The Kawasaki W175 Street uses a 177cc, single-cylinder engine that pushes out 12.8bhp and 13.2Nm. It’s linked to a five-speed gearbox and the overall response from this motor is quite likeable. While the power figures may not sound like a lot, it’s enough to get you through the city traffic and maintain a decent pace on the highway as well. The maximum speed we saw on the W175 Street’s speedometer was around 100-110kmph but that too felt like a stretch for the bike.
Its petite frame and peppy engine make for a lovely commuter. The motor is fairly tractable too. But when you take off in the first gear, the engine seems to shudder at the first few thousand revs. However, once on the move, it functions normally and you can slice through the traffic at low speeds even in a gear higher. The gearbox, meanwhile, is decently responsive but in certain instances, it refused to shift from the first to the second and needed multiple shifts. This got slightly irritating after a while. Not to mention, the majority of power from this motor is accessible at the lower and mid-range, which suits the W175 Street’s character. But if you try gunning for three-digit speeds, the motor’s limitations and reluctance to the same is very evident.
Being light on its feet has worked in W175 Street’s favour. From getting it on and off the stand, to switching lanes, and even slicing between bumper-to-bumper traffic, the W175 Street requires a meagre amount of effort. This would make it a good first motorcycle, regardless of your age and experience. The bike’s fairly stable on the highway but being a little careful is what we’d recommend since a heavy blow of wind could affect the momentum. What came as a slight surprise though was how the bike handled around the ghats during our ride to Pune. It was oddly stable around the turns and switching directions was a breeze.
The bike comes with a single front disc and rear drum brake with a single-channel ABS. Although predictable, the W175 Street takes a little time to come to a full halt. Its front brake feels a little spongy and could do with a better bite. Meanwhile, the rear brake cuts down the speeds effectively but can lock if stomped on a little hard. However, if done carefully, it’s fun to brake-slide the W175 Street’s rear. And speaking of the differentiating factor, the alloy wheels with tubeless tyres - make the W175 Street Street look slightly better than the spoke wheel model. Not to mention, it will also be easier to patch the tyre in case of a puncture.