2017 Kawasaki Z125 Pro Is the Authentic Honda MSX competition

Welcome the 2017 Kawasaki Z125 Pro, a new bike from the house of Akashi that aims to tap into the young demographics and chew at the generous following Honda Grom has. It appears that the 125cc segment is back with a bang, because Kawasaki’s new machine looks even better than what we saw in the past, and we enjoy this type of fun bikes.

Back in late October we showed you the Z125, Kawasaki’s would-be Grom killer, but now it’s time to see the bike in its final form and ready to roll. The production version is called Z125 Pro and has a few differences from what we saw in the first place, but all of them are a plus, and in no way disappointing.

In fact, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro is as much an option as a first bike as it is a machine that can be used for strolling around the town if you don’t feel like taking your other big-bore machine out and navigating the urban clutter.

The same goes for the Grom, and there are a lot of guys who are not at all ashamed to be seen riding one, even though they also own other motorcycles. Simple, lightweight, unassuming and in no way pretentious, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro can become THE alternative to the Grom.

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro packs 125cc of displacement, with digital fuel injection for the 2-valve SOHC air-cooled single-cylinder. Some expect the Z125 Pro to produce slightly more power than the Grom, but as these figures are rather diminutive, we guess it won’t make a significant difference.

Just like the Grom, the Z125 Pro is advertised as a two-up bike, but unless the rider and the passenger are slender teenagers, this will most likely not do.

Better priced than the Grom, therefore with a massive advantage

The Kawasaki Z125 Pro weighs just under 225 pounds (102 kg) and has a two-gallon (7.6 liter) fuel capacity that should provide a decent range. Given the fact that we are talking about an urban bike, this aspect should also be less relevant when comparing the two.

With a chain final drive, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro has a 4-speed manual transmission, a 200mm front rotor, and a 184mm rear one. Both wheels have 12″ rims, and the seat height is 31.7″ (805mm).

On the financial side, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro is expected to retail for $2,999 in the US. The $200 below the Honda Grom might not be something to write home about when thinking about the price of the full-size bikes, but in this segment, the gap is impossible to overlook. Two color options are envisaged for the first generation, Candy Lime Green and Metallic Graphite Gray.

Credit  autoevolution