Kawasaki CT150

The Kawasaki CT150 shares its design completely with the most basic CT motorcycle, the CT100 B. There are subtle tweaks over the CT100 B which makes the CT150 slightly more appealing over its 100cc counterpart. However, in general, the Kawasaki CT150 is a very bare-bones motorcycle, with an archaic design and lack of features making it look pretty old school.

The round headlamp at the front encased in a semi-spherical housing with chrome surround and orange turn indicators make the front fascia of the Kawasaki CT150 look as if it belongs to a motorcycle from the nineties. Thankfully, the Kawasaki CT150 ditches the chrome front fender of the CT100 B for a more acceptable body-colored front fender.

The slightly curvier and larger fuel tank as well as the triangular side body panels of the Kawasaki CT150 is completely different from that of the other CT lineup of motorcycles. Even the long black exhaust pipe and single-piece long seat are larger here in size, thus making it slightly more appealing than other CTs. However, the lack of proper rear side body panels, spoke wheels and grey theme for the engine make sure that the Kawasaki CT150 appeals as a quintessential bare-bones commuter.

The rear profile of the Kawasaki CT150 looks very utilitarian, with a long and very functional tubular grab rail and long rounded fender making it look purposeful for heavy-duty usage. The minimalist and conventional-looking tail lamp cluster with orange turn indicators is mounted on the rear fender itself. 

The twin-pod all-analog instrument console of the Kawasaki CT150 stays as basic as the rest of the design of the motorcycle, with the left pod having a speedometer and odometer, and the left pod having a large fuel gauge. The cluster of tell-tale warning lights is placed below these two pods, around the ignition keyhole. The switchgear and rearview mirrors are the same units that are present in the CT125, which look decent for the price of the motorcycle.

While the front suspension of the Kawasaki CT150 is the same conventional hydraulic telescopic forks, it is at the rear where the Kawasaki CT150 makes an edge over the rest of its siblings from the CT range. The motorcycle comes with a more rugged setup of dual hydraulic coil springs on both sides, which offer additional load carrying capacity over the other commuters from the company. The motorcycle runs on tubed tires which do offer decent grip, and the feedback from the drum brakes on both the ends offers decent bite as well.

Powering the Kawasaki CT150 is the largest and most powerful engine of the CT lineup of commuters from the company. The four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted, 144.8cc engine of the Kawasaki CT150 is coupled to a 4-speed gearbox, and here it makes 12 PS of maximum power output and 12.3 Nm of torque. Considering that the Kawasaki CT150 is priced similarly to 100cc motorcycles, the performance outputs make it the most powerful motorcycle in its price category.

The bare-bones Kawasaki CT150 lacks even a single major safety feature of basic standards, which given the high-cost cutting measures which have been taken to finish the overall package of the motorcycle, is understandable.

The Kawasaki CT150 is not a modern motorcycle that someone might be looking for in his/her checklist. The too much utilitarian appeal in its design and equipment levels makes it a very basic motorcycle, to begin with. However, the 150cc engine, as well as suspension setup of the Kawasaki CT150, are durable and appealing for the price at which this motorcycle is being offered.