2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400
A replacement for the Ninja 300, which we’ll be seeing in Australia early in 2018It started life as a Ninja 250, then grew to the Ninja 300, and now Kawasaki has upped the capacity stakes again by unveiling the Ninja 400 at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
The parallel twin is now 399cc, with a corresponding boost in power and low-end torque. The Ninja 400 produces a claimed 45hp and 38Nm, up from 39hp and 27Nm on the Ninja 300.
RELATED ARTICLE
Ninja 300 review
The Ninja 400 figures compare very favourably to its closest competitor, the single-cylinder KTM RC390, which is good for 44hp and 33Nm.
As well as the updated engine, the Ninja 400 has a new and lighter steel trellis frame, which helps to deliver a 6kg lighter package than the Ninja 300. Wet weight is 168kg, and the seat height is 786mm. The tank is 14 litres.
The front braking system includes a 310m rotor, and there’s Nissin ABS. The Ninja 400 has a slip and assist clutch, and styling is inspired by Kawasaki’s supercharged H2. There are twin LED headlamps.
Kawasaki will be hoping for big things with the Ninja 400, as the previously all-conquering Ninja 300 has been shuffled down the LAMS pecking order by the Harley-Davidson Street 500, Honda Grom, Yamaha YZF-R3, Yamaha MT-07L and Honda CBR500R.
A posting on Kawasaki Australia’s website said the Ninja 400 will go on sale in Australia early next year, with no price at this stage.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
