As expected, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 has been launched during the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and while there are a slew of other launches taking place, this 399cc middle-weight sports bike has managed to make headlines all over the globe.
The reason? Well, for starters Kawasaki Ninja 400 will be launched in the US, a country that has shown great interest in the bike, along with other European as well as Asian markets and secondly, it will take on the likes of Yamaha YZF R3, BMW G130 R, Benelli TNT 300 and the highly successful KTM Duke 390.
One might ask what’s new in this? The answer is, while we were expecting an under-powered 650cc engine to replace the Kawasaki Ninja 300, what we have received is a scaled-up engine producing 45PS of peak power, making it a light, easy to handle sports bike with one of the peppiest engines in the segment.
Moreover, Kawasaki Ninja 400 is BS IV compliant, a feature that the 300 couldn’t meet, forcing the company to phase out the bike. On the other hand, the new 400cc bike is definitely more angular and can be considered as its one of the biggest USP is the fact that Kawasaki Ninja 400 takes its design cues from its bigger sibling, the Ninja H2, which is evident by those spoilers under the twin headlamps.
For the unknown, Kawasaki Ninja 400 is the next chapter in the evolution quarter-liter bikes by the company which started with the Ninja 250 evolving into the 300 and now the 400 cc eager-to-rev beast, making it an all-new bike.
It gets an all-new 399 cc parallel-twin engine, churning out 44.8 bhp of peak power (up from 39 bhp) and max torque of 38 Nm. This increase in power is the result of a bigger engine which houses a bigger air-box. The motor itself is one kilogram lighter than Ninja 250, while the chassis is also all-new and is lighter as well as stiffer than before. The Kawasaki Ninja 400 weighs 8 kg less than the Ninja 300.
It also features assist and slipper clutch technology, which will come in “handy” while driving the Kawasaki Ninja 400 in traffic-prone areas, providing greater control during hard downshifts. While it employs a new steel trellis frame that contributes to better stability as well as maneuverability, suspension duties are handled by updated 41mm non-adjustable Kayaba front forks and a monoshock at the rear. For braking duties, 310mm semi-floating disc with Nissin ABS comes packed with the Ninja 400, which is said to offer class-leading braking power, according to Kawasaki.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 Specifications
Displacement: 399 cc
Bore & stroke: 70.0 mm×51.8 mm
Power: 45 bhp @ 10,000rpm
Torque: 28 lb/ft @ 8,000rpm
Kawasaki Ninja 400 Dimensions: 1,990 mm × 710 mm × 1,120 mm
Seat height: 785 mm
Curb weight: 168kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 14L
The instrument cluster in the Kawasaki Ninja 400 is borrowed from its 650cc sibling, while optional accessories include helmet lock, pillion seat cover, a larger instrumentation, tank pads, and a 12V power outlet.
The color scheme in Ninja 400 is based on Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) colors, with the 400 badge stamped across the fairing. When launched, it will be offered in Lime Green, Metallic Spark Black and Ebony KRT edition.
The details on pricing haven’t been disclosed yet and as for its Indian price tag, should the Kawasaki Ninja 400 come to India, which is highly likely, it will be priced upwards of the Rs 3.60 lakh mark.
That said, gone are the days when 100cc-125cc bikes were part of the most happening two-wheeler segment in India as customers are fastly moving towards higher capacity engines. Motorcycles with 200cc and higher displacement are getting all the attention, Bajaj Dominar 400, being the biggest example.
While Dominar has managed to turn in huge numbers and it might be a very popular bike in India, the name Kawasaki Ninja also enjoys a big consumer base and the Ninja 400 is expected to become one of the most popular offerings in the middleweight motorcycle segment.
However, it will be interesting to see how Kawasaki Ninja 400 stacks up against the competition, once its pricing details are revealed.