Kawasaki is known for walking a different path than the other three of the Japanese Big Four, and they have done it again with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R. Brought to India as a CBU, the ZX-4R costs Rs 8.5 lakh, ex-showroom, and has a powerplant unlike anything available globally.
This engine, a 399cc inline four-cylinder redlines at 15,000 rpm. Peak power comes in at 14,500rpm and measures 77PS without ram-air assist and 80PS with it. Torque is 39Nm that comes in at an equally sky-high 13,000rpm.
The front suspension is a 37mm Showa FF-BP, whereas the rear is supported by a horizontal back-link suspension, also from Showa. It weighs 189kg and braking is taken care of by dual semi-floating 290mm discs with radially-mounted opposed four-piston monobloc callipers.
It even gets four different ride modes, and a bi-directional quick-shifter. The 4.3-inch TFT instrumentation has two modes – Normal and Circuit, and it even gets all-LED lighting.
Truth be told, there isn’t a single other motorcycle that offers what Ninja ZX-4R can, so there aren’t any realistic rivals of it. That being said, price-wise the only other four-cylinder supersport bike in India is the Honda CBR650R.
