Kawasaki Ninja 400
Not just the choice of the world’s fastest woman but a great road bike too
TODAY I’D LOVE to ride like a girl: Ana Carrasco, the World Supersport 300 champion. Ana won her landmark title riding a tricked-up version of this, Kawasaki’s Ninja 400. But despite a bigger engine than the 300 it replaces, more power and less weight, the Ninja 400 remains A2 compliant. With its claimed 45bhp and 168kg kerb weight it slips inside the A2-licence limits, so no need for restrictions or low-power models.
The Ninja 400 is truly new: it has a fresh steel-trellis frame; wheelbase is shorter, despite a longer swingarm; steering geometry is sharper; and kerb weight is cut by 6kg. Impressive, given chunkier forks, larger front disc and a wider rear tyre.
The parallel-twin engine’s 35% larger capacity brings 40% more torque, fundamentally changing its character. Where the 300 needed thrashing, the 400 feels full-bodied and forgiving. Fourth gear chugs hard from less than 20mph, yet revs out at more than 100mph.
Like its power delivery, the Ninja’s riding position is easy-going sports-tourer rather than focused race-replica. The seat is low (at 5ft 9in my feet go flat with a generous bend in both knees) and the clip-on bars reach up above the top yoke. The sole bugbear is the silencer’s heatshield, which your right heel rests on or bashes into.
The clutch lever has an ultra-light action, the fuelling is faultless and low-speed balance is exemplary. The clocks, shared with the Ninja 650, have a gear indicator, fuel gauge and range countdown. Everything about the Ninja 400 feels welcoming, helpful and accessible. The hardest thing is adjusting the mirrors, which are mounted just beyond easy reach.
Suspension is soft and springy but gives a generally decent ride. Steering is sharp, light and stable, and there’s plenty of ground clearance. Dunlop GPR300 tyres are a big step on from the dire IRC Road Winners that blighted previous minininjas. The two-piston, single-disc front brake is average though — it bites gently and needs a strong squeeze to stop quickly.
The 400 looks the part too, and is especially eye-catching in this Kawasaki Racing Team paintjob (worth the extra £150). It might be a title-winning circuitscorcher in Ana’s hands but in stock form, the Ninja 400 is a considerate, complete and compelling A2-class road bike.