New Kawasaki ZX-25R sportsbike to be sold in two power variants?

We could be receiving not just one, but two versions of the much-anticipated Kawasaki ZX-25R in the coming months following reports the new sportsbike will come with different power outputs.

Rumours of the racy quarter-litre Kawasaki ZX-25R have circulated for some weeks, with Visordown reporting in June - via Japanese publication Young Machine [render image below] that the Japanese firm is set to revive the 250cc class with a four-cylinder, small capacity pocket rocket.

As we near a probable world debut in October at the Tokyo Motorshow, more details are being drip fed according to respected Indonesian blog Iwanbanaran, which suggests the motorcycle will come two different power outputs to make the most of its nimble chassis – 46PS and 60PS.

The latter, more powerful ZX-25R had already been anticipated based on earlier rumours, but this latest information suggests we will see a ‘warm’ model fill a neat gap between the hot ZX-25R and the Kawasaki 250 Ninja.

Kawasaki sees powerful potential in 250cc market

With Kawasaki seemingly developing an entirely new performance model around the 250cc segment, the ZX-25R with its impressively eye-popping 60PS power output claims certainly appear immensely enticing on paper, if somewhat specialist.

As such, this latest news that there is also a more modest – albeit still very much enticing - 46PS version of the ZX-25R in the pipeline makes sense, not least because it would put it in direct line with key market rivals.

Meanwhile, Iwanbanaran reports the Kawasaki ZX-25R with a full 60PS will be touted as a honed performance model with a sophisticated electronics package including ride-by-wire, traction control and riding modes.

When will the Kawasaki ZX-25R be revealed?

Kawasaki itself remains tight-lipped on the existence of the model, but fortunately we won’t have long to wait until we find out the full details – not least if it is set to even come to Europe. Unfortunately, those cylinders mean it could struggle to meet emissions regulations over here but it does raise some possibility that it could pave the way for an 'R' version of the equivalent 400 - a Kawasaki ZX-4R anyone?

Indeed, with Kawasaki Racing using the 400 Ninja as the base for its entry in the WorldSSP 300 category - which sits under the WorldSBK and WorldSSP categories the firm is a multiple title-winner in - a Kawasaki ZX-4R to rival the Yamaha R3 on and off track certainly sounds plausible.

It’s also worth noting there is currently an anonymous countdown on the firm’s website to the 7th October, which sits next to two other countdowns labelled for the Tokyo Motorshow and EICMA.

Whilst this could turn out to be a countdown to something simple – perhaps the launch of an ATV or speedboat – we do love a bit of private speculation…