Which A2 motorcycle to choose from Kawasaki? Test of Z900 70 kW, Ninja 400 and company…
In 2018, Kawasaki launches two new motorcycles compatible with the A2 license: the Z900 70 kW and the Ninja 400. Site was able to test them along with the five other models that the Greens are offering to new French bikers: Z650, Ninja 650, Vulcan S , Versys 650 and Versys-X 300.
Page 3 – New sports car 2018: Ninja 400
Main characteristics
- Engine: 399 cc parallel twin
- Power and torque: 45 hp and 38 Nm
- Front and rear brakes: single 310 mm disc and single 220
- Seat height: 785 mm
- Fuel tank: 14 L
- Full weight: 168 kg
- Price: 5999 euros
What the builder says
Kawasaki is proud to present a new sporty model in this ultra competitive segment. Equipped with a new Ninja style, the new Ninja 400 offers better performance than its predecessor, the Ninja 300, thanks to a much more powerful engine and a significantly lighter chassis. Not only does the Ninja 400 have a superb design with a high quality finish, but it also has a powerful and intuitive engine, a sporty and relaxed riding position, to make it a motorcycle both maneuverable and fun..
What Site thinks
New model in Kawasaki’s 2018 catalog in the A2 department, the Ninja 400 is aimed a priori at young A2 license holders: those who have posted images of the Ninja ZX-10RR walls of their room wallpapers from their smartphone, tablet and computer !
While waiting to be able to drive and / or afford the three-time Superbike world champion, Kawasaki fans are therefore offered a real small 400 cc replica. This replacement for the Ninja 300 benefits from a new engine and a new chassis…
Presented in October 2017 upstream of the last Eicma show in Milan, Kawasaki’s new "mini" sports car weighs 4 kg less than its predecessor, at the same time develops 6 more horsepower and releases an additional 11 Nm some 2000 revs lower !
On the handlebars, this is clearly felt: the twin is better filled in mid-revs, which allows you to roam around town without ever being honked or dislocated on all sides. The little Ninja also accepts to travel at 50 km / h in sixth gear. Too strong this little engine.
The Twin 400 retains "at the same time" the angry character of the 300: Site thus took a lot of pleasure in whipping it between 7000 and 10 000 rev / min to work on the small Corsican roads! We almost forget the limited comfort in the seat…
When he’s no longer focused on keeping his engine in high revs via a wonderfully manageable gearbox – no need to resort to the ridiculously manageable clutch lever! -, the pilot realizes that above 5000 rpm, vibrations shake the saddle of the Ninja too much.
It is all the more regrettable that in terms of driving position, the little Kawa does not go overboard: the – large – legs are not too bent and the wrists are not broken thanks to the pair of half-handlebars sufficiently high placed. Only a properly padded saddle is missing !
The site observes in passing that the passenger seat – for troubleshooting only, especially since there is no handle – is removable and hides under a clever cover a space that can accommodate a small U, a disc lock or the vest yellow mandatory. Attention, it will be necessary to slip this last in a plastic bag because the "trunk" is exposed to the projections of the rear wheel.
The least heavy and the most stylish
The featherweight of this "Kawette" is one of its shocking arguments: even going down from a slender Z650, you would think you were climbing on a 125. This remark is not pejorative: the size of the 400 is similar to that of the 650, but its handling is as easy as a very small displacement. Beginners will appreciate !
Question look also the Ninja 400 garners points thanks to its Full LED lighting highlighted with appendages or "spoilers" to the Ninja H2 – even MotoGP! -, its notched rear shell, its ZX-10R brake light, its petal-cut discs, its KRT color (Kawasaki Racing Team, +200 €), etc..
To perfect its sporty look, the Kawa is adorned with a full fairing and a bubble … far too low to protect the pilot! You have to curl up against the small tank (14 liters) to give yourself a semblance of respite on the fast lane or optimize your top speed. A Vmax that MNC could not measure on Corsican departmental areas !
On the other hand, the nice fights to which the Journal moto du Net engaged – "you attacked, you?" – made it possible to validate the work of the suspensions. At the end of its brief driving, MNC considers that they are more homogeneous than those of the 300: the fork and the shock absorber are less disunited on rather paved roads and are more resistant to – big – mass transfers..
In terms of braking, the Ninja 400 also improves compared to the 300, but it remains below expectations. The front brake in particular, still lacks power and especially bite to satisfy fans of sporty driving. The rear brake is relatively more convincing.
Weak point otherwise more handicapping for the Ninja 400: its high price compared to the Ninja 650 which is only displayed 1500 euros higher in concessions … The difference even tends to disappear with the Ninja 650 which are starting to appear on the second-hand market.
Good news for the racers, however: "our Ninja 400 is approved to participate in the races of the French Promosport championship", announced the Greens of Akashi, a few seconds after having assured us that their machine was clearly more powerful than the Yamaha, first machine titled in WSSP "300" against Ninja 300, RC390 and CBR500R !
- Ninja 400 highlights
- Enhancing template and look
- Obvious grip
- Nasty engine
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