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Kawasaki surprises: Z300, Z250SL & 250SL

Kawasaki Z300
Kawasaki Z300

Kawasaki pulled out a triple surprise at the Milan EICMA show straight after revealing the much-anticipated Ninja H2.

Kawasaki Ninja 250SL Z300
Kawasaki Ninja 250SL

The triple treat consisted of the naked Z300 and Z250SL and a fully faired Ninja 250SL. 

The Z300 uses the same tubular steel chassis, wheels, brakes, suspension and 296cc parallel-twin engine as the popular Ninja 300.

However, it has styling like its bigger Z brothers and, of course, gets straight bars for an upright riding position.

The Z300 has a kerb weight of 168kg or 170kg with optional ABS and comes in green and metallic black or grey and metallic black.

Kawasaki Z250SL Z300
Kawasaki Z250SL

There is no word of when, or if, it will be coming to Australia.

It was unveiled alongside Kawasaki’s two surprise new single-cylinder bikes, the Ninja 250SL and Z250SL.

They are faired and unfaired versions of the same bike with 20kW of power and 22.6Nm of torque. Both have optional ABS described as the “world’s smallest ABS unit”.

The bikes were launched for Asian markets earlier this year and it is not known whether they will be coming to Australia, but they are destined for Europe.

Kawasaki also debuted its Vulcan S sporty cruiser with a 52kW 650cc parallel-twin engine. It comes with adjustable footpegs and handlebars to suit a wide variety of rider sizes.

The ABS-equipped bike would be learner-legal in Australia and give our top-selling cruiser, the Yamaha XBVS650, a run for its money.

Kawasaki Vulcan S  Z300
Kawasaki Vulcan S