The Price of Nostalgia

Kawasaki's W175 is a low-cost motorcycle that evokes the nostalgia of no-nonsense riding, but does it offer enough to be relevant in the modern world? 

- AAKASH S PAUL

When considering Japan’s contribution to the automotive world, iconic vehicles like the Toyota AE86, Nissan GTR, and tiny but fun kei cars, along with high-performance superbikes often spring to mind. Yet, there is another undiscussed facet of Japanese automotive heritage – cruisers. True, they are a smaller aspect of Japanese automotive culture, but they, nonetheless, hold significant importance. A good case in point is Kawasaki’s W series of motorcycles, and I recently had the opportunity to test ride the latest iteration of the series – the W175 Street, which is the only W bike available in India. So, the question is – why should this Kawasaki cruiser deserve your attention in a market that is predominantly ruled by Royal Enfield?

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