Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R

[Caddyshack]

rodericb said:

GreaseNipple said:

I'd like to know exactly what they did to the one in the Cycle News video to get it down to 155kg, thats more like it

It had a full titanium exhaust system on it I think. They might also be quoting dry weight too. The fairings might have been a bit lighter too, possibly the Bitubo shock absorber is slightly lighter than standard. Apart from that it seemed like they actually added things to the bike, which would do the opposite of losing weight.....

The race bike he rode had a fair old growl for a 400cc.

I bet you could save a few important kilos with carbon wheels

[GameOverMan!]

The engine makes it interesting but the rest is not very appealing in terms of the looks of the bike or the weight.

It's a shame it doesn't look more like in mini H2R in terms of the styling, the wheels and having a singled sided swinging arm.

That would make it something a lot more special, like the original 250s and 400s, even if it increased the price.

Just my 2p input.

GoM


PS... putting the new engine in the ZXR400 H1 would be interesting though.

Edited by GameOverMan! on Friday 13th October 16:13

[GreaseNipple]

Dealers are saying end of October/November for the first orders to be fulfilled so I'll leave my interest until spring

[Caddyshack]

carinaman said:

Neeves MCN launch review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdGN_82gWUg

Interesting that he talked about V shaped corners on a fast and powerful bike vs smooth curves on a low power bike….I learned that in cars a long time ago but am only exploring it on bikes now.

[PaulJC84]

Love that bikes like this are coming back. Always fancied a Honda RVF400.

Watched a couple of more recent reviews today and most are loving it. Guess it’s the old saying of driving something slow fast is more fun.

https://youtu.be/ciCPc5ZrCzk?si=a5-M0CPQmvWRA6-f

https://youtu.be/OxTkPjgd-W0?si=xUq7dlv3zs60diUL

One of the reviews says 2 more bikes will be joining this segment which I think is great.

[tinhead]

I assume they've done their research but I just can't see a big market for a 400cc sports bike.

Since the average biking age seems to be ever increasing and people stopped buying 600cc sports bikes in favour of litre bikes and then largely stopped buying them in favour of adventure/naked bikes, I can't see any of them returning to a 400cc screamer sports bike.

I can see the attraction of the new smaller class of cruiser/scrambler/adventure bikes for older riders who want something smaller, lighter and cheaper, but not a sports bike.

Are there enough new riders coming through on an A2 who could ride one restricted, and if I'd just passed my direct access on a 650/700cc bike would I then go out looking for a 400?

[Gas1883]

I do like it & as someone who last had a motorbike 20 yrs ago but has been considering one again it would make sense , not to powerful , but I went from a Suzuki ay50 katana scooter too a cbr1000 , so I’ll probably stick too the plan of a fireblade / r1 ( I still prefer sports bikes )

[carinaman]

tinhead said:

I assume they've done their research but I just can't see a big market for a 400cc sports bike.

Perhaps there are more prospective customers for it in other global markets?

[JJ55]

Do all the dealers actually have one in stock now to sit on

[Caddyshack]

JJ55 said:

Do all the dealers actually have one in stock now to sit on

If you look up the bike on bike trader you can see the dealers with "in stock now" listed in the description.

[snagzie]

My local dealers in Wigan and St Helens both have stock. But its the same company so might be either/or

Might take a trip this week to have a gander

[tinhead]

carinaman said:

tinhead said:

I assume they've done their research but I just can't see a big market for a 400cc sports bike.

Perhaps there are more prospective customers for it in other global markets?

Yes, should have said I was mainly thinking about the UK, I think I remember the original 400cc sports bikes were mainly for the Japanese market because of licensing laws, and now many of the new small middleweights are built in and aimed at the largest growing markets in India/Asia.

[PeterGadsby]

I've put a deposit down on a ZX4-RR 40th Edition, very rare apparently only 2 per dealership. So crossing fingers I will get one

- Pete

[Caddyshack]

PeterGadsby said:

I've put a deposit down on a ZX4-RR 40th Edition, very rare apparently only 2 per dealership. So crossing fingers I will get one

- Pete

That looks very nice, I am still quite interested in one, I really like the classic colours.

[Bob_Defly]

tinhead said:

I assume they've done their research but I just can't see a big market for a 400cc sports bike.

Since the average biking age seems to be ever increasing and people stopped buying 600cc sports bikes in favour of litre bikes and then largely stopped buying them in favour of adventure/naked bikes, I can't see any of them returning to a 400cc screamer sports bike.

I can see the attraction of the new smaller class of cruiser/scrambler/adventure bikes for older riders who want something smaller, lighter and cheaper, but not a sports bike.

Are there enough new riders coming through on an A2 who could ride one restricted, and if I'd just passed my direct access on a 650/700cc bike would I then go out looking for a 400?

I'm not sure about the UK, but here in Canada it was the insurance industry that killed 600cc sports bikes. New riders crashed them too much, so they became uninsurable.

[Steve Bass]

Bob_Defly said:

tinhead said:

I assume they've done their research but I just can't see a big market for a 400cc sports bike.

Since the average biking age seems to be ever increasing and people stopped buying 600cc sports bikes in favour of litre bikes and then largely stopped buying them in favour of adventure/naked bikes, I can't see any of them returning to a 400cc screamer sports bike.

I can see the attraction of the new smaller class of cruiser/scrambler/adventure bikes for older riders who want something smaller, lighter and cheaper, but not a sports bike.

Are there enough new riders coming through on an A2 who could ride one restricted, and if I'd just passed my direct access on a 650/700cc bike would I then go out looking for a 400?

I'm not sure about the UK, but here in Canada it was the insurance industry that killed 600cc sports bikes. New riders crashed them too much, so they became uninsurable.

For a great deal of the Asian market, 400cc is the upper limit for the standard license. Anything big is a whole new licensing deal. So this is squarely aimed at the Asian market where riders aspire to something better than the normal twist and go scoots but where car ownership is a huge dream….
Japan set the model years ago with the 400cc cap and it’s taken root across the whole region…

[pmr01]

Edinburgh Kawasaki had one in the showroom about a month ago. i got a message from Pete from the company. not had time to go yet but defo will. i gave up sports bikes due to wrist issues but hopefully this isnt as bad as the 1000s

[PeterGadsby]

Got my number plate allocated, from Newbury Kawasaki for the 40th Anniversary ZX4-RR, no VIN number yet so not quite confirmed I will get one though.

So looking forward to March ;-)

- Pete

[PinkHouse]

Did Kawasaki ever explain why the ZX 4RR launched with the old style headlights from the 2019 generation and not the newer style that's on the rest of the range like the new Ninja 500 and ZX 6R?

[podman]

PeterGadsby said:

Got my number plate allocated, from Newbury Kawasaki for the 40th Anniversary ZX4-RR, no VIN number yet so not quite confirmed I will get one though.

So looking forward to March ;-)

- Pete

Have you picked it up now then Pete?

Pics would be great if you have...