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Now up on Total Motorcycle --- 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 400R!

Yes, we got the scoop... take a look:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... ja400R.htm



Aggressive Yet Chic. Exciting Yet Easy.

2011 Kawasaki Ninja 400R

Aggressive yet chic Ninja styling
- Aggressive Ninja image blended with the fashion sense and chic sophistication of a modern street bike
- Full-fairing bodywork adds a measure of wind protection
- High attention to the smallest details results in the same high quality and finish as our Ninja 650R
- MotoGP inspired multi-function display includes fuel gauge, digital speedometer and bar-style digital tachometer.
- Built-in front turn signals
- Under-engine muffler
- LED tail lamp
- Rear inner fender
- Sculpted swingarm


Sporty street performance

Engine
- 399 cc Parallel Twin with strong low-mid range torque
- Bore and stroke specifically chosen to deliver the most exciting 400cc performance
- Rider-friendly off-idle characteristics

Chassis
- High-tensile steel trellis frame with balanced rigidity offers nimble handling for easy control and fun sport riding enjoyment

Ergonomics
- Slim, natural riding position
- Easy to reach ground with both feet thanks to a slim chassis design

Suspension
- Offset laydown single-shock rear suspension
- Suspension settings match frame and swingarm characteristics to offer light, rider-friendly handling

I voted I love it.

Finally! After all these years of asking Kawasaki (or any manufacturer) to bring back a 400cc bike, Kawasaki has. It would be nice to see a naked 400 as well like they did with the Ninja 650R/ER-6F and ER-6N.

But this is great news for new riders as there are very few normal sized (cc) starter bikes out there.

Mike

Awesome now if more manufacturers would follow suit.

csspostal wrote:Awesome now if more manufacturers would follow suit.

Agree 100% there with you.

There ARE some other 400cc's around the world, mostly Japan, hopefully is this bike sells as well as the Ninja 500 did then....

Mike

totalmotorcycle wrote:

csspostal wrote:Awesome now if more manufacturers would follow suit.

Agree 100% there with you.

There ARE some other 400cc's around the world, mostly Japan, hopefully is this bike sells as well as the Ninja 500 did then....

Mike

Bikes like this makes a lot of sense in Japan as it is a tiered licensing system and 400cc is one of the tier levels. Actually you have to be pretty skilled to get a 400cc license in Japan. My gf Hondagirl is licensed for that and she is a very skilled rider. I can honestly say that 75% of the riders in the US that are running around currently on GSXR1000s, Ducati 1198s, Harley Fatboys, etc etc would flat out fail the Japanese 400cc test.

That being said, a bike like this would make no sense in the US as the 650cc Ninja has lot more power and it doesn't weight/cost that much more.

Nice bike but I dont see how it fits into the US market, unless its replacing the Ninja 250.

It looks virtually indistinguishable from the Ninja 650

Are they killing the 250? Or this is another addition?

I love the idea of a beautiful 400 cc coming on to the market! I think when a lot of normal people start riding (not the ones who start on a 1000 rr...) they want a smaller bike but don't want a 250. So they opt for the next "smallest" thing - which is a 650 - and that ain't small!

People that start on a 250 tend to get bored on it after a year or so, but the 400 would give much longer enjoyment to newbies. Besides, it looks like a 650 (as noted above) so people don't have to feel like they are riding a "beginner's bike".

I rode a 400cc when I first started and it was the best decision.

The new 400 is definitely aimed at the beginner market, and seriously, beginner's should travel to other parts of the world to see what a real beginner's bike is before complaining that a 400 is "too small"...

Nice bike and great idea, but I don't think it will fly in the States or in Canada. We just don't have the mindset to realize the benefits of bikes like this. I don't know why either. I knew a guy with a FZR400 years ago, and that bike was a hoot to ride. But we just have the idea that if it ain't either a big cruiser or killer sportbike, it ain't worth it. Too bad, our loss...... but what do expect from a culture that gets hot-n-wet over a halfton of chrome or stretched-out, 300mm tired sportbikes....

jmillheiser wrote:It looks virtually indistinguishable from the Ninja 650

I think it is the 650, just reduced bore and stroke to the lower displacement. Key dimensions and weight are identical to the 650.