Kawasaki Ninja 400 unveiled

The Ninja 300 cannot continue due to emission norms. The current 300cc twin-cylinder engine will not be able to clear the Euro-IV emission norms. This means that there is room made for the Kawasaki Ninja 400. This is an all new bike that has been unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. This is the company’s new bike replacement for the 300cc version. A new twin-cylinder 400cc bike.

For the European and other markets, this bike will replace the 300cc version. For some of the markets like Thailand, where there is a higher duty on engines above 250cc, they will continue to have the Ninja 250. So India will be getting the 400cc version. The 300cc will be discontinued. An all new generation of the bike, made on a new platform with a new engine.

Design

In terms of styling, the new bike is a lot more angular. There are a lot of design cues that are taken from the H2. It is clearly visible from the spoilers under the headlamps.  There is the sharp nose and glass windshield. The side profile has black and green livery. It has 500 written all over it. The design of the bike makes it look different. The Kawasaki Racing Team colours can be seen on bike.

There isn’t a major difference in the dimensions. The Kawasaki Ninja 400 continues to have black 5-spoke alloy wheels.

The exhaust also looks similar. The fuel tank is chiselled. This is an all new bike that will hit the Indian market too.

Engine

In terms of specifications, this bike will come with a parallel-twin 399cc engine that churns about 44.8bhp of power and 38Nm of max torque. This is a tad more than the 300cc, which made 38bhp. This engine might produce more power and even better performance than the current Ninja but the point is it a kilogram lighter than the current Ninja 250. The new Ninja 400 is about 8 kilograms lighter than the current Ninja 300. The kerb weight of the bike is 168 kilos. The top speed of the new bike will be about 200km/hr. 

Features

In terms of features, there is slip-assist clutch. The 400 comes with a 41mm Kayaba forks up in the front and these aren’t adjustable. There is also Nissin ABS that has 310mm disc brake. The instrument cluster is shared with the Ninja 650.

Kawasaki is also offering some additional accessories like helmet lock, pillion seat cover, tank pads and a large instrumentation. There is a 12V outlet as well.

• Projector lights
• Daytime running LEDs
• 310mm disc brake at the front
• ABS
• 41mm telescopic fork
• LED tail lamps
• 12V charging socket

Colours

The new Ninja 400 shall be made available in two colour options only as always. The names have been changed but the colours are similar.

• Metallic Spark Black
• Ebony KRT edition and Lime Green

Also Read: Bajaj Avenger 400 | Benelli Tornado 302R

Kawasaki Ninja 400 Launch Date in India

As this will be a global discontinuation, then even India will get the 400cc version. We expect our desi market to receive this new more powerful engine by late 2018. Expecting it before that is somewhat difficult. At the moment, Indian market will have good amount of units that should be in stock.

Price in India

Expecting the 400 also be to priced similar to 300 is somewhat difficult. First, there is a higher taxation for bikes in excess of 350cc. Then there will be more costs as the new bike is lighter, making it difficult to price it similar to the 300cc. We expect the on-road price of the new Ninja 400 to be somewhere about Rs 4.20 lakhs. The only other option is to get the 250cc version back into India. Kawasaki could in fact sell both of them as well.