Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R and ZX-4RR on sale

Australia’s sportsbike market is now even more diverse, with the all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition recently hitting dealer showrooms around the country.

Both variants are powered by a 399cc in-line four-cylinder engine with a redline in excess of 15,000rpm. That affords a banshee’s wail of top-end performance, along with peak output of 77hp (56.7kW) at 14,500rpm (with ram air) and 37.6Nm of torque at 12,500pm – all from a svelte and compact package weighing 188kg wet.

Those stats also mean the new models don’t qualify for LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) status, requiring owners to have a full licence to legally ride them in Australia, unlike their more relaxed, parallel-twin-powered stablemate, the Kawasaki Ninja 400.

Kawasaki says the new models offer an exhilarating supersport experience on the road or track, with the duo benefitting from expertise gleaned from Kawasaki’s long history in WorldSBK and a chassis and suspension package that offers comparable performance to higher-displacement models like the Ninja ZX-6R and Ninja ZX-10R.

With a high-tensile steel trellis frame that’s tuned for optimal rigidity, the Ninja ZX-4R rides on a non-adjustable 37mm diameter fork with Showa SFF-BP internals, along with a horizontal back-link-style rear monoshock.

In addition to its eye-catching Kawasaki Racing Team livery, the Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition scores a Showa SFF-BP fork with preload adjustment, along with an adjustable Showa BFRC Lite monoshock, as found on the ZX-10R.

Both models feature twin 290mm front brake discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers, ensuring ferocious stopping power and feel, along with a 220mm rear disc with single-piston caliper.

With an ultra-compact 1380mm wheelbase and a steep rake of 23.5 degrees, the pair are sure to be supremely nimble and agile, an aspect aided by the relatively modest 15L fuel tank capacity.

The newcomers certainly don’t dip out when it comes to tech, either. The base model features a choice of four ride modes (Road, Sport, Rain and Custom) as well as traction control, a slipper clutch, full LED lighting, smartphone connectivity (with Kawasaki app) and a 4.3-inch TFT instrument display, while the Ninja ZX-4RR builds on this with a bi-directional quickshifter.

The Kawasaki Nina ZX-4R is available in Metallic Spark Black for $11,894 plus on-road costs, while the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR is available in Lime Green / Ebony with KRT Edition graphics for $13,294 plus on-road costs. See your nearest Kawasaki dealership for more information.