We are in a golden age of retro bikes. However, most of the offerings have been at either the high end of the market, with models like the Kawasaki Z900 and W800, or the low end of the market like with Honda’s Monkey and other 125cc minis. Now, the Kawasaki W230 is coming to America, and it’s a perfect entry-level quarter-liter Japanese bike with retro styling.
The W230’s design is inspired by that of the 1965 Kawasaki 650-W1, first shown at that year’s Tokyo Motor Show. That bike was based on the Meguro K1, itself modeled after the BSA A7. When Kawasaki Heavy Industries took over Meguro the engineering might of KHI was used to perfect the K1, addressing little issues like the weak crankshaft that dated back to the BSA itself. It was one of Kawasaki’s first products after establishing itself in the US in 1966 and helped the brand establish a foothold in the North American market.
The true successor to the W1 is actually the Kawasaki W800, but not everyone wants something that big. The retro 250 market has been lacking ever since Suzuki discontinued the TU250X, with the primary offerings hailing from Royal Enfield. Kawasaki debuted the W230 at last year’s Japan Mobility Show (formerly the Tokyo Motor Show) alongside 40th anniversary sportbikes in fantastic throwback colors.
The W230 is powered by a 233cc air-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder engine. Old school styling features include spoke wheels, full fenders, chrome handlebars, telescopic forks with twin shocks, and a thin chrome peashooter exhaust pipe. The starter is electric rather than foot-powered, and a single-disc brakes and ABS are standard. It sports binocular gauges, but with a small LCD screen embedded within one.
The W230 isn’t made for hard core touge runs. It’s a relaxed city cruiser that will get you around town in an efficient manner and with the bonus of having a bit of style. It looks to be an excellent starter bike, and will retail for $5,599.
In Japan, Kawasaki is expected to announce the W230 in December, alongside the nearly identical Meguro S1 with different badging and colors. Kawasaki revived the Meguro brand in 2020, and the retr0-styled W230/S1 should be a fitting addition to the brand.
I actually have a TU250X!
The TU250 truly was a sweetheart of mine when I started riding, but it made no sense to start on this small of a bike, we need to take the exam on a over-400cc bike to get the full bike licence instead of an engine-size-limited one over here. I downsized from an FJR1300 sport-tourer when my significant other told me she would rather not ride anymore. That is why I ended up with a nostalgic car for both of us to enjoy, and a small “just for me” bike. I look like a bison riding a flea on that thing, but I just do not care about that anymore and I enjoy the ride.
Bell ring!
In the left corner, the TU250x! 249cc, 149kg wet, 18 inches wheels front and back. With 16hp and 12.5 torques. I truly lament the around 3% loss of power since my province switched to all-E10 fuel, my top speed has come down since this change. Premium gas used to be 100% dino-juice… I would like just a bit more oomph.
In the right corner, the new W230! 143kg (wet?), the 233cc engine is probably the same one found in the KLX 230 trail bike, 17hp and 13.75 torques paired with a six-speed! This bike comes with ABS, the 17 inch rear will open up way more tire choices, and twin clocks and full array of info will be useful. I kind of dislike the rear disk brake, for a classic and lightweight bike like, a drum is more than enough, and it would pretty must last the lifetime of the bike. Also, I am all for good and modern headlight technologies, especialy with this week QotW, but there are ways to make a classic-looking one without splitting the circle into two halves, pretty much no one shopping for this kind of bike wants a modern thing like this… there are other small retro-modern bikes, you can be purely retro, little kawa.
The peashooter exhaust is just icing on the cake, I need it.