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Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Z900RS unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show

The Z900RS had been a much-awaited motorcycle in Kawasaki’s lineup. It is a retro styled motorcycle inspired by the 1970s Z1 and is based on the Z900.

Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Z900RS unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show

Kawasaki has revealed the replacement for the Ninja 300 – the Ninja 400, with a significant boost in power and torque. With a much sharper design, the Ninja 400’s 399cc parallel-twin engine produces 45 bhp and 37.9 Nm of torque, up from 39 bhp and 26.9 Nm of the Ninja 300. The new motorcycle, as Kawasaki says, will offer better performance throughout the rev range with improved low-down torque, while retaining the smooth throttle and a rider-friendly character. The Ninja 400 will lose 6 kg of weight compared to the Ninja 300, at 168 kg (wet). The motorcycle has had a heavy improvement in its styling, inspired by the H2, with ‘chin-spoilers’ just below the twin LED headlamps. According to Kawasaki, it will have the largest front disc brake in its class at 310 mm, with Nissin ABS.

The new Ninja will come with more of modern day tech than its predecessors. It benefits from a slipper clutch, which is said to make the lever 20% lighter to pull. The Ninja 400 looks more substantial than the Ninja 300 with a wide seat unit, and Kawasaki says the ‘large-volume bodywork’ offers good wind protection.

There is so far no word if the Ninja 400 will come to India, but considering that the Ninja 300 could not make many sales numbers in India with a price tag of Rs 3.60 lakh, it will be surprising if Kawasaki decides to launch it here. The Ninja 400 could directly compete with the KTM RC 390, which so far has not had direct competition against it in the country. But then, if the Japanese motorcycle did come to India, the price will be above Rs 3.60 lakh.

The new Ninja 400 was unveiled on 25th October at Japan’s Tokyo Motor Show, where another new model from the Japanese brand was unveiled – the Z900 RS, a modern classic version of the Z900.

The Z900RS had been a much-awaited motorcycle in Kawasaki’s lineup. It is inspired by the 1970s Z1 and is based on the Z900. However, it is not just a cosmetic change from naked to a modern classic, a number of changes have been made under the skin, with a redesigned chassis and a retuned engine.

The Z900’s 948cc in-line-four has been retuned for stronger low-to-mid-range torque. Peak power is down from 125hp to 111hp while peak torque drops from 97.8 Nm to 72.5 Nm but Kawasaki says the payoff is stronger torque below 7,000rpm.

The first gear is shorter than the Z900 and the sixth is taller so as to reduce vibrations at higher speed. It is not known yet if the retro Z900RS will make its way to India. The Z900 is on sale in India at a price tag of Rs 9 lakh (ex-showroom), however, if without the accessories the price tag is lowered to Rs 7.68 lakh (ex-showroom).

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First published on: 25-10-2017 at 15:34 IST
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