Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[Jaeger]

Kawasaki 4 cylinder 400s announced. $9,999 for the 73HP ZX-4R, $10,999 for the 76HP ZX-4RR. Both factory restricted to 11,500 RPM to comply with noise limits.

https://www.kawasaki.ca/en-ca/motorcycle/ninja/supersport/ninja-zx-4r/2023-ninja-zx-4rr

I bet it will still be a fantastically fun bike.  What should it rev to, is it way off what people were hoping for?  Seems like the power figures are in line with expectations.  The price is decent too.  Would you recommend this as a “starter bike” or too racy?

15,000+

With the extra 3,500 RPMs, would you expect a noticeable amount of power in that range or is it more about music to the ears?

hp = torque x rpm.  So yes.  Also music. 

[ktm525]

Maybe Kawasaki can develop a better exhaust.

[Jaeger]

Apparently UK spec is 80hp and 15k rpm. Like I said, I expected this bike to rev higher than mine, and it does.  Elsewhere. Is the neutering Canada only, or US as well?

[JohnnyMac]

Apparently UK spec is 80hp and 15k rpm. Like I said, I expected this bike to rev higher than mine, and it does.  Elsewhere. Is the neutering Canada only, or US as well?

If that's the case, then wouldn't it be somewhat easier to just get a tune or ECU from the UK market and fit it to a North American bike? 

[Jaeger]

Apparently UK spec is 80hp and 15k rpm. Like I said, I expected this bike to rev higher than mine, and it does.  Elsewhere. Is the neutering Canada only, or US as well?

If that's the case, then wouldn't it be somewhat easier to just get a tune or ECU from the UK market and fit it to a North American bike?

Well I wouldn't go to the bother of importing a bike fron the UK, so that's not even notionally on the table. As for modifying a local bike to free up those revs - def  void your warranty and might void your insurance (some policies have a no performance mods clause). Just kind of wish they'd left the Canadian bike alone. I know if I bought one, I'd be watching global reviews of my bike screaming at 14k rpm and feeling rather annoyed.

I mean, proportionally, this would be the approximate equivalent of dropping the redline of a Honda S2000 from  8200 rpm to 6300 rpm (23%). The car wouldn't suck. But a big part of what made it special would be gone. No biggie? Well, that's a point in respect of which people will disagree.

[JohnnyMac]

Apparently UK spec is 80hp and 15k rpm. Like I said, I expected this bike to rev higher than mine, and it does.  Elsewhere. Is the neutering Canada only, or US as well?

If that's the case, then wouldn't it be somewhat easier to just get a tune or ECU from the UK market and fit it to a North American bike?

Well I wouldn't go to the bother of importing a bike fron the UK, so that's not even notionally on the table. As for modifying a local bike to free up those revs - def  void your warranty and might void your insurance (some policies have a no performance mods clause). Just kind of wish they'd left the Canadian bike alone. I know if I bought one, I'd be watching global reviews of my bike screaming at 14k rpm and feeling rather annoyed.

I mean, proportionally, this would be the approximate equivalent of dropping the redline of a Honda S2000 from  8200 rpm to 6300 rpm (23%). The car wouldn't suck. But a big part of what made it special would be gone. No biggie? Well, that's a point in respect of which people will disagree.

Brings about another question, could you have a modified exhaust that is able to keep the decibels down while also not effecting performance (power)?  I definitely get the annoyance and certainly does take some of the enjoyment and appeal of the bike away.

[Jaeger]

Apparently UK spec is 80hp and 15k rpm. Like I said, I expected this bike to rev higher than mine, and it does.  Elsewhere. Is the neutering Canada only, or US as well?

If that's the case, then wouldn't it be somewhat easier to just get a tune or ECU from the UK market and fit it to a North American bike?

Well I wouldn't go to the bother of importing a bike fron the UK, so that's not even notionally on the table. As for modifying a local bike to free up those revs - def  void your warranty and might void your insurance (some policies have a no performance mods clause). Just kind of wish they'd left the Canadian bike alone. I know if I bought one, I'd be watching global reviews of my bike screaming at 14k rpm and feeling rather annoyed.

I mean, proportionally, this would be the approximate equivalent of dropping the redline of a Honda S2000 from  8200 rpm to 6300 rpm (23%). The car wouldn't suck. But a big part of what made it special would be gone. No biggie? Well, that's a point in respect of which people will disagree.

Brings about another question, could you have a modified exhaust that is able to keep the decibels down while also not effecting performance (power)?  I definitely get the annoyance and certainly does take some of the enjoyment and appeal of the bike away.

Good question.  I don't know the answer.

[ktm525]

I'll reserve judgement until I actually hear it. If it is annoyingly loud then you get put in the same camp as all the Harley DBs with their aftermarket pipes.

[Guy]

I'll reserve judgement until I actually hear it. If it is annoyingly loud then you get put in the same camp as all the Harley DBs with their aftermarket pipes.

At least a loud sport bike you don't hear them long, zoom and they are gone!  HD's however just crawl around at agricultural tractor speed 

[ktm525]

True although ultra high rpm power is not really accessible on the street unless you want to cruise around in 1st and 2nd gear...

[Jaeger]

True although ultra high rpm power is not really accessible on the street unless you want to cruise around in 1st and 2nd gear...

True - but does the market really need more parallel twins?  They are a dime a dozen.  Can't we have one affordable high-revving screamer that doesn't really make perfect logical sense?

[dkaz]

73-76 HP from a 400 is still nothing to scoff at. But there are already Americans complaining about the price. This is why small displacement 4 cylinders don't work in North America.

British Columbians can rejoice though. 400cc insurance, 73-76 HP.

[ktm525]

True although ultra high rpm power is not really accessible on the street unless you want to cruise around in 1st and 2nd gear...

True - but does the market really need more parallel twins?  They are a dime a dozen.  Can't we have one affordable high-revving screamer that doesn't really make perfect logical sense?

You sure can!

[rrocket]

I dunno. This doesn't shock me in the least. Stuff like this has been going on...forever. I'm old. LOL [emoji38]

Most/many homologation specials came de-tuned. By a significant amount. You'd need to buy the "track only" power up kit. Recently,  one of the most expensive bikes ever sold (Honda RC213V-S) at $185k came neutered from the factory (100hp! ) in the same way. You needed the kit to get the 212hp.

Heck, it wasn't long ago that even Hayabusas wouldn't give you the full power in X gears at Y RPM for "safety". A little wire snip fixed it.

I'm feeling half nostalgic over this nonsense! What's old is new again! LOL [emoji38]

[Jaeger]

Promo shot for the 2023 Joe Rocket Canada product line.  You might recognize the bike.  (Photo credit: Bill Livingstone)

[PJungnitsch]

Honda really did get it together with that styling

[Jaeger]

Honda really did get it together with that styling

  puts a smile on my face every time.

[DriverJeff]

Honda really did get it together with that styling

  puts a smile on my face every time.

Bill really highlights that bike's sexiest features.  Such a great shot (no surprise, he's a hell of a shooter)

[Jaeger]

Honda really did get it together with that styling

  puts a smile on my face every time.

Bill really highlights that bike's sexiest features.  Such a great shot (no surprise, he's a hell of a shooter)

Truth!

[Blueprint]

What a cute revival of a classic:

https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/first-look-2023-honda-trail125-abs



$4,791