The 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 650 has been launched in India at an ex‑showroom price of Rs 7.91 lakh, making it Rs 14,000 more expensive than the outgoing 2025 model. The middleweight sport bike retains its pr
oven 649 cc parallel‑twin engine but is now E20‑compliant, with power and torque slightly revised to 66.35 PS and 62.1 Nm to meet the new fuel and emission norms.
For 2026, the Ninja 650 continues with Kawasaki’s signature Lime Green base but gets fresh blue‑and‑white graphics placed across the fuel tank and side fairing, giving the motorcycle a sharper and more premium presence. Compared to the 2025 Lime Green/Ebony/Pearl Blizzard White colourway with green rim stripes, the new livery looks cleaner and more focused, and Kawasaki has dropped the rim stripes on the latest model to highlight the bike’s core design lines.
There are no major styling changes beyond the updated livery, so the 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 650 still features twin LED headlights, a raked windscreen, polygonal mirrors, sculpted fuel tank, split seats and an underbelly exhaust. In India, the bike is offered in just one Lime Green‑based colour option, while global markets get multiple alternatives, including darker and more stealth‑oriented schemes. This keeps the Indian model visually close to Kawasaki’s racing identity while simplifying the lineup for our market.
Mechanically, the familiar 649 cc liquid‑cooled parallel‑twin continues with the same basic hardware, gear ratios and transmission setup as before, now tuned for E20 petrol. Where the 2025 Ninja 650 produced 68 PS and 64 Nm, the 2026 version delivers 66.35 PS and 62.1 Nm, a small drop that is unlikely to be noticeable in real‑world riding but helps the bike comply with updated regulations. Riders can still expect the same friendly mid‑range performance and everyday usability that the Ninja 650 is known for.
On the features front, the 2026 Ninja 650 carries forward its 4.3‑inch TFT colour instrument cluster, which offers a modern cockpit experience and supports Bluetooth connectivity via Kawasaki’s Rideology app. Through this app, users can access connected features such as ride logs and basic notifications, adding a layer of digital convenience to the analogue fun of the twin‑cylinder motor. The TFT console may receive minor software tweaks for the 2026 model year, but the overall layout and functions remain consistent with the earlier bike.
Electronic rider aids continue to include Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), an Assist and Slipper clutch for smoother gearshifts and reduced rear‑wheel hop, dual throttle valves, an economical riding indicator and dual‑channel ABS. Together, these features make the Ninja 650 an approachable package for riders upgrading from smaller bikes, while still offering enough performance for weekend touring and occasional track use.
In the Indian market, the 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 650 continues to compete primarily with the Honda CBR650R, which sits significantly higher in price at around Rs 11.16 lakh. This price gap keeps the Ninja 650 attractive for enthusiasts who want a faired, twin‑cylinder middleweight sport bike with Japanese reliability and strong brand value without stepping into the much costlier four‑cylinder segment.
