There is no replacement for displacement, the old adage tells us, and that is exactly the driving force behind the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400, which debuted today at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Replacing the Kawasaki Ninja 300 in the lineup, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 is set to be Team Green’s new entry-level model, and help Kawasaki better compete against bigger bikes like the Yamaha YZF-R3 and KTM RC390.
This news may come as a shock however, since the Ninja 300 was only available for five years (whereas the Ninja 250R served in various guises for decades), but Kawasaki says the major driving force behind the new model is the Euro4 homologation requirements, which required a clean-slate design.
The basic idea for the Ninja 300 carries over to the Ninja 400 though, as the new model will continue to use a parallel-twin engine (with a larger bore and larger stroke), which makes touch more power and torque than the 300cc model: 45hp / 26 lbs•ft.
Despite the larger engine, Kawasaki managed to keep the weight down on the Ninja 400, with the scales tipping in at 370 lbs at the curb. A large part of this weight reduction comes from the smaller fuel tank on the Ninja 400, which is only 3.6 gallons (the Ninja 300 had a 4.5 gallon fuel tank).
Other upgrades found on the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 include a slipper-assist clutch, larger diameter front forks (41mm), a larger front disc brake (310mm), a larger rear tire (150/60R17), and an LED headlight.
There is no word yet on pricing and availability, but we do know for certain that the Kawasaki Ninja 400 will be coming to the US market, thanks to its name being spotted in certification documents with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), so stay tuned for that information.
Source: Kawasaki Europe
Comments