Kawasaki CT100

The Kawasaki CT 100, as a modern-day motorcycle, lags behind by a significant margin for the bare basic design it wears. However, the entry-level commuter manages to look okay, if not too poor or dated.

The front fascia of the Kawasaki CT 100 has a decently styled bikini fairing around an inverted trapezoidal headlamp, amidst of which sits a black tinted visor, just above the headlamp. There are rounded amber coloured turn indicators on either sides flanking the headlamp unit.

The side profile of the Kawasaki CT 100 has a very simple visual appeal, with a sober-looking fuel tank and curved side body cowls. Both these panels do come with large and slightly loud body decals, which do try to add some novelty. However, then again, the spoked wheels as well as a simple looking exhaust pipe, along with the grey theme for the engine, suggest that measures have been taken to keep the costs as low as possible.

The Kawasaki CT 100 manages to look sizeably larger than other commuters in its class with proper big rear side body panels, almost flat and long seats, and a small but functional alloy grab rail at the back. The simple-looking tail lamp, along with rounded amber turn indicators, serve their purpose of indicating people behind you.

The Kawasaki CT 100 has an upright handlebar, which is adorned with very basic switchgear, along with rounded rearview mirrors, which again remind you that there have been many cost-cutting measures executed on the motorcycle. The two pods all-analog instrument console packs in a speedometer and odometer in the left circle and a set of telltale lamps on the right one. There are no other dials or information om display, not even a fuel gauge.

For an entry-level bare basic commuter motorcycle, the build quality and fit and finish levels are above average. 

Given the basic nature of the motorcycle, the Kawasaki CT 100 pleasantly surprises you with a pair of hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and simple spring in spring coils along with a tubular swing arm at the rear. The rear suspension is one of a kind and employs two coil springs on either side, which do make the bike capable enough to sustain heavy loads with ease. The motorcycle is fitted with drum brakes on either end as standard, which proves decent enough to stop this light-weighted bike with ease.

The Kawasaki CT 100 is fitted with its original four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted 99.27cc engine, which has originally been developed by Bajaj Auto in India. The engine is coupled to a simple and basic 4-speed gearbox, and can produce a maximum power output of 8.1 PS. The torque output, on the other hand, is rated at 8.04 Nm.

The engine sounds a bit gruff throughout the rev range, and it isn’t as refined and smooth as the engines in its Japanese rivals. However, the engine scores high on fuel efficiency.

To save costs, Kawasaki is not offering the CT 100 with any modern safety feature. This is quite understandable, considering that its rest of the competition too isn’t any exception in this regard.

The Kawasaki CT 100 is bare bone basic when it comes to features and equipment on offer, which is the reason why it is competitively priced as one of the most affordable motorcycles in the market right now. The engine as well as the rest of the chassis are tractable enough to make it a practical ride on two wheels.