ROAD TEST: 2015 KAWASAKI Z250SL ABS

When Kawasaki asked me to review their latest machine, I was pumped, thinking it’ll be the new KX450F motocrosser, so I was somewhat deflated when they wanted me to test their new 250cc LAMS bike instead – the Z250SL ABS. When I arrived at Kawasaki HQ to collect the bike, my enthusiasm quickly began to rise, though. I was immediately struck by what a good-looking naked the Z250SL is.

In keeping with its higher-powered brothers in the Z range, the Z250SL has distinctive, aggressive lines. The bodywork is compact, with elements like the bellypan, side plastics and headlight shroud adding to the muscular look. Overall, the Z250SL design is very aesthetically pleasing.

First Impressions

Straddling it, you immediately notice its slimline dimensions. The 'SL' stands for 'Super Light' and it certainly lives up to that, weighing in at only 148kg (sans ABS); around 20kg lighter than the Z300.

Riding away from Kawasaki, I was confronted with cold, rain and wind - all the factors you don't want for your first ride on a new bike. Thanks, Sydney, for turning on the coldest July in nearly three decades! Being smack on 3:00pm, I rode straight into peak hour, too.

With school pick up and tradie traffic, the roads were packed. At this point, my sole aim was to get the Z250SL back to home in one piece and then wait for better weather to give it a proper workout!

Weekend Workout

The weekend, whilst still cold and windy, was at least dry (to begin with!), so I decided to get an early ride in before the roads filled up with traffic. The Z250SL's light weight and compact dimensions made it effortless to ride - I was comfortable with the bike from the outset.

I found the riding position to be upright, as you would expect from a LAMS-class commuter, although I quite liked its inclination to push you forward a little bit. The narrow breadth and cut-in around the tank provided a very comfortable thigh and knee position, too.

Thanks to the stiff trellis frame and well-sorted suspension, handling was tremendous, with effective weight transfer making it super easy to corner, while the thoughtful gear ratios made it difficult to select the wrong gear through the bends.

ABS on Test

My test bike had the optional ABS braking fitted, so I needed to test it out! On a wet section of road, I tried braking at several different speeds, up to 60km/h, and on each occasion the bike pulled up smoothly and not once did I feel it was likely to throw me off or slip out from under me. ABS adds $300 to the Z250SL purchase price, but my advice is to pay the extra: it's the best $300 you'll spend.

On the freeway, the Z250SL easily sat on 110km/h and felt fairly sturdy. When cross winds hit, I would have preferred the bike to have more weight, but that's the tradeoff with a nimble city commuter.

The Z250SL's 249cc 4 stroke single (not a parallel twin like the Z300 or Ninja 300) isn't going to break any land speed records, but it provides smooth power throughout the rev range and holds higher speeds well. The six speed transmission is smooth, too, with well-spaced gearing. Even after making an incorrect gear selection, the set-up was very forgiving.

Working Wheels

With the weekend behind me, I selected the Kawasaki for my working week commute. As you would expect, the Kawasaki was good in inner-city traffic. The well-positioned bars (but still narrow enough to move through city traffic), light weight and physical size made lane-splitting through traffic an absolute breeze.

The low seat position meant my feet were easily able to reach the ground, providing the confidence to slowly move between stationary cars. As such, I reckon even the smallest, most inexperienced rider would be comfortable on the Z250SL.

I would have found it useful to be able to fold the mirrors in, but that is being very particular.

At the lights, there is enough power to pull away from most of the traffic, although you have to get used to some bigger capacity scooters leaving you in their wake. The heat management technology, which directs engine heat down and away from the rider, couldn't be felt in the conditions I was riding in, but I'm sure it would be a boon in summer traffic.

Parking the Z250SL was dead simple, as was rolling up and down gutters and sliding into confined spots. The side stand is well placed, making the bike extremely stable when parked on inclines and uneven surfaces. It also doesn't lean over too far, either, and thus doesn't require as much room as other bikes when parked.

There's no built-in storage, but this could be remedied by a rear-mounted top box. Sadly, this does nothing for the aesthetics and it would be my preference to rely upon a small backpack for the daily essentials.

In Conclusion

I found the Kawasaki to be a lot of fun and very easy to ride. As I work in the city and travel only a short distance, the Z250SL was a perfect commuter for me. Standing at 5'10", I had no problem astride the Z250SL, but those over 6'2" with the weight to match may feel like a circus bear riding a mini-bike, so the Z300, or one of Kawasaki's bigger LAMS models, like the Ninja 650L or ER-6nL, may be a better option.

For learner riders looking to gain experience on a machine that will allow them to progress on to something larger and more powerful with confidence, the Z250SL is perfect.

The bike's light weight and strong handling characteristics, combined with the slightly aggressive upright riding position, will have you confidently pitching it into corners in no time at all.

The sure-footed brakes and ABS are especially reassuring.

With a price tag under $6,000, the Z250SL is a commuting option that should be seriously considered.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

INSTRUMENTS :

The LCD instrument panel is very clear, providing at-a-glance information, flanked by a sextet of the usual idiot lights. The indicator light is particularly bright and easily noticeable, even in daylight.

The fuel gauge is clear, easy to read and goes through a number of sequences to alert the rider that fuel is running low.

ECONOMY:

I filled the bike up three times, averaging approximately 200kms per 8 litres (combined city /highway riding). I didn't run the bike too close to empty, so I am sure once you get used to its parameters, up to 275km per tank (the full 11 litres) would be possible.

MIRRORS:

Stylish and work very effectively, providing excellent vision. On the freeway at over 100km/h, the mirrors had a slight vibration, but only minor.

HEADLIGHT

On dark suburban roads and lanes, the standard headlight was more than adequate.

SUSPENSION

As set by the factory, suspension is firm, but forgiving on potholes and poor roads. Little jarring came through the handlebars, even on larger potholes.

GEAR SHIFTER

The rubber-coated gear lever was very gentle on the various leather shoes I used on different days. The lever left no visible mark at all – great for those short trips with only good shoes on. (Yes, I know - I should be wearing bike boots!)