Motorcycle tests at motorradtest.de

Kawasaki Meguro S1 in test (Baujahr 2025)

Retro decelerator with 18 hp from Kawasaki

11.04.2025

Photos: Motorradtest.de

With the new Meguro S1 and the W230, Kawasaki is expanding its retro range with two affordable models with little power. Tanja and Dietmar found out how the Kawasaki Meguro S1 rides and what it can do during a very loooong test ride.

Always the calm...

Can you also no longer hear the word "deceleration"? Neither do we. Unfortunately, the Kawasaki Meguro S1 fits like a glove. With only 18 hp, the Meguro could also pass for a 125. It is a retro classic of the purest water - and that Kawasaki can do this, has already been proven with the W800 or the W650 (God bless them).

In addition to the Kawasaki Meguro S1 tested here for 5,945 euros, there is also a Kawasaki W230 for 5,245 euros. The differences are purely visual: the machines are painted differently, the dials are designed differently and the cheaper W230 not only has a different emblem on the tank, it also lacks the tank pads of the Meguro and the seat is quilted. Both bikes have beautiful wire-spoke rims and an even nicer peashooter exhaust. Why the Meguro is now 700 euros more expensive is not clear to us. Technically speaking, everything is the same - we would therefore take the W230.

Colors: On the left the W230 with blue painted tank, on the right the Meguro with chrome-plated tank in "Ebony".

Dimensions and seat test

The Meguro S1 is a small motorcycle - at least that's how it feels. For smaller to medium-sized people like Tanja, everything is okay, but for taller guys like Dietmar it feels like being on a moped. However, we like mopeds, insofar as... The seat looks bigger than it is. For two people it gets a bit cramped on the box, but with two people you will rarely want to drive anyway, but more on that later.

The seat height of 740 mm and the weight of only 143 kg (ready to ride!) is very suitable for small and not so strong people. The Meguro can be manoeuvred like a bicycle and even short-legged people have a 100% secure footing with this device.

That's how chilled it is to sit on the Kawasaki Meguro S1

360 degree tour around the Kawasaki Meguro S1

Technical refusal on the Kawasaki Meguro S1

The Meguro (and the W230) has two analog instruments for speed and revs. The tiny LC display shows the following: mileage, time and trip counter - done. No gear indicator, no fuel level or other information. If the tank tilts towards the reserve, a light reminds you to go to the next petrol station. Awesome, like in the old days!

Apart from ABS, there are no technical helpers here. You don't need that on this bike either, so it's not so bad. Tanja would have liked to have a hazard warning light function, but there is no such function. Renunciation is a virtue here!

Kawasaki also follows the classic claim when it comes to lighting. The main headlight is of course circular and looks really nice. Surprisingly, there is even LED on board here - but only for the headlight at the front. At the back we find a light bulb, this also applies to the turn signals. To be honest, I would even have liked an H4 headlight at the front, although the LED light at the front is of course a not entirely unimportant safety aspect.

Pea-Shooter Auspuff an der Meguro S1 von Kawasaki

Beautiful Peashooter rear silencer on the Kawasaki Meguro S1

This is how it drives and how it sounds

At the soundcheck, we can't concentrate on the sound at first, that's how beautiful the peashooter exhaust is. You can reflect yourself in it and, if necessary, probably bake a fried egg on it. The sound itself is - well, like a single-cylinder with 233 cc. Sounds a bit thin, but still has character. Soundcheck as always on the top right...

Yes, then let's start with the test drive. Side stand in, 1st gear in and --- the box goes out. Oh, there was no kickstand in it. This was often the case for both of us at first, until we realized that the stand had to be folded in properly. And then it goes, the wild ride on the Meguro. Almost. At best, the hairstyle is wild here, in case you have forgotten the helmet. This can happen quickly, because somehow cruising with the Meguro feels more like riding a bike than anything else.

Einzylinder Motörchen mit 233 ccm und 18 PS

Single-cylinder engine with 233 cc and 18 hp

The wonderful thing about it is that you don't even try to drive fast. As Dietmar tries to explain during his test drive, the Meguro's renunciation of all the fuss creates a very special driving experience. You dodge along and enjoy life. Hard to describe, but that's really the case. Even seasoned power riders will find out how beautiful moving a motorcycle slowly can be. If I don't come today, I'll just come tomorrow - it doesn't matter, the main thing is that I arrive.

At this point, we do not include things like chassis, brakes, cornering, engine power, etc. None of this matters at all with the Meguro! And of course, it doesn't matter that the Kawa has no traction control, riding modes or cornering ABS. Why should they?!

Single disc and Nissin 2-piston brake caliper front

Maybe a sentence about the quality impression of the machine. It is simply made, but by no means bad. Well, the levers aren't adjustable, the handlebars aren't butted, the swingarm and forks are very, very conventional, but who cares? The machine brakes, it is comfortable and takes me from A to B. I didn't want more than that. Or to put it another way: If you want more, you're in the wrong place. Incidentally, the Meguro has a maximum speed of 115 km/h and a range of 480 kilometres with a consumption of only 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres. This is easy on the nerves and the wallet...

Result

It's wonderful that Kawasaki is launching such a machine in 2025. She preaches renunciation with every fiber of her existence in such a skilful way that one is almost ashamed of ultra-modern and complicated motorcycles. The Meguro S1 reminds us of what motorcycling is all about: the beautiful sound from a beautiful exhaust of a beautiful, air-cooled single-cylinder that hangs freely visible in a beautiful motorcycle. Clear case - > that's only for aesthetes and slow drivers. Info for nervous stokers: Please move on, there is nothing to see here. At least not for you.

The test machine was made available to us as part of the Kawasaki weeks at Motorradtest.de of Heller & Soltau . This Kawasaki dealer is located in beautiful Sankt Michaelisdonn in Dithmarschen. If you want to take the demonstrator of the Meguro S1 for a test drive there, we recommend a relaxed trip to Meldorf Harbour. There a little coffee and pastries and then leisurely back to Heller & Soltau - life can be so wonderful!

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