Ninja ZX-4R Specifications

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R is built around a 399cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve inline-four-cylinder engine - the same basic architecture used in full-litre superbikes, shrunk to 400cc. It produces 76.4 bhp at 14,500 rpm and 39 Nm of torque at 13,000 rpm. Open the ram air intake at high speed and peak power climbs to 80 bhp, which is extraordinary for a 400cc machine. All of this goes through a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch.

The frame is a steel trellis unit, a design shared with bigger Kawasaki Ninja sportbikes. Suspension is handled by 37 mm inverted telescopic forks up front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear. Braking is by dual 290 mm discs at the front with 4-piston calipers and a 220 mm disc at the rear, all managed by dual-channel ABS.

At 189 kg kerb weight, the ZX-4R is not light - but the weight is distributed well, making it feel nimbler than the numbers suggest. The 15-litre fuel tank gives a realistic range of around 290 km between fill-ups at highway speeds. ARAI certified mileage is 24.18 kmpl, though real-world figures from owners in mixed conditions average closer to 19-22 kmpl.

Electronics are generous for this segment: traction control, four riding modes (Sport, Road, Rain, and the customisable Rider mode), and a 4.3-inch full-colour TFT instrument cluster with Kawasaki's Rideology smartphone app connectivity. Lighting is fully LED, front and rear.

The riding position is sport-aggressive with an 800 mm seat height and forward-leaning ergonomics - comfortable for track-focused and highway riding, less so in stop-and-go city traffic. Ground clearance stands at 135 mm.