2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400 Review | 4 Reasons To Buy It, 3 Reasons To Avoid | BikeWale
six lakh for a 400 cc motorcycle does not sound like it is quite value for money even for someone like Mr adani especially after the Hindenburg report but Kawasaki India was quite optimistic with the pricing when it launched the ninja 400 in 2022 in this bs6 Avatar now we are equally late with this video but we have ridden the motorcycle extensively to tell you if it makes sense over the completely revamped KTM RC 390 or the TVs Apache rr310 which gets a whole lot of features and costs 2.5 lakh rupee less so in this video
we’ll be telling you four reasons that you should consider buying the ninja 400 but there are also three reasons that the motorcycle does not make complete sense I am Neil welcome to bike Wale and now let’s get on with this video you’ll be forgiven if you mistook the ninja 400 for the ninja ZX10R at first glance the snake like front end and the signature style tail lamp all of it mimic its thousand CC Super Sport sibling Now The Styling hasn’t changed since the last Model but we aren’t complaining sharp lines and creases make up for
most of its Bodywork making the ninja 400 look fast even at standstill and the iconic lime green paint Scheme only adds
look closer at the fitment of parts and you wouldn’t be disappointed either everything is well put together and well built components like the body mounted mirrors and switch gear feel premium to touch and operate as well foreign unlike a typical sport bike the ninja 400s ergonomics are pretty relaxed and that is because the ninja 400 is more of a sport touring motorcycle than an outright track tool so the clip-ons are higher up and the pegs slightly rear set which makes for a comfortable riding position however when it is time to tuck in the seat offers
enough space to shift back speaking of which the seat is wide and well cushioned even after riding for around 200 kilometers at a stretch there were no signs of discomfort however it is not the same case with the pillion as I belted the ninja 400 from the highway and was met with the infamous traffic of Mumbai I couldn’t help but think how this 399 cc engine seems to follow the teachings of a wise old Monk hold on let me explain sports bikes are usually a chore to ride at slow speeds in the city but the
ninja is absolutely unfazed the engine can putter along as low as 2500 rpm in sixth gear while humming its smooth parallel twin node not a shutter or complaint even at 32 kilometers per hour give it some gas and the Motorcycle happily picks up speed without the need to downshift around the mid-range at six thousand to seven thousand RPM is where the engine feels its strongest even though the bs6 version has lost out on nearly 4 BHP and now turns out 44.3 BHP its engine character hasn’t changed much whip the throttle and the engine puts out
everything it has surging ahead enthusiastically even more brilliant though is the way it keeps building speed 150 kilometers per hour creeps up on the LCD almost effortlessly as the ninja 400s Mill turns into a complete screamer of an engine it maxes out at 12 000 RPM while we saw a top speed of around 185 kmph on the dash see isn’t that what a wise old monk could teach to be calm and composed until the situation demands it and then give it everything that you have that said the motorcycle cuts down on speed equally well too
while feedback and initial bite is something that could be better the progression and stopping power from the brakes are spot on even though it only comes with abs seasoned Riders wouldn’t feel the need for any other intervention what I also liked was the Slick shifting gearbox and the light clutch action which adds to the delightful riding experience the ninja 400 has to offer to complete its appreciable performance Kawasaki has bounded two grade handling abilities the motorcycle is light on its feet and requires little input while making quick Direction changes with a sprightly engine maneuvering it
in traffic feels like a no-brainer it’s a hoot around corners as well for the same reason it tips in effortlessly and doesn’t need much mid Corner adjustments while the Dunlop tires are grippy they seem to lack feedback and rob a bit of the otherwise enticing experience now the ninja 400 does seem like a pretty wholesome package but there are a few things that keep it from making it an attractive deal so here are the three things why the ninja 400 does not make complete sense the biggest reason is its pricing at a little over six
lakhs rupees on road Mumbai the ninja 400 is priced exorbitantly to say the least especially for what it has to offer and that makes it 2 lakh rupees more expensive than its own sibling the Ninja 300 that comes with almost the same list of features and just a few horses less but then it is also more expensive than the TVs Apache rr310 that list features not seen on any other motorcycle in that price point even when compared to its closest rival the KTM RC 390 which costs 3.81 lakh the ninja 400 is far more expensive
while one could argue that the previous iteration of the RC 390 was bound to give you a backache after a while the newer model is much more refined and comfortable and these are attributes that the ninja 400 also boasts about but at a much higher price tag compared to its Rivals the ninja 400 also fall short when it comes to service accessibility Kawasaki India only has a limited number of service stations and showrooms across the country which makes service and purchase difficult for most buyers that said it would also limit the availability of paths and
would also result in possibly higher waiting periods when it comes to treating damages as we mentioned earlier the price that the ninja 400 demands is way higher than what it has to offer features for instance only include a dual Channel abs and LED lighting for the headlamp and tail lamp you also get a white on black LCD that offers simple information and slipper clutch as standard but the RC 390 comes with a quick shifter as standard all of these get the job done on the ninja but the need for features even as a bragging ride
seems necessary in 2023 especially when the competition offers much more for half the price well I do like what the Kawasaki Ninja 400 is as a motorcycle right now it is truly enjoyable to ride whether it is in the city or out on the highway and it has enough potential to be a ball to ride around a race track it also treats you with comfort and manages to grab eyeballs with its ZX10R like styling but contrastingly it is also a motorcycle that fails to justify its six lakh rupee price tag this is especially when you
consider the KTM RC 390 which holds the ability to perform everything the Ninja can while being priced 2 lakh rupees lesser that said the ninja 400 would make for a better purchase with modern features but even in its current state a pricing of 4.5 lakh would be the sweet spot for this motorcycle and that would only be possible if Kawasaki India manages to localize production to sum it all up the ninja 400 is a likable motorcycle but we still wouldn’t recommend it if you asked us which sport bike to buy under rupees 5 lakh because
this surely is many options out there that offer more value for money
