Bike enthusiasts have, of late, got many reasons to cheer. Bajaj offered them one when it launched the Ninja 650R back on June 08, 2011 at a mouth-watering price of 4.57 Lac ex-showroom Delhi.
Fast forward a year and a few more days, they are back and this time with the upgraded 2012 model of the Ninja 650R. The bike was supposed to be unveiled by Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, however, due to some unforeseen circumstances he was not able to make it to the event, as we were told.
In his place, the bike was unveiled by Mr Amit Nandi, Vice President,Probiking, Bajaj Auto and Mr S. Ravikumar, Senior Vice President -Business Development Bajaj Auto. Amit Nandi presided over the function by giving an introduction and a little history of Ninja brand before finally taking the veils of the sparkling lime green colored Ninja 650.
Important Pointers from Ninja 650 Launch in Pune:
- Bajaj plans to take KTM/Kawasaki exclusive dealerships to 62 within this month.
- In 2009-10, we only had 3 competitors in the premium segment – Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha. Fast forward to 2012-13, we have as many as 11 competitors vying for a pie of flesh each – Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, Honda, Ducati, BMW, Hyosung, Aprilia, KTM, Triumph.
- Bajaj is targeting this bike as a practical superbike in India, which, we know it really is!
- 19% of Kawasaki Heavy Industries revenues come from Motorcycles and Engines business.
- The Ninja family consists of 7 models out of which we have 2 in India – Ninja 250R and this Ninja 650.
- In the 600cc segment Kawasaki also has the thoroughly sports brethren Ninja ZX-6R in the international markets.
- The new Ninja 650 would be available for booking starting next week i.e around 13-14 August.
- Deliveries of the bike would take around 4-5 weeks maximum. It could be earlier as well.
- In an answer to a question, Bajaj also revealed that they have so far sold more than 3000 units of Ninja.
- The new Ninja650 would be available in this Kawasaki trademark Lime Green color only. Bajaj doesn’t have plans to make it available in other colors either. Reasons cited by them of spare parts sourcing and shortage made sense to us.
- Bajaj also denied that the ER-6N would be coming to India. At least they haven’t planned anything about it yet.
- In a question about the targeted per month sales figures, Bajaj disclosed that anything in the region of 1200-1600 per month would be good for them.
- Regarding the new Ninja 250R, they said, it will come but no definite timeframe decided yet.
- The models of Ninja we have in India are brought from Thailand
- There would not be any ABS on the Indian model
- They have not planned any accessories for Ninja like they have for KTMs.
- The Ninja 400R would also not come to India.
