Kawasaki Z125PRO!

KAWASAKI Z125PRO / 1st Ride REVIEW

The Kawasaki Z125Pro hops straight to the top of the mini-street bike class with a machine that is not only sharp in looks and performance, but is also crazy fun to ride.

What the Z125Pro lacks in size, it makes up with your own grin factor, and at the end of a day of riding around the streets San Francisco and a closed course on treasure island, there was only smiles amongst the mixed group of men and women on the press launch.

Now, when I say mini, I mean mini, the Z125Pro is small. It is the perfect kind of bike to learn on, master the art of riding a motorbike. At the same time, it kept experienced riders like me entertained all day because it was so much fun to ride.

You are smiling in your helmet before you set off, as it looks like a baby Z1000. With an under-belly exhaust and ‘Z’ styling throughout, it really is a mini version of its big brother.

The streets allowed me to test the daily riding capabilities, which turned out to be rather easy, due to the Z125Pros light handling and a motor that likes to be revved. The clutch is designed to take a beating so it lacks a bit of feel, however with a few revs of the light weight single and its soon on its way.

As the handle-bars are raised and keep you upright, you soon forget you are on such a small machine, however those mini wheels and the lightweight package, make cornering a doodle.

The tram-lines, endless pot-holes and non-stop line of either moving or parked cars, means you had to be on your toes but the Z125Pro handled everything the San Francisco city had to throw at it.

After lunch it was then time for a closed course run. Senior Kawasaki PR Coordinator and fast-man Jeff Herzog designed a course to test the machine to the limit. It had all types of corners, chicanes, 90, 180 and a just about everything else in between, with bumps, gravel, hairpins and a bit of grass growing through the cracks in the concrete for good measure. Soon enough we were all let lose and playtime began. The track allowed me to push the bike, test limits, and generally get a really good feel for this mini-street bike.

What I can tell you is that it passed all tests with flying colors, and trust me I tested it 🙂

The Z125Pro, turns on a dime, has a rear brake as sharp as a dirt-bike and the motor allows you to thrash it. The only thing it lacks is acceleration and torque, but come on, its a 125 street bike, and I am sure with an after market exhaust and a few tweaks here and there, it would probably liven up it up enough to keep most of us happy in the confines of a city or short commute.

Really what Kawasaki have done is make their own version of the Honda Grom, (a bike that until now has lead the mini-street bike class since the superb mini-machine came in the scene) and raised the bar in some areas.

Fitted with skinner tires, gas-tank, lower gearing and taller bars, it allows the overall package to turn sharply, stop in a flash and do it all with complete control.

Of course, the smaller you are, the less comical you might look on it. I’m 5’9”, and thats about the limit as I could just get me knees tucked in against the tank, taller riders on the launch could not. If you are smaller than I am, even better, you’ll look cooler and have more room.

Not satisfied with thrashing the little green-flash on the twisty track, I then ventured around the island for more and managed to find more fun things so do when I found part of an abandoned skateboard park and a little bump/jump.

Basically, the Z125Pro took all I had to throw at it and it still wanted more.

The Z125Pro is a grin-maker, you smile when you see it, smile bigger when you ride it and at at under $3,000, its cheaper than some bicycles. I want one.

Video review coming soon….

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Gear featured in these photos:

Jacket: Alpinestars Black Shadow Huntsman Jacket

Boots: Alpinestars Oscar Monty Boots

Helmet: Arai XD4

Pants: Alpinestars Oscar Charlie Riding Jeans

Goggles: 100% Racecraft Goggles

Gloves: Alpinestars Atacama Air Gloves

Hoodie: MotoGeo Hoodie

Cap: MotoGeo Trucker Cap

T-shirt: MotoGeo Black T-Shirt

Communication: Scala Rider Packtalk

https://www.kawasaki.com/Products/2017-Z125-PRO?cm_re=VEHICLEDETAILS-_-HOMEPAGBUCKET-_-Z125-PRO

2017 Kawasaki Z125 Pro Specifications*

*Specifications are subject to change.