The push to capture new riders continues with the all-new 2026 Kawasaki W175 LTD, which has an MSRP of $2999. Of course, when we say “all-new”, it’s all-new to us. The W175 has been available in other countries since 2018. It has even earned a cult following among custom builders in Indonesia, to the point that Indonesian President Joko Widodo owns a Chopper Racer W175 built by Katros Garage and rode a bobber version around the Mandalika Circuit. That’s enough for us to welcome the W175 LTD to America with open arms. Let’s tackle the Fast Facts:
The engine on the 2026 Kawasaki W175 LTD keeps it simple. The short-stroke, 2-valve motor is air-cooled and runs a single overhead cam. It is fuel-injected and good for 13 hp at 7500 rpm. The torque peaks at just under 10 lb-ft at 6000 rpm. An electric starter gets it all spinning, and exhaust travels through a peashooter muffler.
A traditional chassis houses the powerplant. You have a steel semi-double-cradle frame, a non-adjustable 30mm fork, and shocks that cantilever forward 20 degrees and feature spring-preload adjustment. Wheel travel is limited to 4.3 inches in the front and 2.5 inches in the rear. The entire package weighs less than 300 pounds with the 3.2-gallon fuel tank topped off.
The ergonomics are relaxed, with a well-padded stepped seat and a slightly reclined seating position. The tall, sweptback handlebar reminds us of Kawasaki’s 1980s LTD cruisers. The seat height is sub-31 inches. There are accommodations for a passenger, including an optional rear grab bar for $166.
No, you don’t get wire-spoked wheels. Just as the Kawasaki LTD cruisers of 40+ years ago had mag-style cast wheels, so, too, does the W175 LTD.
Both 17-inch wheels are shod with MRF Nylogrip Zapper tires. MRF is an Indian tire company with annual revenue exceeding $3 billion. MRF makes a broad range of tires, including car, truck, farm, and industrial tires, as well as motorcycle tires. It’s a brand we’ve seen on Royal Enfield motorcycles.
Kawasaki’s braking goes retro on the W175 LTD with a drum in the back. The front brake is a 245mm disc with ABS. You’re on your own when it comes to maintaining traction with the mechanical rear drum brake.
There are plenty of other vintage styling cues. The headlight and turn signals are round, while the taillight is old-school trapezoidal. The dash is analog-style, flanked by warning lights, and has an LCD inset. You can add knee pads to the teardrop tank ($120) for additional comfort and styling.
Kawasaki has a few functional accessories for the W175 LTD. You can add a centerstand, a two-tone cafe seat ($579), an engine guard ($239), and a luggage rack ($211). You’ll see the accessories sprinkled in the photos.
The 2026 Kawasaki W175 LTD can be had in two colors: Candy Emerald Green and Ebony. The new cruiser should be in dealers now, with its $2999 price tag.
2026 Kawasaki W175 LTD Specifications
ENGINE
Type: Single-cylinder
Displacement: 177cc
Bore x stroke: 65.5 x 52.4mm
Maximum power: 13 hp @ 7500 rpm
Maximum torque: 9.6 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm
Compression ratio: 9.1:1
Valvetrain: SOHC; 2 valves
Starting: Electric
Fueling: DFI w/ 28mm throttle body
Cooling: Air
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Wet multiplate
Final drive: Sealed chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Semi-double cradle steel
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable 30mm fork; 4.3 inches
2027 Suzuki GSX-R1000R + BTR Build Off Winner + Brian Bentley and the Ducati 916
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Leod Escapes. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
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Have you ever wanted to ride a real MotoGP track? Well, here’s your chance! Leod Escapes does all sorts of amazing European tours, including the incredible Munich to Mugello tour at the end of June, or you can try the Core of Catalunya or the Portimão Andalusia trips, both in October. These are incredible touring experiences with the very best that Europe has to offer, as well as riding these amazing tracks on brand new BMW S1000RRs. So for the trip of a lifetime, visit LeodEscapes.com, now!
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In our first segment, Nic de Sena tells us all about his recent trip to Spain to ride the new 2027 Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Suzuki did a slightly different spin on this particular launch where they split the journalists into teams of 3, and had a 6-hour endurance ‘race’ to see how well everyone fared. Nic gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to the new Gixxer and for such long track sessions!
Rider Market from just outside Orlando, Florida, is the winner of the recent Royal Enfield BTR Build-Off competition in the Road Race category. Brian Koster is the Parts Director at Rider Market and he tells us briefly about the machine and parts he selected that made this retro-looking Royal Enfield stand out and take the trophy.
Our guest for this episode is Brian Bentley. A few years ago, just prior to Covid, Brian had a chance to buy a Ducati 916. He’s always been a major fan of the bike ever since it launched in the early nineties. He’d actually been looking for a 748 for a while, but when this great example came to his attention he couldn’t resist. The only snag was that it was completely disassembled. So, Brian did what any reasonable bike-fanatic would do: he loaded all the endless boxes of parts into the trunk of his SUV, headed home to Daytona Beach, and started the build. Brian recounts the story of this incredible machine and what eventually happened to it in the end.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
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No, you don’t get wire-spoked wheels. Just as the Kawasaki LTD cruisers of 40+ years ago had mag-style cast wheels, so, too, does the W175 LTD.
