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New for 2011 from Kawasaki…
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June 30, 2010 at 10:25 pm #4076madjak30Participant
I found this on CMG (Canadian Motorcycle Guide) Online…
Kawasaki has just released details of the new 2011 Ninja 400R, which will be available in Canada beginning in mid-August.
This new member of the Ninja family is closely based on the Ninja 650R, but it’s engine displaces 399 cc. Bore and stroke measurements are 68.4 x 54.3 mm (versus 83 x 60 mm for the 650R). The fuel-injected mill produces a useful 43 hp at 9,500 rpm, with torque peaking at 27.3 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm.
Chassis geometry is identical to the Ninja 650R and wet weight is 203 kg (448 lb), a kilo less than the 650R.
It will be available in black or lime green at a retail price of $7,499.
This bike is a welcome addition in a displacement category that has been sadly lacking participants.
This will probably be one of the best beginner bikes….period. Looks great and power and torque are enough to keep you happy for a while, and not really enough to scare you…I wonder if this will get Suzuki to bring the “little Gladius” over…they have a 400cc version in Europe.
Just thought I would pass this on…
June 30, 2010 at 11:14 pm #27271stuParticipantits a sleeved down ninja650, same weight, same everything, just less CC’s. all they did was import the japanese 400cc bike.
the little gladius is again, identical weight everything, just sleeved down.
imp its not worth it for the same weight, shame they did not mill a real 400cc engine.
June 30, 2010 at 11:44 pm #27274JackTradeParticipant…too bad we won’t get it here in the States (I’m betting).
The lack of middleweights here in the U.S. is pretty frustrating. But I guess our motorcycle buying habits (on average that is…I love middleweights) follow the usual American M.O.: bigger, faster, more powerful!
July 1, 2010 at 12:25 am #27276gitchy42ParticipantThe price point would kill it here in the States. The only reason we don’t get injected Ninja 250’s here are to hit a price point…..I’m with stu, too bad they didn’t make a new engine for it, would give better weight and price. Although, it would be a nice mid-size bike to have on the market here.
July 1, 2010 at 6:07 am #27279madjak30ParticipantThe Ninja 650R is $8699 here, so that is $1700 less…easier for the first bike purchase, and not quite the power to learn with.
I think it is a great idea. Those are also MSRP…”dealers may sell for less”…and in the States the MSRP is $7099 for the Ninja 650R…with the dollar close to par, I don’t see why there is such a price difference…but that is another topic…
Also, I think the MSRP for the Suzuki GS500F is $7199 in Canada, so the pricing is pretty good for a fuel injected 400CC bike. If Suzuki would have had the Gladius 400 here I probably would have gotten that instead of the GS500 that I bought…
July 1, 2010 at 12:17 pm #27284TrialsRiderParticipantI am NOT making this as a criticism, but strictly as an observation relating to the design aspect of tall rear shock positioning; I owned a Yamaha TY250 monoshock that had an almost identical rear suspension layout to these bikes and subsequently moved to rides that have the rear shock linkage mounted extremely low in the frame by comparison. In my experience that higher rear shock mount will impart a taller feel to a motorcycle and higher center of gravity. What does this mean to the average rider, possibly nothing; but I did find that when the bike was in a full wheelie position or climbing an extremely steep slope, they do exhibit a propensity to ‘lip out’ and require far more sensitive throttle and brake control to stop from flipping backwards. Again this is NOT a criticism because I doubt that any of you are buying these things to do cat-walks or climb 70+ degree slopes …only relating an experience that is more safely discovered on the feather weight, low speed Trials bike.
Great looking bike and an excellent move by Kawasaki to offer displacement variations on a common platform, it’s a proven practice frequently seen in Trials bike production.
July 1, 2010 at 1:23 pm #27285WeaponZeroParticipantSo what you’re saying is that hardcore stunters and people looking for a bike to do hill climbs on should stay away from the admittedly beginner-oriented Ninja 650R. Got it…
July 1, 2010 at 1:59 pm #27287briderdtParticipantI look at this as a total failure. Sure, they’re dumbing down the power, which is a good thing for the newb rider. But at only 1kg less than the Ninja 650… fail!
I think Suzuki could do wonders with the TU250 engine in a sporty package and KILL in the small/beginner bike market.
July 2, 2010 at 2:14 am #27289TrialsRiderParticipantThis is likely why some previous posters, have commented on the R model having a ” taller ” feel. A higher center of gravity is not a good thing for beginners or expert riders and the only advantage in this design is, simplicity of maintenance and it’s economy to build. If that economy is not transfered on to the consumer it would be a rip off.
If it came to comparing model to model between a bike with this suspension and say a 400$ more expensive bike having no difference other than a modern linkage type design, I would pay the price for an upgraded suspension and deal with the increased maintenance cost, rather than own one with an elevated center of gravity. For a prime example of this high mounted monoshock suspension, take a look at the 1940’s Vincent Black Shadow.
…I’m guessing the sleeved down version is intended to leverage a cheaper insurance cost ? The piston and valves must also be smaller so it will be interesting to see if the 400 pulls higher rev’s.
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