Are you aware that Kawasaki has actually launched a 400cc, inline-4, liquid-cooled sport bike in the USA? This has happened recently; within the last 15 days! And the motorcycle is called the Ninja ZX-4RR (KRT Edition).
However, this RR variant is a slightly higher spec version of the standard Ninja ZX-4R that has been announced as well and will be available across Europe. The funny thing is, this still doesn’t feel like the huge news it should be and there’s just quietness around it. Strange!
That said, the fact that it is going to be available in Europe gives us hope that Kawasaki might bring the ZX-4R to India as well. Then, it will be huge news and we may as well blow our roofs!
The good thing is that 400cc inline-4 high-revving sport bikes are back, even if in the form of just one motorcycle. Others, please take note.
Ninja ZX-4R
Everything about this motorcycle revolves around its engine, and why not! The engine is brand new; 399cc, inline-4, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16 valves. It produces an astonishing 77 PS of power (80 PS with ram-air), and while the torque figure is not yet revealed, Kawasaki says that the bike delivers strong low to mid-range torque for easier city riding, but overall, still a flat torque curve.
The engine has a bore & stroke of 57mm & 39.1mm respectively, and a compression of 12.3:1. The extremely short stroke nature of the engine already indicates that it is a high revving engine, and Kawasaki makes it clear that it revs higher than 15,000 RPM. It is a proper screamer.
The engine is designed to handle that level of stress. Moreover, even with the compression ratio of 12.3:1, the engine is optimized to perform to its potential with regular fuel. Cast aluminium pistons and aluminium die-cast cylinders help ensure reliability and longevity. The liquid-cooling system is designed using CFD analysis and consists of a 30-row radiator. There are several vents to route cooler air towards the engine, while the position of the radiator fan and vents in the fairing ensure that the hot air moves away from the rider. Attention has also been paid toward ensuring that the engine heat doesn’t get transferred to the fuel tank, chassis, and the bodywork.
The Ninja ZX-4R has been designed as a proper supersport motorcycle which is unlike anything else in its class. And so, every component is designed to perform at its highest level, just like the ones on a 1000cc ZX-10R. The chassis is made of high tensile steel and it’s a trellis frame with complete focus on acquiring required balance between rigidity and flex. The bike is designed to entertain quick handling inputs while being stable at all speeds.
The front suspension is comprised of Showa Separate Function Fork-Big Piston fork and a Showa monoshock. On the ZX-4RR, the front forks are preload adjustable, while the rear gets the Showa BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) Lite, which is somewhat similar to the one in the ZX-10R. There are twin 290mm discs at the front and they are handled by 4-piston radial-mounted calipers. At the back, there’s a single 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper.
The Ninja ZX-4RR that has been launched in the US also gets a dual quick shifter. It is priced at $9699. The standard Ninja ZX-4R will be available in Europe, and we hope that it also comes to India too.