KAWASAKI’S TIE-IN WITH Taiwanese firm Kymco has just become deeper with the launch of Kymco’s new K-Rider. Revealed in China, the K-Rider is a 400cc parallel twin using the engine from the Kawasaki ER-4 and reveals how Kawasaki is helping Kymco compete against its rival, CFMoto, by offering a 400cc parallel-twin nakedbike of its own.
At the moment, Kawasaki and Kymco have a loose partnership. Kawasaki’s J300 and J125 scooters are restyled, rebranded versions of existing Kymco models, made for Kawasaki by the Taiwanese firm. CFMoto, also offers a range of parallel-twin machines using its own, heavily Kawasaki ER6-influenced, engine. And it recently revealed the much more attractively styled 400cc and 650cc NK naked models, which are the machines that Kymco will be fighting against.
The K-Rider is a sleeved- down ER6 engine which leaves the door wide open for Kymco to follow the bike up with a 650cc sibling. While it has its own unique trellis frame, the geometry is clearly inspired by the ER4. The swingarm, along with the engine and transmission, appears to be borrowed directly from the Japanese machine, complete with the offset, angled rear shock on the right-hand side. However, the upside-down fork and twin-disc front brakes with radial calipers suggest a sportier edge than Kawasaki has ever given its ER models. The engine, in 400cc form used by Kymco, makes a claimed 23kW at 9000rpm and 37Nm at 7500rpm.
The bike was revealed at the CIMA show in China, and at the moment there’s no information as to which markets the bike will be sold in. However, the CFMoto 400NK is being offered in Australia as a LAMS-approved model, so it makes sense that Kymco will also be looking at the Aussie market.
By Ben Purvis
