Kawasaki W175 CARB Filing: Is the US Ready for Small Bikes?

The Kawasaki W175 has successfully passed a major test that has the potential to transform the small motorcycle market in America. The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board) gave the W175 the green light, which is a big step forward. The Kawasaki W175 is expected to be launched in the US bike market in 2026.

The CARB filing suggests that the American motorcycle market will likely get a new small motorcycle to sell to American riders. However, this poses one of the most crucial questions that keep being raised by many riders: “Are we finally ready to ride small motorcycles?”

The W175 is a retro-style street motorcycle, built by the Kawasaki plant in India. It will be the first-ever bike that Kawasaki will export to the US motorcycle market from India. The W175 is an old-school motorbike, but with a new touch.

The Kawasaki W175 has a 177 cc single-cylinder engine that generates 13 hp of horsepower. It is not much as per the present-day standards, but it is designed to be lightweight and quick in the city where the majority of riders ride.

Weighing only 297 lbs, riders can easily get on this bike and ride, and feel at home. It is simple and easy to ride. The seat is also low at 30 inches, which is an important feature for new riders who do not wish to have their toes touching the ground when the traffic signal turns red.

The Kawasaki W175 LTD possesses some good details and features that make it outstanding. It also features a stepped seat, higher handlebars, and sharp-looking cast wheels.

In the case of brakes, it has front ABS and a drum brake on the rear, which provides good stopping power without breaking the bank. The gas tank can contain 3.2 gallons of fuel, thus ensuring a good range and mileage of around 100 mpg and above.

The price tag of the Kawasaki W175 is the major attraction. It is expected to be priced between $3,000-$4,000 by Kawasaki, which is a clever decision that undercuts most of the entry-level motorcycles in the market.

With half the amount of cash, you can have a full-size motorbike that looks and rides like a real bike, not a mini-moto or a toy bike. It is an honest street bike that is quite easy on the wallet.

The rivals of the Kawasaki W175 are strong and worth a second glance. The Honda Grom is priced at $3,599, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is priced at $4,299, and the RE Meteor 350 is priced at $4,899.

Then, what makes the Kawasaki W175 unique? Kawasaki is the name of the brand that people all over the world trust so much. It has the ABS technology that keeps you safe and the retro style that is currently trending among young and old riders alike. Above all, it is a full-sized, proper bike, unlike the Honda Grom.

The old-school style bikes are enjoying a wave of popularity that is unlikely to fade away in the near future. There is a growing number of small retro models that are being produced every year, and the trend continues to grow.

The retro market in the US is comparatively small, with a worth of only $900 million in 2024. However, the retro bike market is projected to reach 1.4 billion by 2033. It is going to be a great growth.

Why the boom in retro bikes? People like to have style and low prices. They like to have bikes that do not require a PhD to fix when something goes wrong. They desire rides that are eye-catching without breaking their bank, and the W175 fits all these criteria. It is what makes the retro scene so hot at the moment.

Here’s the stat that can shock most people: half of all street bike sales in America are bikes less than 500cc. This means that in the US bike market, small is big business. When you take all the bikes less than 350 lbs, this gives 75% of the sales, and the real trend is that of lightweight and nimble bikes.

American riders claim that they desire big bikes that are powerful. They prefer chrome and long roads. However, the real statistics point to a different trend that is hard to deny.

Small, lightweight, no-frills bikes are being purchased at an unprecedented rate, and the reasons behind this are obvious: cost, mileage, and convenience. The Kawasaki W175 perfectly fits this gap since it is an intelligent interpretation of what Americans really wish to purchase.

This is where you will find dark clouds; however, it is something that the entire bike world must confront face-on. The youth crisis in the world of motorbikes is deteriorating every single year. Eight percent of motorcycle owners in 1990 were aged under 18, but today, it is only 2 percent. The 18-24 year old demographic reduced by 16 to 6 percent within the same period.

The young people are not purchasing bikes in the same trend that their parents did, and there are real reasons behind this. School loans and living expenses consume most of their earnings and savings.

Insurance is as expensive as the bike, and the existence of rules in some states makes it difficult to get a motorcycle license at a young age. Above all, the younger people do not look at their parents riding bikes, and thus, there is no lineage of the hobby that is transmitted within the family.

This is where the Kawasaki W175 is likely to shine in the US motorcycle market and make a difference to young riders. With $3,000 or slightly above, it is a true shot for a youngster to get a real bike without incurring enormous debt. This is what the Kawasaki W175 is offering to young riders who like to have a two-wheeler for transportation and adventures.

Will the US riders be able to make the Kawasaki W175 successful? The news is mixed. On one hand, the market is currently soft, and the W175’s sales decreased by 9.2 percent during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. This does not go well for the new bike that will attempt to establish itself in a new market.

But Kawasaki, as a brand, is trending and currently leading the massive US market. The Ninja line, as well as the Kawasaki Vulcan S, is selling well in the US. Kawasaki knows how to sell motorbikes that people desire. They are gambling on small, smart bikes that people can afford, indicating that they believe in the small-bike trend.

The Kawasaki W175 is getting into a position in the market that is sort of vacant and empty. The demand is immense for the sub-$5,000 bikes that appear good and ride well. There is a demand for retro-style bikes, and there is a real need for bikes that do not demand too much of new riders, who are only starting out.

The W175 is not a universal, all-in-one bike. We must be honest with ourselves about what it is and what it is not capable of doing. The bike makes 13 horsepower. Such a power is only suitable for riding within the city. It is built to travel at town speeds and make short trips on smooth roads, and not to run wildly. If you plan to ride for longer hours on the highway, then this is not the bike for you.

Most bikers in the US do not consider 13 hp enough to even ride. They are used to more power, more juice, and more response from the bike as they turn the throttle. They wish to experience the rush, the adrenaline, and the top performance of a motorcycle. Thus, the W175 is not the best in this aspect.

The W175 filing informs us about something important regarding the motorcycle world. Makers find a way to go with small bikes. They see riders willing to purchase them, and they are not giving up on the US market. They are simply operating in a different field. The boldness of the move by Kawasaki is due to the fact that it is the first major motorcycle brand to ship an industrially produced bike to the US.

The Kawasaki W175 is perfect for:

• Those young and new riders who cannot afford to spend $15K on a Harley Davidson bike.

• Those urban riders who only need a fast bike to run daily errands.

• Those newbies who want to learn to ride on a light and nimble bike.

All of these riders are the real target segment of the W175.

The W175 is not a shoo-in when it comes to huge sales. We must be honest about the risks as well. The market may not accept it if people fail to identify its use, the style, and the power it makes. Riders can likely consider 13 hp as quite low and may go to find a slightly bigger bike with more power.

However, the signs are good. The EPA and CARB stamps are authentic and legitimate. Kawasaki is a brand that people have faith in, and the cost is suitable for the market that is craving cheap rides. It is a lightweight bike that is fun to ride around in the city. Retro-style bikes are quite trendy at this point in time, and the market of small, cheap bikes is expanding quite rapidly.

The right price, availability, and better marketing in the US can prove to be a game-changer for the W175. It may indicate that the Americans are not willing to consider small motorbikes or to ride light. Once the trend of small motorbikes in the US comes and settles in, there may be no going back.

The Kawasaki W175 CARB filing is a green light to a new direction in the US bike market. It is an indication that bike manufacturers are seeing a shift toward small, cheap, and smart bikes. The success of the W175 in the US will tell us a lot about the direction we, as riders, are heading.

The bike itself is straightforward, light, cheap, and retro in all the right ways, and is designed for new riders and those who only require fun, not the fuss. The W175 can be the bike that proves that small is the new big in America.