2016 Kawasaki Z125 Pro
2016 KAWASAKI Z125 PRO
IGNITON
CW FIRST RIDE
Little bike in a big city equals even bigger fun
Bradley Adams
WHAT'S IN A NAME? Kawasaki is working overtime to make the connection between the Z125 Pro and the other models in the Z family, including in the Z family, including Aggressive styling, Z-family turn signals, and a Z-style LED taillight help here.
I can't help but feel a little guilty as I swoop around a group of tourists and take off toward a lookout facing the Golden Gate Bridge. Equally as hungry for photos of the iconic suspension bridge, they are putting in the work on rented bicycles and pretending not to mind the suffering, while I’m aboard Kawasaki’s new Z125 Pro, enjoying the same great view, just with a larger grin on my face and legs that are probably a little less sore.
That ear-to-ear grin doesn’t disappear for the remainder of the day, Kawasaki having arranged for us to not only ride the Z125 Pro in the city streets and massive hills that make up the rest of downtown San Francisco but also on a closed (and very narrow, cone-lined) course on Treasure Island, a man-made island in the San Francisco Bay that for the afternoon acts as our playground.
An all-new motorcycle for Kawasaki, the Z125 Pro features a low, 31.7-inch seat height and 225-pound curb weight, in addition to a 2-gallon gas tank and FCD dash with everything from gear indicator to dual tripmeters. The 125CC, SOHC engine borrows parts from Kawasaki KLX models that came before it yet is different enough in its design for Kawasaki to refer to it as all new.
It’s paired to a manual, four-speed transmission.
The engine runs and fuels smoothly, as a powerplant housed in a new-rideroriented bike should. All the same, clutch pull is light (though admittedly not entirely linear in its pull, which causes some less-than-smooth starts from a stop for less-experienced riders) and the transmission easy to work. Interestingly, Kawasaki noted that there could be some extra slack in the shifter due to the fact that, in other markets, the bike will be made available with an automatic transmission that uses the first bit of travel to engage the clutch, but we never had a problem and were pleased with the overall shift feel.
2016 KAWASAKI Z125 PRO
ENGINE TYPE air-cooled, SOHC single
DISPLACEMENT 125 cc
SEAT HEIGHT 31.7 in.
FUEL CAPACITY 2.0 gal.
CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT 225 lb.
PRICE $2999
OH, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PASSENGER SEAT?
Ergonomics are tight for anyone more than 6 feet tall, and at anything near that height you run the risk of hitting your knees on the stock bars while turning, not to mention looking a bit silly. There’s not much you can do about your inseam, but I imagine a taller handlebar sourced from an aftermarket catalog will help. All the same, the seat is nice and supportive and good for logging all the city-street miles that the 2-gallon gas tank and impressive fuel economy numbers will allow for.
I say this assuming that you’re not one of those people who’s already planning on turning the Z125 Pro into a little roadrace bike but knowing good and well that this is a possibility. And not all that bad of an idea either. After all, the bike surprised with its solid handling on the course that was laid out for us, with communicative steering, modest braking power, and zero twitchiness.
Kawasaki says that two-wheel small street sales are climbing, and with the Z125 Pro I can’t see that changing any time soon. Regardless of whether owners end up using it for commuting, minibike racing, or as an entry into the wonderful world of motorcycles, I have a hard time believing they won’t be grinning every time they throw a leg over the bike.
