Kawasaki Versys-X 300 launched in India at Rs 4.6 lakh

India Kawasaki Motors

(IKM) has launched its new adventure tourer, the

Versys-X

300, with a price tag of Rs 4.6 lakh (ex-showroom). The bike will be imported as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units and will be assembled at the company's Chakan facility near Pune. It is definitely not the cheapest but definitely the smallest-displacement model in the entire adventure touring category in India.

Commenting on the launch, Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director of IKM, said that the Versys-X 300 will offer a high level of riding excitement and rider confidence in a wide variety of roads.

"What makes Versys-X 300 versatile is comfortable highway cruising and easy riding in the city,” he added.

It gets the same 300cc, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder engine which also powers the Kawasaki

Ninja 300

. However, the fuel injected motor has been re-tuned to deliver 40PS of power at 11,500rpm and a peak torque of 25.7Nm at 10,000rpm. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission and gets an assist & slipper clutch for smooth shiftings.

Kawasaki says that the Versys-X 300 gets a new heat management technology that promotes airflow when riding to help dissipate engine heat. The design is said redirecting the air smartly, which helps to keep parts -- like the tank and the frame -- cooler than before, for further increase in rider’s comfort.

What makes the

Kawasaki

Versys-X 300 versatile are its long travel suspensions, wide reach bars and an adequate seat height (815mm) which make it easy to use for a large group of riders. The bike gets 41mm telescopic forks at the front and a gas-charged rear shock absorber with adjustable preload. It runs on durable wire-spoke wheels -- shod with dual sport tyres -- and the front one is larger (19-inch) as well. The braking duties are handled by a 290mm front and a 220mm rear disc brake which also gets Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as a standard feature.

Besides the Kawasaki Versys-X 300, the only small adventure tourer in India is the

Royal Enfield Himalayan

which costs just around Rs 1.83 lakh (on-road, Delhi).