Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR 400 2024

2023-06-17 23:14:47

Sportive

There is sport, and there is piloting. The difference lies in the art of the trajectory, the search for a taut and sharp line of curves, the pleasure of exploiting each watt and always remaining in a rib of speed.

This research at the edge of bushido is the very reason for the ZX-4RR. A track racer as we no longer dared to hope for. Small in displacement but yet attractive by the promises it releases. Don’t think it’s a slightly more seasoned Ninja 400. In truth, it is a ball of nerves waiting only for hysteria.

The lady honors the Ninja lineage. Silhouette very close to the ZX-6R 636, Ninja 650 and Ninja 400, racy instinct and tortured fairing – The Kawa dimension is fully expressed, under the shadow of the ZX-10R. Moreover, it takes the rear light, the KRT replica color, and the same engine architecture. And this is where the sublimation begins.

With the ZX-4R, Kawasaki offers the return of the 4-cylinder engine in a pocket format. Yes, 4 small spaces of 100 cm3, where diets will panic more than reason. Needless to imagine walks humming or walking on the couple. His maxi is so high up that we won’t even think of rolling it up… but of skinning it! The small block of 399 cm3, double ACT, 16 valves develops incredible power in this segment of displacement: 77 horses!!! A potato that even reaches 80 horsepower with the forced air intake system. That’s almost 80% more watts than the 400 Ninja cousin and competitors in the same industry.

The concern but also the enjoyment of this type of boiler is that the power is far in the turns. On the ZX-4RR, it will have to be picked up at 14,500 rpm. Hence the thrill of going to capture this power, keep it by leaving the tachometer in a 5-digit zone, familiar with this red zone beyond 15,000 revs. And make sure to take the turn with the knife between your teeth. This is why we will choose an RR rather than an R: in order to refine its part-cycle and be more effective.

The ZX-4RR doesn’t just have its green color to distinguish itself from the R. It also features an Up&Down shifter; essential for sportiness worthy of the name. The science of riding then proceeds with the suspension settings, which the R cannot boast of. The Showa SFF-BP inverted fork with big piston receives the preload setting here. The BFRC Lite rear shock (Showa too) offers much more possibilities, with the adjustment of compression, rebound, and preload.

The steel trellis frame isn’t as lofty as a good old aluminum perimeter frame, but it should do the job. Those who have experienced the VFR 400 R and ZXR 400 R will find the pill a bit hard to swallow.
The youngest will be delighted to enjoy a 4.3-inch color TFT screen, with a nice racing display in addition to the standard mode, a Bluetooth link to connect the smartphone, and control over the on-board electronics. The ZX-4R features KTRC 3-level + off traction control and 2 power modes. The assistance is controlled by 4 driving modes: Sport, Road, Rain and Rider. The latter allows you to configure the aids as you wish.

Where the ZX-4RR fails is in its weight. With 189 kilos, this 400 is not particularly light. A KTM RC 390 weighs 25 kilos less. We might even push the vice to compare her to her grandmother of the 90s, who weighed less than 160 kilos… But only spit out 65 horsepower. This time difference allows us to observe the evolution of engine performance. But also standards that have only added weight over the years.
While greatly reducing polluting emissions. The Kawa passes Euro5, apparently without having lost any horsepower in the operation.

With this dog in a game of bowling, Kawasaki is supercharging the 400 class. The ZX-4R/RRs can tickle a Yamaha 700 R7 and many machines of the same displacement with power. But don’t go thinking that they play in the same court. Not enough engine speed with the Kawa and the others will leave you on the spot, with their displacement and their greater torque as much as available much earlier. But the kawasaki ZX-4RR does not see things that way. She only sees the traj’, and it’s by keeping her inside with her screaming 4-cylinder that the pleasure will be released; for the pilot as for her.

MB – Photos builder

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