2024 Kawasaki Z125 Pro First Look Preview

In keeping with the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” adage, Kawasaki is bringing its nimble Z125 Pro mini naked bike back to the Z series lineup for 2024. The compact entry-level streetbike has been a hit for Team Green since its debut in 2016, and the ultra-affordable streetfighter returns this year unchanged save for a couple of new colors and a bump in price to $3,649 for the base model. You’ll have to dole out another $200 for the very cool premium finish Cypher Camo Gray/Metallic Matte Carbon Gray paint option ($3,849).

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To that end, you won’t find any mechanical revisions to the baby Z this time out; the basic but peppy 125cc engine and four-speed gearbox packed into an incredibly responsive chassis are back for 2024. But there’s nothing wrong with that; as we said in our 2019 MC Commute ride review, the fun little Z punches well above its weight with a playful package that almost anyone can ride, thanks to a low seat height, upright riding position, low curb weight, and simple operation.

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Not quite full sized, the Z125 was originally introduced as an answer to Honda’s Grom, and Kawasaki kept things simple by giving it a 125cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine, which it retains this year. You still get an electric start and digital fuel injection, but no fancy rider aids, just a cable-actuated clutch and slick-shifting four-speed transmission that’s easy to master. Even the instrumentation is basic, with an analog tach and a digital LCD readout for speedometer, tripmeter, fuel gauge, and other info. The lightweight steel chassis is connected to a 30mm telescopic fork with an offset lay-down single shock out back, and rides on 12-inch cast wheels.

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Of course, you don’t expect head-snapping power from this kind of setup—we squeezed 8 hp out at the rear wheel last time we checked the li’l Z. So on paper it doesn’t seem fast, but just by virtue of its diminutive size, the agile Z125 can squirt you around town pretty quickly, and it does have a top speed of 65 mph. It also sports a 2-gallon fuel tank, which is surprising for a machine this small.

And of course, the Z125 Pro still wears the sharp styling and aggressive design of its bigger Z siblings, with compact engine shrouds giving the bike a narrow waist and a purposeful look. For 2024, the Z125 Pro is available in Candy Lime Green, Metallic Matte Dark Gray, or Cypher Camo Gray/Metallic Matte Carbon Gray, with MSRP starting at $3,649.

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