Four-Cylinder Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R Under Development

[Update: Kawasaki has launched the Ninja ZX-25 in Indonesia. Know prices and more details here.]

Reportedly, a working prototype of the bike is already ready at Kawasaki’s Indonesian factory

• The prototype ZX-25R is said to sport a race exhaust and sound like a bigger bike. 
• The inline four-cylinder motor could produce power figures of around 50PS.
• Kawasaki sold a ZXR250 with an inline four-cylinder engine back in the ‘90s.
• Expect the Ninja ZX-25R to go up against the Honda CBR250RR and the Yamaha YZF-R3.

Rumours suggest that Kawasaki is currently working on an all-new, 250cc motorcycle. The Japanese manufacturer has reportedly added two extra cylinders to the engine. In essence, the bike may feature a powerful four-cylinder motor instead of a parallel-twin powerplant. Allegedly, a working prototype version of this bike christened the Ninja ZX-25R is already ready at Kawasaki’s factory in Indonesia.

Reports also suggest that the prototype sports a race exhaust with the characteristic howl of a bigger displacement motor. While there’s no official word from the bikemaker, we could expect the bike to produce twice the amount of power compared to the current Kawasaki Ninja 250. To put things into perspective, the existing model uses a 249cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor that belts out 39PS at 12,500rpm and 23.5Nm of peak torque at 10,000rpm. Considering the Ninja ZX-25R has two extra cylinders at its disposal, power figures in the range of 45PS to 50PS seems plausible.

Also Read: Is The Next-Gen Small Ninja Going To Be Electric?

Besides, it isn’t the first time the Japanese manufacturer has slapped a four-cylinder engine into a 250cc class motorcycle. Heck, they did it back in the ’90s with the Kawasaki ZXR250. This pocket rocket was capable of revving up to a jaw-dropping 19,000rpm while its engine was restricted to produce 45PS due to Japanese safety norms. 

The new bike is expected to feature a bigger disc brake upfront clamped by a four-piston caliper and a single rear disc mated to a two-piston caliper. Dual-channel ABS is likely to be offered as standard. The suspension hardware could comprise of premium upside down forks and monoshock. The ZX-25R may also feature LED lights at both ends and a full-digital instrument console to keep in line with the current generation bikes. And considering Kawasaki loves pushing the limits of a bike, we might see some rider aids as well.

In terms of competition, the Ninja ZX-25R is expected to go up against the Honda CBR250RR and the Yamaha YZF-R3. While the duo produce power outputs hovering around the 40PS mark, the ZX-25R could outdo the two in terms of outright performance. With the prototype Ninja ZX-25R up and running, we expect the bike to be showcased at either the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show or at the 2019 EICMA motor show. Until then, stay tuned to BikeDekho for more information.

Source: GridOto.com