Topic: Test Ride: 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400

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How is the new Kawasaki like a puppy? Jeff lists the ways.
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[dkaz]

Nice review. Easily best in class bike out there. I love those gauges. My old motorcycle instructor who normally rides his ZX10R when taking big trips loves his little Ninja 400 for around town and track days. It was scratched off early on my list because of lack of incentives, and I don't blame them -- why would they?

HP curve comparison between some close competitors, including the CBR 500R.


My favourite comparison video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycEE5JX95UI&feature=youtu.be

[Gurgie]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Uh, I want to get a bike like this so much, but the insurance here in Manitoba is prohibitive...Manitoba is possibly the worst place in the country to insure a bike...

[dkaz]

Uh, I want to get a bike like this so much, but the insurance here in Manitoba is prohibitive...Manitoba is possibly the worst place in the country to insure a bike...

Wouldn't it be the same as BC? Do you guys have the option of getting optional insurance through a private company? In BC, I paid $45/mo for $2 mil liability with any under 400cc bike, plus $225 for optional coverage.

[rrocket]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

The GS400 didn't sing to the moon.

You're confusing it with the GSF400 (Bandit 400) which did sing to the moon.

And yes...people are largely clueless about how amazing the 400s (and 250s) from the 90s were. Even now, they are so far ahead from what's on offer now it almost a joke.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

It would be $1869/yr.  And that's without any options.  Basic $500 deductibles, $1 000 000 liability, etc. 

Ridiculous.



My BIL in Calgary just bought a Ducati Monster 1200R.  He probably pays half as much for insurance on that insane bike, as I would pay here for a sensible bike such as this Ninja 400.

[Gurgie]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

The GS400 didn't sing to the moon.

You're confusing it with the GSF400 (Bandit 400) which did sing to the moon.

And yes...people are largely clueless about how amazing the 400s (and 250s) from the 90s were. Even now, they are so far ahead from what's on offer now it almost a joke.

Yes, sorry the GSF-400 Bandit, we used to just call it a Bandit 400. I rode a couple of them & boy were they great little bikes that just loved to rev! Light as well. Just think of  putting that motor into a more modern & lighter frame & components, what a facking hoot that would be!

I don't know why they gave up on small displacement 4's? Emissions? Manufacturing costs?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[rrocket]

Nice review. Easily best in class bike out there.

Depends what you want. The KTM is still the better sportbike. The Ninja arguably the better all arounder.

I still favor the KTM. Shorter wheelbase (by an inch! ) bigger brakes, better dash (IMO), more character in the engine, throttle by wire, slightly better suspension, adjustable levers, etc. Lots of little details.

Can't go wrong with either though.

[rrocket]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

The GS400 didn't sing to the moon.

You're confusing it with the GSF400 (Bandit 400) which did sing to the moon.

And yes...people are largely clueless about how amazing the 400s (and 250s) from the 90s were. Even now, they are so far ahead from what's on offer now it almost a joke.

Yes, sorry the GSF-400 Bandit, we used to just call it a Bandit 400. I rode a couple of them & boy were they great little bikes that just loved to rev! Light as well. Just think of  putting that motor into a more modern & lighter frame & components, what a facking hoot that would be!

I don't know why they gave up on small displacement 4's? Emissions? Manufacturing costs?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Cost. For example, in the 90s, the 400s were the most advanced, highest tech bikes in the Japanese lineups. They had aluminum frames and banana swing arms when the 600s didn't. Due to JDM regulations, 400cc was basically the biggest bike in Japan...so they got all the love from the manufacturers.

They were...and still are...very special bikes.

[dkaz]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

Honda has an inline-4 CBR 400R overseas that makes ~46 HP. Problem is it'd be over $8k here and while there'd be some sales for people who want a light weight bike that sounds great and makes excellent power, most people will disagree with the ~$1000 premium over the CBR 500R and go with that instead

Depends what you want. The KTM is still the better sportbike. The Ninja arguably the better all arounder.

I still favor the KTM. Shorter wheelbase (by an inch! ) bigger brakes, better dash (IMO), more character in the engine, throttle by wire, slightly better suspension, adjustable levers, etc. Lots of little details.

Can't go wrong with either though.

Yea the video I posted said it basically boiled down to wanting a good all round bike vs. a sport bike.

[dkaz]

It would be $1869/yr.  And that's without any options.  Basic $500 deductibles, $1 000 000 liability, etc. 

Holy s**t.

[Gurgie]

Nice review. Easily best in class bike out there.

Depends what you want. The KTM is still the better sportbike. The Ninja arguably the better all arounder.

I still favor the KTM. Shorter wheelbase (by an inch! ) bigger brakes, better dash (IMO), more character in the engine, throttle by wire, slightly better suspension, adjustable levers, etc. Lots of little details.

Can't go wrong with either though.

Those small touches make a big difference I always found... my 98 ZX-6 had adjustable levers... then when I got the 06 ZZR-600 it didn't have them & boy did I miss them, so I ordered some ASV adjustable shorty's... they were awesome!

[Great_Big_Abyss]

It would be $1869/yr.  And that's without any options.  Basic $500 deductibles, $1 000 000 liability, etc. 

Holy s**t.

Just for fun, I plugged in my BIL's 1200R, and it spat out a rate of $4982/yr. 

[dkaz]

It would be $1869/yr.  And that's without any options.  Basic $500 deductibles, $1 000 000 liability, etc. 

Holy s**t.

Just for fun, I plugged in my BIL's 1200R, and it spat out a rate of $4982/yr. 

Would there be a safe driving discount?

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Eventually, but it takes years to accumulate.  I'm at 10% right now, I think you can go up to 20 or 25%, but it takes years.

[rrocket]

Meh, guess it's a fun little bike & all, but I'm sure the parallel twin would get tiring for me in the long run. Was never a fan of them, maybe they've improved, but a small displacement inline 4 that sings to the moon is huge gobs of fun, like the old Suzuki GS-400, it put down 48.7hp to the rear tire 38yrs ago 

Honda has an inline-4 CBR 400R overseas that makes ~46 HP. Problem is it'd be over $8k here and while there'd be some sales for people who want a light weight bike that sounds great and makes excellent power, most people will disagree with the ~$1000 premium over the CBR 500R and go with that instead

Depends what you want. The KTM is still the better sportbike. The Ninja arguably the better all arounder.

I still favor the KTM. Shorter wheelbase (by an inch! ) bigger brakes, better dash (IMO), more character in the engine, throttle by wire, slightly better suspension, adjustable levers, etc. Lots of little details.

Can't go wrong with either though.

Yea the video I posted said it basically boiled down to wanting a good all round bike vs. a sport bike.

And I think the Duke makes it the better all rounder than the RC390. Better ergos for the street. I much prefer it to the RC. Another thing that the Duke is that isn't mentioned often in reviews...it feels so tiny. You literally see nothing in front of you. No fairing, no nothing. Just the road ahead.

Rumor has it the Ninja is coming over with a naked 400!

[rrocket]

Honda has an inline-4 CBR 400R overseas that makes ~46 HP. Problem is it'd be over $8k here and while there'd be some sales for people who want a light weight bike that sounds great and makes excellent power, most people will disagree with the ~$1000 premium over the CBR 500R and go with that instead

But that's still a twin and pales in comparison the the CBR400RR of the 90s. 59hp! 14,500rpm! Even the baby brother CBR250RR was in the 40-42hp range and did an astonishing 20,000rpm! O. M. G.

And the pinnacle of the genre (IMO) was the Honda VFR400 NC30. Lustful V4 and achingly beautiful.

[dkaz]

And I think the Duke makes it the better all rounder than the RC390. Better ergos for the street. I much prefer it to the RC. Another thing that the Duke is that isn't mentioned often in reviews...it feels so tiny. You literally see nothing in front of you. No fairing, no nothing. Just the road ahead.

Rumor has it the Ninja is coming over with a naked 400!

I thought I would like naked bikes but I prefer the aerodynamic wind protection of a sport bike. Wing put a windshield on the CB300F and it kinda defeats the purpose of a naked bike, other than the upright riding position.

But that's still a twin and pales in comparison the the CBR400RR of the 90s. 59hp! 14,500rpm!

And the pinnacle of the genre (IMO) was the Honda VFR400 NC30. Lustful V4 and achingly beautiful.

Oh I thought it was an inline 4 for some reason, never mind!

[rrocket]

And I think the Duke makes it the better all rounder than the RC390. Better ergos for the street. I much prefer it to the RC. Another thing that the Duke is that isn't mentioned often in reviews...it feels so tiny. You literally see nothing in front of you. No fairing, no nothing. Just the road ahead.

Rumor has it the Ninja is coming over with a naked 400!

I thought I would like naked bikes but I prefer the aerodynamic wind protection of a sport bike. Wing put a windshield on the CB300F and it kinda defeats the purpose of a naked bike, other than the upright riding position.

But that's still a twin and pales in comparison the the CBR400RR of the 90s. 59hp! 14,500rpm!

And the pinnacle of the genre (IMO) was the Honda VFR400 NC30. Lustful V4 and achingly beautiful.

Oh I thought it was an inline 4 for some reason, never mind!

Oh I like naked. There's a teeny weenie bikini fairing for the Duke that (somehow) makes a huge difference. I'd not have believed it until I tried it.

Here it is fitted to a 2017