2019 Kawasaki Z400 review

The Z400 reminds me of the time when Kawasaki upped the capacity on its ZX-6R supersport machine to 636cc – all in the name of making it a torquier and more user-friendly road bike (although it still maintained a 599cc version to meet racing requirements) compared to the Japanese opposition.

Kawasaki has performed a similar exercise with its small-capacity Ninja/Z range of road bikes. The fun first started in the quarter-litre (250cc) ranks before the engines were increased to 300cc and now 400cc in the latest incarnations.

The result is a corresponding boost in power and low-end torque. The Ninja 400 and Z400 produce a claimed 45hp and 38Nm, up from 39hp and 27Nm on the Ninja 300/Z300.

So the new baby in Kawasaki’s famed Z range is now the Z400 – well, that’s if you discount the pint-sized Z125 Pro from the equation.

The Z400 is way more orthodox than the Z125 Pro with its 17-inch wheels, and is obviously kitted out with streetfighter styling and a more relaxed riding position than the Ninja 400.

The Z400 not only brings an extra 11Nm to the performance table, but the peak now comes at 2000rpm lower. That makes the Z400 feel even stronger again, and just riding around town reinforces that. I could carry a gear or two higher through roundabouts, but it still revs out to that same 11,000rpm threshold. The extra 103cc has been a massive free-revving boost, while still maintaining those learner-approved credentials.

The six-speed gearbox is a real nugget. I mentioned it in the attached video (click on the top left-hand corner of review to watch it) as the gear changes are just so slick and progressive.

The clutch action – which has a slipper function and assist function – is also soft, so the Z400 is not a machine that’s really capable of leaving your nerves jangling with stalls and missed gear changes.

The assist function is the biggest asset for learners: it pulls the clutch hub and plates together to lighten the load on the clutch lever.

The Z400 caries over from the Z300 in the way that it easily blends in traffic, and at slow speeds it’s utterly unintimidating – and the seat height is just 785mm, while also being narrower than the Z300’s. The end result: it’s an easy reach to the ground if you need to find terra firma.

A lack of vision can be annoying, though: the mirrors do obscure most of what’s going on behind the rider.

The Z400’s got all the city credentials locked in, and you can also turn the idea on its head that the Z400 isn’t capable of highway use. It certainly is, and I rode the Z400 along the Calder Freeway north of Melbourne on a few occasions – and in relative comfort. I also got the same feeling when I rode the KTM 390 Duke – the closest competitor to the Ninja 400 in terms of spec, price and capacity, although it is a single.

Of course, at highway speeds the revs on the fuel-injected Z400 rise quite sharply and there are a few vibes – more menacing through the tank than the bars – but the upright and relaxed seating position and decent suspension that gets the job done means a quality ride all-round.

The Z400 has beefier 41mm telescopic forks compared to the 37mm units on the Z300 – still non-adjustable, though – which has made for an major improvement, while there’s a preload-adjustable monoshock. The brakes have also been updated with a 310mm petal disc on the front compared to 290mm. Is it under-braked? Maybe a tad, as it does take a fairly solid squeeze to really get the best out of it. The bike only has a wet weight of 167kg, so that’s the ace up the Z400’s sleeve.

The steel-tube diamond frame is the same as the Z300's, and the improved front-end feel makes the Z400 a lot more enjoyable on twisty roads, even when they become a little bumpy.

It holds a line well without any of that nervousness which came come with flimsy forks, and with that wide handlebar, shorter wheelbase (down 35mm from the Z300) and that lithe stature you can flick this from side to side with some serious ease. That equates to sharp and precise cornering, with very little resistance from those 110/70-17 front and 150/70-17 rear tyres.

Actually, just on the Z300, about the only thing the Z400 gives away to its predecessor is a smaller tank capacity – down three litres to 14. We recorded an average fuel consumption of 4.7lt/100km on the Z400, so that still equates with a figure well north of 200km.

The Z400 does really wedge you against that fuel tank as well, which only adds to its sporty nature.

The instrumentation features a large analogue-style tachometer and multi-function LCD screen that includes speedometer, clock, fuel gauge and trip computers.

The Z400 is available in Candy Lime Green with Metallic Spark Black or Candy Cardinal Red with Metallic Flat Spark Black. Price is $6299 plus on-road costs.

This author was a learner rider on a Yamaha RZ250 two-stroke – which I also raced on the weekends. That was about the only bonus of owning the machine as, apart from riders with a lot of skill and bravado, it was a tough way of learning your motorcycle craft.

Now, machines like the Z400 really show how far we’ve come in welcoming new riders – and the little Kwaka also has enough wherewithal for experienced riders to get a thrill as well.

That’s the modern day LAMS scene for you, and the compact, nimble, and fun Z400 is one of the finest purveyors.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, eight-valve parallel-twin
Capacity: 399cc
Bore x stroke: 62mm x 49mm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 45hp (33.4kW) at 11,000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 38Nm at 8000rpm
Economy: 4.7lt/100km (measured)

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Steel tube
Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Uni-Trak with five-way preload adjustment, 130mm travel
Front brakes: 310mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear brakes: 220mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 167kg
Seat height: 785mm
Wheelbase: 1370mm
Fuel capacity: 14 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $6299 plus on-road costs
Colours: Candy Lime Green with Metallic Spark Black or Candy Cardinal Red with Metallic Flat Spark Black
Bike supplied by: Kawasaki Motors Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres