Today’s motorcycle market is very different than it was a decade or so ago. These days, people seem to prefer simpler, more modest, and more sensible machines, as long as size and performance are traditional. Bikes in the sub-400cc segment are extremely popular with beginners and veteran riders alike, and that’s definitely a good thing.
However, if you incorporate things like an ultra-simple engine and classic styling into a beginner-friendly entry-level platform, you’ll quickly create a modern classic. This is especially true if you happen to be part of one of the largest Japanese motorcycle manufacturers on the planet.
Of course, I’m talking about Kawasaki and its entry-level offering in the retro segment, the W230. This bike has finally made its way to the US market. Well, the W230 is really simple. It’s a bike that values style and tradition over performance and technology, and follows a bare-bones recipe.
Kawasaki
Inside the steel cradle frame sits an engine that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time. And that’s because it actually happened. It’s a 233cc air-cooled thumper with electronic fuel injection only, brought to modern speeds. It spins on spoked wheels and the most basic suspension setup imaginable, but comes standard with ABS to keep the novice rider’s best interests in mind. Sitting in the cockpit, you’ll be greeted by a period-correct dual gauge analog cluster. There’s no fancy TFT display or smartphone connectivity.
The Kawasaki W230 is clearly a breath of fresh air in the small displacement segment, where flashy high-tech features once found on performance-oriented premium machines are increasingly becoming mainstream.
So does the W230 have what it takes to succeed in the U.S. market? And more importantly, who is the W230 for? Well, personally, I think this bike appeals to a much wider range of riders. I think it has the potential to fascinate. Priced at $5,599, it’s certainly a few hundred dollars more expensive than Kawasaki’s entry-level Z400. This is a bike designed for people who know exactly what they want. It’s a simple, relaxed machine with all the perks of a true classic, but without all the headaches associated with maintaining a 60’s bike.
This is a really simple yet effective method that has come to be appreciated over the years by classic bike enthusiasts who want to really increase their mileage. And it’s great to finally have the W230 stateside. What do you think? Would you like to ride the W230 as a classy daily rider?