Happy New Year! As a New Year's project, we bring you our first dream = fantasy scoop. While reflecting on the current state of the world, I hope to see a motorcycle like this in the future! The first installment of our wishful thinking is for Kawasaki to release a motorbike like this!
CG/SHINGRAPHIC
I wonder if any manufacturer can compete with Dax 125 or Monkey 125.
Honda's Dax 125, launched in September 2022, has already seen orders reach its annual sales plan of 8,000 units.
Other models that pay homage to famous models of the past, such as the Monkey 125 and CT125 Hunter Cub, have been a hit, and Honda dominates the market for 125cc fun models.
I look forward to Kawasaki's GPZ125R as a model that will put a stop to this situation. As the successor to the Z125 Pro, which will be discontinued in Japan in 2021, it would be a good time for Kawasaki to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the GPZ900R as well as a new lineup of moped 2 models that have been absent from Kawasaki's lineup.
As a further tailwind, we would like to make the most of the blockbuster success of Top Gun Maverick, which was released in May 2022. The GPZ900R used for filming and exhibited at the Milan Show and Kawasaki World in Japan should also be a good promotional opportunity.
The desired livery is of course the red and black Top Gun color. Otherwise, if successive GPZ900R colors are released, there is a high possibility that current owners will buy it as a second motorcycle.
It's a nice thing to fantasize about, but...will it happen?
KAWASAKI GPZ125R. Fantasy CG was created by the editorial department. Top Gun colors are in season now, and if we use this as a platform to reproduce Kawasaki's past icons such as the Z1, we can be sure to have a string of hits in the future.
KAWASAKI GPZ900R. The "Top Gun Maverick" filming vehicle was also displayed at Kawasaki World in Kobe. If they could reproduce even this sticker tune, that would be great!
Honda 125cc siege likely to narrow after 2023
The 51-125 cc moped 2 model lineup has been dominated by commuter scooters, but now Honda's fun models are gaining new demand and forming a major force in the market. Sales have been strong, with the CT125 Hunter Cub recording 9,200 units (according to Motorcyclist Newspaper) in the first half of 2022 alone.
In 2023, Yamaha is likely to challenge this stronghold and is planning to introduce the XSR125 Legacy, YZF-R125, and MT-125, which are available in Europe, to the Japanese market in one fell swoop. All of these models are MT models with 17-inch wheels, which Honda does not have, and are likely to gain the support of more hobby-minded riders.
Elsewhere, Kawasaki announced at the Milan Show in November 2022 that the electric Z BEV and Ninja BEV (battery EV) will be available in 2023 for small license users in Europe. This is planned to be rolled out in Japan as well but is expected to be launched in the moped 2 categories.
At the March 2023 motorcycle show, Yamaha's moped 2 models will likely be unveiled first. It is unclear whether Kawasaki will reintroduce a Class 2 moped in Japan, but we would like to avoid the absence of the now-popular Class 2 lineup, whether electric or engine-powered. I hope they will consider it!
KAWASAKI Ninja BEV. Electric Ninja presented by Kawasaki at the Milano Show. It will be released with a power output compatible with the European A1 license (~125 cc, 15 PS or less), but it is unclear if it will meet the power rating in Japan.
YAMAHA XSR125 Legacy. The youngest brother of the XSR series released by Yamaha in Europe. The Legacy is a scrambler version with spoked wheels and will likely be introduced in Japan in 2023.
