Meguro S1 and W230 carry over for 2027: Kawasaki offers Ebony only

• Both models stay technically untouched in the line-up for 2027
• The only announced colour for the Meguro S1 and W230: Ebony
• Power still comes from the air-cooled 233 cc single with 18 hp (12.9 kW)

At Kawasaki, the Meguro S1 and the W230 are among the models that change the least. That stays true for the 2027 model year: the manufacturer has confirmed both machines for the coming range without announcing any technical updates. The only change that can be read out of the specifications concerns the colour. For 2027 both bikes are listed exclusively in Ebony, while the W230 was still offered in Metallic Matte Dark Green the year before. The two sister models will therefore wear the same shade in future and differ only in their components and badges.

What changes on the Meguro S1 and W230 for 2027?

Technically, nothing changes. For the 2027 model year Kawasaki quotes the same engine and chassis package as before and limits the updates to a single colour offering per model.

The manufacturer places both bikes in the European A2 class and describes them as modern classics, each with a character of its own. According to Kawasaki, Meguro and W have been part of the group for more than half a century, and both model lines are meant to carry that tradition forward. There is nothing new about this positioning; it has run through the communication around the two models ever since they were unveiled at the end of 2024.

For prospective buyers this means one thing above all: anyone interested in either machine should not expect any technical differences between a 2027 model and one from a previous year. That makes a look at used bikes, or at 2025 and 2026 models still sitting at dealerships, worthwhile, because apart from the paintwork the motorcycles are identical.

Which engine powers both models?

Both models use the same air-cooled single-cylinder unit with 233 cubic centimetres, producing 18 hp (12.9 kW) at 7,000 rpm. Peak torque is 18.6 Nm (13.7 lb-ft) at 5,800 rpm.

The four-stroke works with an overhead camshaft and two valves, bore and stroke measure 67.0 by 66.0 millimetres, and the compression ratio is 9.0 to 1. Fuelling is handled by a 32-millimetre injection system. Kawasaki quotes consumption at 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions at 58.0 grams per kilometre.

What stands out is how much effort the manufacturer puts into the character of the engine. A balancer shaft inside is meant to smooth out unpleasant vibration without blurring the pulse of the single. The crankshaft has a high moment of inertia, which is said to give the engine a strong push even at small throttle openings. And according to the manufacturer, the stainless steel exhaust system was deliberately tuned to a bass-heavy note. On the Meguro S1, the sound of the historic 250 Meguro SG served as the template.

Chassis, brakes and dimensions in detail

The basis is a tubular semi-double-cradle frame, in other words a steel frame whose lower rails only split below the engine. At the front there is a telescopic fork with 37-millimetre stanchions and 117 millimetres of travel; at the rear sit twin shocks with 95 millimetres of travel and five-way adjustable spring preload.

Braking is handled at the front by a 265-millimetre disc with a two-piston caliper and at the rear by a 220-millimetre disc with a single-piston caliper. ABS is on board. The spoked wheels measure 18 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, fitted with 90/90-18 and 110/90-17 tyres.

For weight, Kawasaki quotes 143 kilograms (315 lbs) ready to ride and estimates the dry weight at 133 kilograms (293 lbs). The wheelbase is 1,415 millimetres, ground clearance 150 millimetres, and the tank holds 12 litres. Seat height is listed at 740 millimetres. Together with the slim build, that means shorter riders can also get their feet down securely.

How do the Meguro S1 and W230 differ visually?

The differences lie almost entirely in the tank, badges, instruments and seat. Technically the two models are identical, but they appeal to different tastes.

The W230 comes with a painted tank and a three-dimensional W badge and is presented by the manufacturer as the original icon of the W series. The Meguro S1 leans more heavily on chrome: its tank is chrome-plated with painted side panels and a sculpted Meguro badge, joined by a second, mirrored M symbol. The round instruments differ too. On the Meguro, an LCD panel sits within classically styled dials, with a red Meguro logo in katakana script below. The seats of the two models are also styled individually, with the Meguro carrying a white piping.

What both share is a teardrop tank, steel mudguards, spoked wheels and the slim peashooter-style silencer, which recalls the thin exhaust pipes of classic British and Japanese motorcycles. The engine has been given a period look as well, among other things with large, rounded cooling fins on the cylinder head.

Where do the names Meguro and W come from?

Both names date back to the early days of the Japanese motorcycle industry. Meguro was founded in 1924 and celebrated its centenary in 2024, while the W series goes back to the mid-1960s.

Kawasaki took over Meguro and subsequently launched the W1, its first large motorcycle of its own, based on an earlier Meguro model. In the early 2000s the W650 revived the line. On the historic template for the Meguro S1, Kawasaki remains a little vague: the current release mentions an S1 model from the 1960s, while on the model page the manufacturer instead names the Kawasaki 250 Meguro SG of 1964, one of the brand’s last road-going sports models.

What do the Meguro S1 and W230 cost?

Kawasaki has not yet quoted prices for the 2027 model year. The 2026 figures serve as a guide: in Germany the W230 was listed at 4,995 euros (around 5,820 US dollars) ex works, the Meguro S1 at 5,695 euros (around 6,635 US dollars).

Including delivery, that became 5,245 euros (around 6,110 US dollars) for the W230 and 5,945 euros (around 6,925 US dollars) for the Meguro S1. In Austria the prices were 5,295 euros (around 6,170 US dollars) for the W230 and 5,995 euros (around 6,985 US dollars) for the Meguro S1. The premium for the Meguro is explained above all by its more elaborate finishes. The 2026 W230 reached dealers from September 2025, with the Meguro S1 following in January 2026.

Where they sit in the A2 class and the Kawasaki range

Within the Kawasaki line-up for 2027 the two models occupy a clearly defined niche. They are aimed at newcomers with an A2 licence, at returning riders after a longer break, and at riders who deliberately want little power and little electronics. The manufacturer places them alongside a broad offering of larger machines and emphasises their status as modern classics.

At 143 kilograms they are among the lightest motorcycles in the 250 retro class. That makes the weight-to-power ratio favourable, even if 18 hp is modest compared with many other A2 models. Anyone looking for a high top speed is in the wrong place. Anyone wanting a light motorcycle for the city, country roads and short tours will find a simple, manageable offering in both models. The fact that Kawasaki is now carrying the pair over unchanged for a third model year in a row suggests the concept has proven itself in this niche.

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