Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Kawasaki Ninja 125 | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Kawasaki Ninja 125

The youngest member of the Ninja family has a dual personality issue. But is its low displacement engine worthy of the Ninja badge?
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Kawasaki Ninja 125

Wheels

Rahbar Al Haq
18 September, 2021, 11:15 am
Last modified: 04 December, 2021, 07:34 pm

Related News

  • Mini Malaysia, big flavours
  • 3 friends killed in Narsingdi road accident
  • Govt extends tenure of review committee on 'deprived officers' till 30 June
  • Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting
  • You S5: The internet’s dangerous obsession with romanticising red flags

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Kawasaki Ninja 125

The youngest member of the Ninja family has a dual personality issue. But is its low displacement engine worthy of the Ninja badge?

Rahbar Al Haq
18 September, 2021, 11:15 am
Last modified: 04 December, 2021, 07:34 pm

From the quarter-litre 250R to the crazy 200HP H2 litre bike, Kawasaki's Ninja family of performance motorcycles are well renowned all over the world. These bikes are fast, technologically advanced and are not for the faint of heart. 

The one we are reviewing today is the youngest of the Ninja family.  Despite having a displacement complying engine, it's still a powerhouse and punches well above its weight class. 

Kawasaki tried to balance the Ninja 125 between a commuter and a sports bike, and it shows. Photos: Saikat Roy/TBS
Kawasaki tried to balance the Ninja 125 between a commuter and a sports bike, and it shows. Photos: Saikat Roy/TBS

Looking at the exterior of Kawasaki Ninja 125, one will see a visual resemblance to the 2014 Ninja 250 RR. Finished in Ninja's signature green, black and gold colour scheme, it has a habit of catching attention everywhere it goes. Another reason it grabs attention is because of its automatic halogen headlamp, which has a habit of staying on in broad daylight. 

The RTR, being one of the few nameplates in the local market with actual racing heritage.
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V SmartXonnect: A digitised beast

The entire front of the bike is covered with an aerodynamic fairing. Underneath is a tubular diamond frame holding the bike's 125cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder, 4 stroke DOHC engine making around 15 HP and 11.7 Nm of torque. This is the kind of power figures you get from larger 160cc bikes.  

Combine that power with the bike's six-speed gearbox and curb weight of less than 150 kilograms, and you have one of the quickest bikes you can buy in this country.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

To make sure all that power stays on the ground, Kawasaki gave the 125 some big tires, 100 at the front and 130 at the rear. 

For suspension, there is a 37mm telescopic fork at the front while the rear Uni Trak swingarm features gas-charged shock with adjustable preload for those who like to live dangerously. 

The brakes on this bike are really nice. You get disks on both wheels controlled by Dual-channel  ABS. Both of the brake callipers are dual pistons, which to put into perspective, the outgoing Honda Civic sedan still uses single-piston brakes at the rear. 

Moving the riding position, the rider's position is well designed and comfortable even If you are a bit on the chubby side. There are channels cut into the fuel tank for your thighs and the deep grooves cut into the rubber footpegs to hold onto your feet like glue. 

As for the pillion seat, the less said about it is better. The bike is mainly designed for one person, and any passenger valuing their personal space and buttocks is better off finding an alternative means of transportation.

The instrument cluster of the Ninja 125 is fully digital and is surrounded by a bunch of useful warning lights. Some convenience features such as individual turn signals markers and gear indicators are missing, but I suppose Kawasaki thought people riding these bikes won't have time to look down at a gauge cluster because they will have too much fun grinning and zooming ahead.

With that, let's get to the riding experience. 

Kawasaki tried to balance the Ninja 125 between a commuter and a sports bike, and it shows. The clutch on this bike is a clinical affair. Let go of it gently, and it will grab with a clatter. Try to have a slow rolling start? Same issue. Twist the throttle with vigorous intent, shift and release sharply and the bike will snap happily into action. 

In terms of actually riding the bike, the Ninja has a dual personality issue. If one shifts gears around 5,000 RPM, the bike will top out somewhere around the speed limit by the sixth gear. Shift at 8,500, and it will accelerate so quickly that one will hardly get the chance to use the sixth gear in most of Dhaka's roads.

We took the bike out at 6 in the morning on a Friday and even then we could not find enough of a gap on the road to do it safely. We can't say how fast we went for obvious reasons, but we can tell you that the Ninja 125 hits triple digits faster than many 160cc motorcycles.

As for the ride quality, the suspension does an amazing job of smoothing out all the vibrations and the ABS does a great job of slowing down the bike from any speed. After handing off the bike to the dealer, my daily commuting non-ABS bike's brakes gave me a near heart attack because of their comparative ineffectiveness.

So why should you get this and not a bike with about 40cc more? It is a technical piece of art that delivers far more from seemingly less. It does not feel underpowered in any way at all. In fact, it feels far more capable. 

Now, I'll be the first to admit I am not qualified or skilled enough to exploit the Ninja 125's full potential. This should not be someone's first bike. Riding this bike without knowing when to revmatch or downshift will result in a lousy first experience, something that the bike does not deserve. However, for a seasoned rider with a healthy wallet, this will be a fun beast to tame.

Bajaj Avenger Street 160 ABS: Long haul luxury

Features

Kawasaki motorcycle / Kawasaki / kawasaki ninja / Motorcycle brand / Review / sports bike / motorcycle

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Fire of Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot is seen following the Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Israel and Iran strike at each other as Trump says conflict can be easily ended
  • The moment before Abu Sayeed was shot during a clash between police and protesters in front of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur on Tuesday, 16 July 2024. Screengrab from video
    ICT extends deadline for Abu Sayed murder probe by one month
  • AMM Nasir Uddin. File photo: Collected.
    EC moving forward with polls preparations, committed to ensuring level playing field: CEC

MOST VIEWED

  • Tour operator Borsha Islam. Photo: Collected
    ‘Tour Expert’ admin Borsha Islam arrested over Bandarban tourist deaths
  • Fighter jet. Photo: AFP
    3 F-35 fighter jets downed, two Israeli pilots in custody, claims Iranian media
  • Infographic: TBS
    Chattogram Port proposes 70%-100% tariff hike
  • Vehicles were seen stuck on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway due to a traffic jam stretching 15 kilometres on 14 June 2025. Photo: TBS
    15km traffic jam on Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway as post-Eid rush continues
  • Ahsan H Mansur. TBS sketch
    BB governor meets global litigation funders to mobilise $100m for tracing stolen assets
  • Burnt out cars and damaged buildings are all that’s left of this street in Ramat Gan Credit: AP
    Iran threatens to strike US, UK, and French bases if they help defend Israel

Related News

  • Mini Malaysia, big flavours
  • 3 friends killed in Narsingdi road accident
  • Govt extends tenure of review committee on 'deprived officers' till 30 June
  • Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting
  • You S5: The internet’s dangerous obsession with romanticising red flags

Features

Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

1d | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

3d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

4d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

6d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Ishraque seeks chief adviser's intervention for oath as Dhaka South mayor

Ishraque seeks chief adviser's intervention for oath as Dhaka South mayor

1h | TBS Today
Israel asked US to join military campaign against Iran, but US rejects request

Israel asked US to join military campaign against Iran, but US rejects request

1h | TBS World
Iran-Israel direct confrontation; war looms in the Middle East

Iran-Israel direct confrontation; war looms in the Middle East

3h | TBS World
Israel-Iran conflict: Which way is the global economy turning?

Israel-Iran conflict: Which way is the global economy turning?

6h | TBS World
The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2025 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab