Kawasaki Ninja 400

With the new wave of Supersport racing hitting tracks around the world like a ton of bricks, it was the Japanese giants in the green corner who jumped on the bandwagon first to give us some new metal.

Now, from the outside it might look like Kawasaki have been a bit lazy: starting off with a Ninja 250, moving onto a Ninja 300, and finally giving us the 400, but for the baby Ninja it really wasn’t a case of just plastering some added capacity into the mix and firing it off down the production line. Nope, the 400 shares little with its predecessor as near enough everything’s been revised.

They’ve stiffened and dropped some timber from the chassis, shortened the wheelbase and even reworked the wheels to save almost 8kgs in total, with bigger brakes and beefier forks holding it all together. Oh, and if weight saving wasn’t enough, the engine’s been given an extra 103cc, alongside internal work like a higher compression ratio and an updated exhaust system for good measure.

And it’s not just the performance Kawasaki have been cracking on with, as from afar the Ninja 400 could’ve tricked me into thinking it was housing something bigger under those fairings. As I got closer it just kept on getting better looking as well, and as I climbed aboard, the Kawasaki rewarded me with the same high-grade dash that you’d find on the Ninja 650, which is a nice touch on something that gives you change from five and a half grand.

As far as the riding position goes, the Ninja sits smack bang in the middle of the RC390 and the CBR500R – it was comfy with a good degree of sportiness, although for my little frame I do like things closer to the KTM’s level of aggression, and having had one as a termer, a seat that doesn’t feel like it’s giving you a prostate exam after a few miles.

I think Kawasaki nailed the name for the 400, as ninjas really were silent assassins. I know all A2 bikes sound quiet but it’s not until I got into the upper echelons of the range rev that I could really get a buzz going, meaning the Kawasaki just wanted to egg me on and push it right to the very limit… of revs.

By adding a third of the capacity to that power plant not only did Kawasaki bring themselves back in the running for best A2 sportsbike, but they also created an absolute charmer of an engine that was as happy being spanked as it was pottering through town. Just like the CBR500R, the Ninja even cruises with ease as well, but when we got into some corners it really came alive, like an addict on crack. I was constantly chucking gears through the ’box as the Ninja decided to eat up any piece of straight road quicker than I’d expect from a modern learner legal, which was a refreshing surprise on something with so little power. It’s not just the engine that impressed though, as that new chassis set-up worked wonders as I threw the thing from side to side, complementing the thicker suspension to do an astoundingly good job at delivering an exciting ride while still being comfortable – even when I found myself launching over bumpy roads.

In all fairness to the little Ninja, the one big niggle I found on the roads was the ABS did like to jump in a bit under really heavy braking, which was a real shame, as those relatively big stoppers would work wonders with a little less intrusion.

Surprisingly though, on track was where the little Ninja showed up its main foibles. I was fully expecting the Kawasaki to wipe the floor in this environment, yet through the corners the soft suspension really did let the thing down; so much so that it was only the engine that cemented its place at the top. It was by far away the fastest bike out there, yet even so through the quicker corners at Combe the Kwak felt incredibly soft, bouncing more than pair of fake boobs on a 100m sprinter.

Don’t get me wrong, the suspension set-up is delicious on the roads, but give it some real, unadulterated hardcore abuse and it will struggle under the pressure. Still, the engine pulled through and when against either of the competition, the Ninja absolutely smoked ’em in a straight line. If that’s what matters most to you, it sounds like the Kwacker will be right up your street.