KAWASAKI ZX-4RR
The Kawasaki ZX-4RR is the first all-new four‐cylinder 400 sportsbike in more than 20 years. But is it better than the twins?
Q Are small sportsbikes truly back thanks to the ZX‐4RR?
KAWASAKI’S ZX-4RR IS a big deal for the lower middleweight sportsbike class. Not only is it the first all-new 400cc inline‐four machine since the mid-1990s, it’s the perfect antidote to the myriad twins dominating the sector.
It’s also the most powerful production 400 ever, producing a claimed 76bhp at a heady 14,500rpm and able to spin on to a screaming 16,000rpm redline.
At £8806 on the road, the ZX-4RR is going head to head with Yamaha’s accomplished R7 and Honda’s CBR650R, and even pushing towards the likes of Aprilia’s fabulous RS660.
Kawasaki’s made no secret of the fact the ZX-4RR is heavily influenced in its design and engineering by the ZX-6R and ZX‐10R, right down to its engine architecture and chassis geometry, so its credentials are more than skin deep.
The ZX-4RR’s packed with high‐end tech, too – from rider modes and traction control to smartphone-compatible TFT instrumentation and the latest Showa SFF-BP suspension.
But is that enough for it to mount a serious challenge to its twin-cylinder rivals and attract sportsbike riders who would otherwise lay their money on a larger capacity machine? RiDE finds out.
Q 76bhp is a lot for a 400 – is it too peaky for the road?
There’s no denying that the ZX-4RR is peaky, especially compared to its twin-cylinder opposition. A claimed 76bhp is extremely impressive from a mere 399cc, too. But you’ve got to work the motor hard to get the best out of it – usable power is between 10,000-14,500rpm.
Short-shifting is pointless, unless riding through town or caught in traffic. At A-road speeds it’s best to keep the engine charging in third, fourth or fifth gear. Do that and the ZX-4RR is brisk, responsive and fun.
So, no, the ZX-4RR isn’t too peaky for the road, you simply have to use the gears to extract the best from it. Luckily the standard-fitment quickshifter makes light work of ratio changes, so keeping the engine on the boil is easy once you erase all notions of mechanical sympathy.
Q How does the ZX-4RR compare to its rivals?
