2018 Kawasaki Rouser NS160 in Philippines, RM6,340

While Kawasaki Motors Malaysia prefers to focus on the quarter-litre and above market, in the Philippines, the 150 cc category attracts a lot of market interest, with the launch of the 2018 Kawasaki Rouser NS160 at a price of 85,000 piso (RM6,340). If paultan.org readers think the Rouser NS160 looks familiar, it should be, being based on the Bajaj Pulsar NS160, which Malaysia gets in the form of the Modenas Pulsar NS200.

Using the same frame as its 200 cc sibling, the Rouser NS160 comes with a twin-spark, SOHC, air- and oil-cooled, four-valve, single-cylinder engine displacing 160.3 cc. Power is claimed to be 15.2 hp at 8,500 rpm with maximum torque rated at 14.6 Nm at 6,500 rpm.

This compares against the NS200, which is also sold in the Philippines as the Rouser in NS and RS versions, with its 199.5 cc liquid-cooled thumper with three spark plugs and 24.13 hp at 9,750 rpm and 18.24 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm. Other differences include the six-speed gearbox and front and rear disc brakes of the 200 cc version of the Rouser.

Power gets to the ground via a five-speed gearbox and chin final drive, and fuel is carried in a 12-litre tank. The Rouser NS160 comes with telescopic forks in front, with a single hydraulic brake disc, while the rear is suspended with a monoshock, and the single disc from the NS200 is omitted, substituted with a drum brake.

There are three colour options for the 2018 Kawasaki Rouser NS160 – red, silver and blue. In the Philippines, the Rouser NS160 goes up against the Suzuki GSX-S 150, Honda CB 150R, Yamaha SZ 16 and the TVS Apache 200. As for the Malaysian market, the Modenas Pulsar NS200 retails at RM9,222, while the RS200 goes for RM11,342.

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