Huge news out of Kawasaki today with the announcement of the 2023 Ninja ZX-4R and ZX-4RR. What’s that, just another Ninja 400 you say? Nope this is a proper four-cylinder racer rep that’s unlikely to be the choice of beginner riders. That might just…
Huge news out of Kawasaki today with the announcement of the 2023 Ninja ZX-4R and ZX-4RR. What’s that, just another Ninja 400 you say? Nope this is a proper four-cylinder racer rep that’s unlikely to be the choice of beginner riders. That might just because it’s likely to cost double a Ninja 400, but it’ll also be pumping out an impressive 80 hp.
The new ZX-4R/RR offers enough performance that I’d say it could be considered a competitor to the Aprilia RS 660 I already mentioned, alongside the Honda CBR650R and the Yamaha YZF-R7.
So here’s the run down on what’s on offer.
A liquid-cooled DOHC four-stroke 399 cc inline four-cylinder, with 57 by 39.16 mm bore and stroke that revs past 15,000 rpm. The 16-valve engine runs an ECU based off that seen in the Z H2, with electronic throttle valves, 35 mm throttle bores and sand cast intake port interiors, while the exists are machined in two stages. Forged camshafts help reduce weight and facilitate high rpm performance.
A four-into-one exhaust is also run, and we can expect it to be pretty bottled up. I’m not seeing anything about Euro5, in my release either, but it is the Australian version, and with the bike due in Europe too, that’s kind of a given. Power is claimed at 77 hp or 57 kW, which bumps up to 80 hp or 59 kW with ram air.
On the chassis side of things we’re seeing a set of Showa Separate Function Big Piston Forks, but only the RR gets preload adjusters on the fork caps, with both versions running 37 mm USD forks. I kinda would of expected fully adjustable forks, but maybe that’s an unfair expectation. We’ll see when the price lands.
The shock is a horizontal back link solution running a gas-charged shock and preload adjustment. I don’t see a brand mentioned here, but the ZX-4RR runs a Showa BFRC Lite shock, with rebound, preload and compression adjustment by way of comparison. I guess given the choice I’d rather the adjustability at the rear of the bike too, as that’s what I’m normally complaining abou..
