Kawasaki has officially introduced the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R to the Indian market, priced at Rs 8.49 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Surprisingly, this places it above the Versys 650 adventure tourer in terms of cost, and just Rs 71,000 shy of the larger Z900 street naked, both of which also boast inline-four engines.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R Tech
At the helm of control lies a familiar 4.3-inch Bluetooth-enabled color TFT display, offering turn-by-turn navigation and notification alerts. It also includes a dedicated Track layout, and riders can toggle between four preset riding modes: Sport, Road, Rain, and a customizable Rider mode. This mode allows riders to fine-tune traction control and power settings to their preference.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R Powerful Performance
The heart of the ZX-4R beats with a 399cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine, generating an impressive 80hp (with ram air assistance, 77hp without). This power is unleashed at a staggering 14,500rpm, demanding a spirited ride to truly experience its capabilities. Unlike relying on torque, the ZX-4R leverages its RPM range to deliver performance, aligning with the recently launched KTM 390 Duke in terms of torque output at 39Nm. Which is significantly low for its class.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R Handling
The Indian market receives the base variant of the ZX-4R, with the higher-spec SE variant and the ZX-4RR not making their debut. Held together by a sturdy trellis frame, the bike is equipped with an upside-down fork and a preload adjustable monoshock. Showa’s SFF-BP unit governs the front suspension, while braking is managed by twin 290mm discs with Nissin four-piston radial calipers at the front, and a 220mm disc at the rear. Standard dual-channel ABS ensures secure stopping power. The tire sizes (120/70-ZR17 front and 160/60-ZR17 rear) mirror those of the Ninja 650, which packs less power but higher displacement.
Rivals and Conclusion
In Conclusion, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R enters the Indian market with a promise of exhilarating performance and cutting-edge features. Priced not so aggressively, it stands as a different option as it’s engine is quite unique, a 400cc in-line four. By the looks and spec sheet, it feels it is meant to be driven at higher RPMs as it lacks low end torque, but makes up for it in the power department. That being said, it goes up against rivals like Ninja 650, Honda CBR 650R and Triumph Trident 660, which are similarly priced but they all have 600+CC engine without the torque disadvantage.