Kawasaki W 230 and Meguro S1, the new retro models arriving by 2025 – News

The new Kawasaki W 230 and Meguro S1, largely identical models, are being shown at various Asian exhibitions and the question arises spontaneously: would it make sense to import them from us? Let’s take stock

May 7, 2024

DLast fall Kawasaki began showing around Asia at various events new classic models W 230 and Meguro S1. The bikes are substantially identical as has been the case for some time with the Meguro brand and their marketing is expected to begin at the end of 2024 and therefore as a 2025 model year to replace the current 175 cc. Even if the technical specifications have not yet been disclosed, we can easily make hypotheses about these two tasty models dedicated to those who want a motorbike with a perfectly classic look and absolutely accessible in terms of costs, management and performance. The engine could derive from an already known unit, the one that equips the Kawasaki KLX 230 albeit with different crankcases. Undoubtedly a single-cylinder four-stroke with air cooling, it would be a two-valve with single camshaft and an almost square stroke-to-bore ratio: 66 mm for the first, 67 mm for the second. The compression, in the case of the KLX, is 9.4:1, the maximum declared power is 19.5 HP at 7600 rpm and the maximum torque is 20 Nm at 6100 rpm. The gearbox for the KLX is a six-speed gearbox but on the W it could have longer ratios and be a five-speed gearbox as is the case on the older sister W 800 which, however, we remember has dedicated and very particular mechanics.

ORObviously the chassis of the Kawasaki W 230 and Meguro S1 is the most classic you could wish for with a frame and swingarm made of steel tubes, a pair of shock absorbers at the rear and a traditional telescopic fork with bellows at the front. The wheels are spoked, It goes without saying, with inner tube and they appear to be 18″ in front and 17″ in back. On both axles there are disc brakes with ABS.

Land concessions to modernity do not only concern safety with clearly an electric starter and LED lights, but it must be said that the instrumentation maintains the needles and the refined look of the classic W Kawasakis with the single LCD numeric window rather camouflaged as it is inevitable.

Kawasaki W 230 and Meguro S1, what are the differences?

NoIt’s normal to ask how the two models differ. Technically speaking they are the same bike, but it is the customizations of the two brands that distinguish them. For example, the black Meguro is even more classic with chrome parts and a different saddle, flat and with white edges, compared to that of the Kawasaki which is two-tone and quilted. The distinction is therefore more a question of style and detail.

But why do Kawasaki and Meguro offer “the same” bike?

Lor historic brand Meguro, active since 1924, was acquired by Kawasaki already in the 1960s, a period in which it was still producing its twin-cylinder machines. In recent times the new Kawasaki course has decided to give new life to this brand by introducing a variant of the W 800 called Meguro K3. This also happened for the younger sister W 175 and will happen again this year with the aforementioned 230. Unfortunately at the moment we do not have more precise data and above all we do not know either the prices or whether these two models will arrive in Europe. Yet in the nineties Kawasaki also imported theirs to us Estrella 250, do you remember it? It was actually inspired by the Meguro models… Who knows, maybe it’s time to go back to offering small but timeless-looking motorbikes.