started to wither away. The last motorcycle it built with Kawasaki’s technology was the Eliminator in 1999.

On 1st July 2010, India Kawasaki Motors Private Limited (IKM), a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited, Japan, was incorporated. From July 2013, IKM started assembly of the Z250, the Ninja 300, the Ninja 650, the ER-6N and the Versys 650 motorcycles at Bajaj’s plant in Chakan, Maharashtra.

After Bajaj’s acquisition of the Austrian brand KTM in 2012, IKM and Bajaj decided to part ways. As a result of the split in April 2017, IKM established its new plant in Chakan, Maharashtra in July 2017. The Ninja 1000 became the first motorcycle to roll out of IKM’s Chakan plant.

The range of Kawasaki bikes, ever sold in India, consists of the KLX 110, the KLX 140G, the KLX 450R, the KX 100, the KX 250F, the KX 450F, the Versys X-300, the Versys 650, the Vulcan, the Z250, the Z650, the Z900, the Z900RS, the Z1000, the Z1000R, the Ninja 300, the Ninja 400, the Ninja 650, the Ninja ZX-10R, the Ninja ZX-10RR, the Ninja 1000, the Ninja ZX-14R, the Ninja H2, the Ninja H2 SX, the Ninja H2 Carbon, and the Ninja H2R.