4 Banger Blast: Why the New Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR Issues

It’s been a whereas since any producer supplied a mass-produced tiny four-cylinder sport bike. This week Kawasaki lastly launched the brand new highly-anticipated Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR, a 400cc four-cylinder sport bike.

Many people began driving on little four-cylinder bikes. Many people will bear in mind, fondly, CB400Fs or 350Fs, or should you have been fortunate sufficient, perhaps you bought to journey a Suzuki GPZ400R or GS500. They weren’t highly effective, however they have been enjoyable.

One in every of my first bikes was a 1976 Honda CB550, with a four-into-one exhaust, that appeared like a banshee after I acquired on the pipe. That bike (I apologize for the previous picture) was enjoyable, nimble, and let me develop right into a higher-revving motor. That’s the reason the brand new ZX-4RR issues. With out studying the way to faucet that horsepower then, I wouldn’t really feel snug on a racetrack or on a high-powered bike now.

The little Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR will doubtless encourage a legion of latest motorbike followers to exit and purchase it, not as a result of it’s cool (it’s) or mild (it’s), however as a result of they will discover ways to deal with a motorbike as the facility builds. 4-cylinder bikes construct energy in a particular method, and lots of occasions it’s not linear. They really feel damaged and decelerate low, then you definately get a burst of velocity as they arrive on the pipe.

The little oversquare 400cc within the new Ninja ought to do this, too. The Ninja has mild solid aluminum pistons that enable for quick-climbing revs, which suggests you’ll have to concentrate to the 11,000 rpm redline. It’s backed up, in KRT Version trim, with a brand new Showa SFF-BP the wrong way up fork, and a totally adjustable rear shock, too.

The brand new Ninja, too, has a fast shifter with an help and a slipper clutch. That signifies that a tough shift received’t lock up the rear wheel whenever you’re crossed up making an attempt to enter a flip exhausting, which I want my previous Honda had. Nevertheless it additionally has a number of energy and driving modes to permit riders of various abilities in numerous climate situations to deal with the facility. Sadly, we don’t know the way a lot horsepower it makes, however we do understand it makes 26.5 lb.-ft (36 Nm) of torque.

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Within the U.S., the brand new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Version might be a virtually $10,000 bike, which places it into rivalry with 600cc four-cylinder bikes on value. However, as anybody who’s ever ridden a small four-banger can inform you, it ought to be lighter and complete lot extra enjoyable.