Modenas Ninja 250 – rebadged Kawasaki shown at NAP 2020 launch, discussions still ongoing

Modenas Ninja 250 – rebadged Kawasaki shown at NAP 2020 launch, discussions still ongoing

After the announcement of Malaysian motorcycle manufacturer Modenas joining up with Kawasaki Japan to assemble motorcycles locally, the first fruit of the collaboration was shown at the National Automotive Policy 2020 launch. On display in the lobby of the MITI building was a Kawasaki Ninja 250 dressed in black bodywork.

In Malaysia, the Kawasaki Ninja 250 is sold at RM23,071 alongside the Z250 naked sports at RM21,998. While no details are available from Modenas about the Ninja 250 they will probably be assembling and rebadging as a Modenas product, from previous history, we can surmise the quarter-litre sports bike will likely be sold at a discount under the current Kawasaki Motors Malaysia (KMSB) model.

Discussions are still ongoing at high level in KHI and Modenas as to the roles and scope of work each partner will play in the Malaysian market. The role of KMSB is also yet to be determined although it has been said KHI will take a more active hand in Modenas operations.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries currently has a 30% stake in Modenas, via a share purchase worth RM40.3 million to raise its shareholding from 19%. Modenas, established in 1995 and has an assembly plant in Gurun Kedah with its current catalogue consisting of rebadged two-wheelers from Bajaj of India and Kymco of Taiwan.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250 comes with a 249 cc, DOHC, eight-valve, liquid-cooled parallel-twin producing 37 PS at 12,500 rpm and 23 Nm at 10,500 rpm. Power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox and chain final drive.

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Mohan K Ramanujam

Coming with diverse and extensive experience in heavy engineering, Mohan enjoys making anything with wheels go fast, especially motorcycles. His weapon of choice is the Desmoquattro engine, and he has a penchant for anything with a dash of Italian design. Strangely enough, he insists he's a slow rider.

 

Comments

  • Still rebadging Kawas?
    What hapen to rebadging Bajaj bikes? I think this makes more sense as Bajaj isn’t in our market unlike Kawa.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
    • Bajaj is crap. The Dominar 400cc top speed max out only 140km/h because the gear ratio is tuned for India’s crappy roads. This 250cc can easily outrun the Dominar. Plus so much cheaper roadtax.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 5
      • Lets See on Feb 21, 2020 at 8:14 pm

        Its a bike. Why do you need to go faster than that?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 9
      • Tse Tung on Feb 21, 2020 at 8:18 pm

        “gear ratio is tuned for India’s crappy roads” means it’s geared for acceleration, not top speed. If you still don’t understand that, don’t hesitate to ask.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
      • Pleed on Feb 22, 2020 at 1:40 pm

        400cc is RM130 per year more expensive than 250cc. As the Ninja is RM15000 more, you’re running the Ninja cheaper after 115 years…
        BTW: What school do you went to?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • SS Nair on Mar 06, 2020 at 11:55 am

        Hey, not all the bikes are tuned for top speed. Some are made for cruising. What do you want to achieve with top speed? By the way India has far more advance technology then the crap 250 cc you are talking. Yes they have crap roads and also can dispatch rocket to the moon.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
      • SS NAIR on Oct 01, 2021 at 10:25 pm

        Top speed and top speed…nothing else to comment? where are you heading to with your top speed?. India may have crappy roads but their brains are still better than your crappy head.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • MyNewToy on Feb 21, 2020 at 10:53 am

    The MODERNAS – DRB HICOM speciality in rebadging the Car and Bike advantage from NAP.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ol Skool on Feb 21, 2020 at 11:18 am

    If this happen, what’s the chance the price will be at least, similarly lower to 400cc Dominar.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • v-tec fan on Feb 21, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Modenas ZX-25R please !!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 1
  • albagmane on Feb 21, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    coz of rebadging to Modenas, value immediately drop 50%

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
    • casual rider on Feb 21, 2020 at 4:50 pm

      no, people will still buy. modenas name not that busuk ok

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 1
  • BH Yong on Feb 21, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    Kawasaki…A World-class leader and rebranded as a modenas?…LOL!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 22
    • casual rider on Feb 21, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      why you bother, we are the one who will get he benefit unless if you got share in kawasaki

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
    • Pleed on Feb 22, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      World class leader where? There’s not a single market on earth where Kawasaki is leader? Not even in it’s home market Japan?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
  • vivizurianti on Feb 21, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    Let me think of such collaboration.

    Kawasaki + Modenas = Kawadenas
    Modenas + Kawasaki = Modesaki

    So, the end product will be:
    Modesaki Ninja
    Kawadenas Ninja

    You’re welcome.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4
  • Ben Yap on Feb 21, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    whoever owns the current kawasaki ninja will be crying. when the rebadging starts, their original kawa no more resale value. that’s exactly what happened to Mitsubishi Lancer GT. straight away resale value goes down the drain. better get Yamaha. They won’t be rebadging it as they have their pride.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
  • BH Yong on Feb 21, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    Kawasaki is a respected world-class brand but modenas???…LOL!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 16
  • blehla on Feb 21, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    joi morah2 dhla … rakyat tringin nk pki tapinya xbropa nk da duit

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • motonoob on Feb 22, 2020 at 8:02 am

    More importantly, I think most observers are more keen about that secretly hyped super moped instead. Most are drooling for a >150cc and up shocker since on Modenas’ side it’s been what a 7 year on off side project? Not to mention that this is the more obvious working class friendly product.

    A rebadged slightly marked down Ninja 250 is nice and all, but I doubt that it’ll really undercut Kawa’s own unless they do the crazy and get the model off the market altogether keeping just the Ninja 250 ABS + Z250?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • The project has been stopped about two years ago. The reasons are the missing funds for necessary investment in mouldings and machinery.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • motonoob on Feb 27, 2020 at 1:44 am

        It’s stopped? Man that’s a pity since I really think that Modenas + Kawa could have really shaken things up in that space. Hopefully someone inside would fight to at least keep the idea floating.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Pleed on Feb 22, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    You’re some of these people who pay RM200 for a shirt because it’s “branded”, right?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • MiziE on May 14, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    Bape harga modenas ninja 250…dh ad dlm pasaran malaysia ke Skg…ape kelebihan moto ni

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • Thanks to Modenas we get a Kawasaki at a cheap price. Simple rebadge or just remove the badge entirely and I don’t have to see the brand name on this gorgeous machine.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • bukanRempit on Jun 09, 2021 at 11:46 pm

    what’s the latest updates on this? bring in ZX25R please

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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