The Kawasaki ZX4RR Makes NO SENSE...

[@spitescorner]

Huge shout out to Flying Eyes for supporting the channel! Check them out and use the code SPITE for 10% off your order: flyingeyesoptics.com/eyewear/?ref=spitescorner

[@houjous5131]

the 400rr is probably aiming to be the perfect track weapon in the low cc. but as kawi does - it's fat.

[@SuninSanDiego]

You forgot to mention that you can run over your flying eyes with a Harley and they will keep on trucking.

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

No Japanese sports bike after the 1984 Kawasaki Ninja GPz900 has made sense! All ridiculously too fast! The fashion of these fully faired race-replicas was the dumbest thing to have happened in motorcycle history. It all went wrong for practical riding after the KZ1000

[@victoriazero8869]

Spite once again being American thinking only America that matters. Meanwhile the Japanese and the Europeans are laughing their ass off. Please broaden your horizon. 1. 400cc class means 400cc insurance and tax, that matters a lot even IN USA 2. Some countries literally limit bikes by displacement, not power (Japan) Funny thing, this being Kawasaki? I believed they just slapped new 400cc I4 engine on a ZX6 frame, with additional steel swingarms (Hence 3kg heavier). This happened with old, pre-2017 Ninja 400, which shared the same behemoth frame as Ninja 650. I rode it, it was VERY heavy at 212 kg wet.

[@ausforce1]

Omg spite you have so very much to learn 🤦🏼🤭. You live in one of the very worst places in the world for sports bike riding. This bike is designed to be ridden above 10,000RMP high revs right up to the red line and screaming like an F1 engine. You just don't know a thing about riding endless twisty roads and track, if you did you would understand how wrong you are. There is very little fun riding a 200hp bike on the street as you're restraining the engine the entire time, a small capacity online 4 is pure adrenaline pumping fun screaming through the gears like a MotoGP rider but not doing 300kph. If you cannot understand that then you really are a novice rider. Get your head out of Texas 😂 it's self imposed ignorance.

[@punchbuggyyellow7097]

I'm not jumping at the chance to pre-order, but it's certainly on my short list with only 2 bikes ahead of it. If they bring out a Z version of it then it'll instantly jump to the top. On paper it looks like the perfect weekend toy for those of us who live in Sydney. We've got more local twisty roads than we can point a stick at, but with speed limits of 100km/h, 80 km/h or even 60km/h. And there's a plethora of mobile speed cameras & police who are more than willing to book you for going anything over the speed limit. The ZX-4RR makes perfect sense here because it's a bike that you can ride at the limit without breaking the limit.

[@SoulTouchMusic93]

As a clapped out gixxer thaw rider I'd buy a naked one of this in a heartbeat. Can't run through gears on the gixxer without setting a land speed record.

[@jimnagel5611]

YEAH - I'M WITH YOU -- MAKE A Z MODEL & IT BECOMES VERY INTERESTING -- FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT DONT LIVE IN HUGE CITIES LIKE DALLAS IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY FUN CITY BIKE -- I HAD A HONDA 400 I-4 & IT WAS A SUPER FUN FUN BIKE -- FOR WHAT IT WAS - IT WAS FAST ENOUGH -- NOT TORQUEY - NOT SUPER FAST -- BUT THE FEEL OF AN I-4 WAS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT

[@freebehindbars8654]

Couldn’t design a worse bike for the streets. A Duke 390 makes more sense for the road. Low end/mid torque/hp…

[@Myndi78]

I have allways loved the Bandit400 BECAUSE of the low powered inline4 engine. You can make that engine SCREAM and make old ladies grab their chihuahuas but you're just going the speedlimit 🤗 If this turns out to be a modern Bandit400 I would definitly recommend to a new rider aswell, especially because of all the electronic aids they are adding. This bike is going to be awesome and Spite is dumb and ugly for missing the point! (not really but its the internet) That said - aftermarket pipes will be needed for SURE 🤐

[@jimnagel5611]

@@freebehindbars8654 NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE ARE WE ? SOME JUST LIKE THE INLINE 4's - MORE FUNNER

[@brazoon1]

Hey Spite! If I'm not mistaken, the ram-air is dependent on speed not RPM. The faster the bike moves the more it pushes air into the air intake. Cheers, brother!

[@emmettturner9452]

You aren’t mistaken.

[@hellfire08]

Shhhhhhh 🤫 this is too advanced for him to understand 😂

[@mart7798]

Thats why its called ram air,the faster you go the more air gets rammed in!😂

[@CaitofFate]

oof

[@victoriazero8869]

Yep. Ram air works after 70 MPH, but peak efficiency happens much later (140 MPH I think) but I don't know if ZX4RR can achieve that speed, period.

[@WeableSplash]

Im excited. I have an appointment to see one when the dealership gets them in. Sound and the tech are the things that make me want it the most. It’s something that sounds similar to a zx6r with power that’s more usable on the street. I imagine you can actually hit redline in the first 3 gears without getting a felony. Since motorcycling is kind of a therapy for me, the sound my motorcycle makes is very important. The rider aids are important as well. Price isn’t too much of a concern for me.

[@puffybodie5282]

Wrong about felony ;-) Take a look around on existing videos. 1st - about 60mph to 3rd - about 120mph ;-)

[@WeableSplash]

@@puffybodie5282 at least in my state, 100+ mph is only a class A misdemeanor. I can definitely see getting slapped with something worse if I was caught going 160+

[@shift3389]

Sorry Spite, I think you missed it on this one. That bike will be an absolute blast to ride and rev to the moon. Can make a great beginner bike or play bike for an experienced rider. Kawi is gonna sell a ton of them and you love you first ride!!!

[@oosteveo315]

BINGO BANGO

[@ThermicLight]

Yes but will you actually buy one consider the competition. That everyone here seems to love it. But this enthusiasm is yet to be seen in dollars.

[@2PsychoMantis3]

spites views on sportbikes are so annoying he should stick to cruisers

[@ajvidneuvid5254]

I hope it sells. I'd like to buy one used in a couple of years and rev bomb everyone!!! But I have doubts. I really believe it is a niche bike. I don't think it's priced for beginners. I also think it encourages revving it out, keeping it at peak hp. Not necessarily what I would recommend to learn on. It could be a beginner bike, but I think it's a beginner/small track bike. And that's the niche. I hope I'm wrong, and people adore the bike. Maybe it'll sell like the groms, but my bet is they are not selling "a ton" of them. They could become instant classics if they are rare. Interesting any way this goes. I'm glad it's being made.

[@ThermicLight]

@@ajvidneuvid5254 - I wouldn't be keen to buy this bike used. I mean you know whoever owns it is likely to rev it like crazy. Could easily turn into a big money pit.

[@GRAW247]

I've pre-ordered a ZX-4RR. What made me pre-order it was that the 300/400 Ninja handles exceptionally but needed just a little more top end. The 400 fits perfectly in middle where you can get the maximum performance on the road out of a smaller cc bike. For me it's the perfect bike that allows you to get every bit of performance out on the road for spirited riding. Having a 160 rear will allow the bike to be very agile compared with a 600 and will be an absolute weapon for the corners. Uncomprimised handling with strong power is great. Kept up with 1000 on my 300 in twisities, so no doubt the 400 in line four will be the ultimate road tool for me.

[@aluisious]

It weighs 50 pounds more than the 400. It might not be as agile as you hope.

[@fadetoblackMotorcycle]

well done mate!

[@exothermal.sprocket]

There's a difference between educated speculation, and reality.

[@WhoTFVotedBiden]

It’s not the bike it’s the rider

[@hokogan]

@@aluisious It’s a perfectly agile bike, by the way.

[@kAudiZ78]

We own the ZXR 400 1993. We have been waiting for the return of the smaller 4 cylinder inlines for a long time. They sound amazing and 2 cylinder's are getting annoyingly boring. I really hope this is the beginning of the new era of 4 cylinder bikes. They are SO much more fun to master.

[@tegansmith5856]

The CB400F’s were loved by many back in the day. I still miss my ‘73 Honda CB550 Four I had during the 70’s and 80’s. I loved the way the power of a four comes on at high revs, along with the great sound. Motorcycling can be so much more than just speed!

[@kAudiZ78]

Absolutely agree!

[@Emfourayone]

As a rider of a 2009 cb400sf and a 1990 cbr250rr and general fan of the small cc 4cyls I acknowledge that in the American market it probably isn't that desired but the main fun is the fact that you can make all that noise and be within atleast a reasonable speed plus judging from how they specced the susp it'll be a great little twisty bike

[@dasko3]

Love that Lance Oliver, The Silver Fox, got the shout out in this video. Yes, we need more weird and unique bikes! I believe at least one Discord member got a pre-order in a couple of weeks back.

[@twobrotherscycleanda]

That lack of torque is going to be beneficial once the road gets twisty. That bike is going to be an absolute blast.

[@happycamperjack]

In Canada, 400 cc bikes are the cheapest to insured (mandatory insurance). The difference of going from 400 cc to 1000 is double the insurance. So if you want to save a thousand or 2 in insurance money, this bike is probably the best out there for that!

[@ButBigger42]

I want that bike real bad. I want the 4 banger sound but not the 200mph speeds. It's perfect.

[@mad082sss]

Most people don't realise how torque works. It isn't like a horsepower curve that starts really low and steadily increases to a point. Torque curves are actually pretty flat. Some will have more of a rise than others, but even at low rpm they will still make about 60 to 80% of their total torque figure. And all you have to do is slip that clutch a little bit and it will still pull away hard. After all, an F1 car only puts out about the same torque as your average 4 cylinder hatchback yet it will accelerate damn hard.

[@stamdar1]

If you're the kind of person who likes race bikes, wants to ride track, want to be full tucked on a full fairing bike, what's the best motorcycle to get as your first bike? So You can get a Aprilia 660, but if you don't work on bikes or live in an apartment/don't have the room, etc, you need a shop nearby to work on the bike. Good luck finding an Aprillia tech anywhere in the US outside of major cities. so the 660 (along with most euro options) is out of the question for most new US riders. GSXR600 and R6 are both discontinued, could get a ninja 636, but 600s aren't exactly the safest beginner bikes... So theres the R7, but most ppl I know that are into racing and want a "race bike" want that high RPM screamer. the R7's CP2 sounds like a sewing machine stock, and like an abused V twin with aftermarket pipes. I think the new ninja 4 does fill a very niche area for the beginner market

[@SwampCityRadio1974]

For anyone outside the US whose first contact with sports bikes was small capacity in-line four cylinder screamers, it has a whole lot of nostalgia attached to it. My first ever motorcycle in the mid nineties was the naked Kawasaki four cylinder 250 cc (The Balius) and that bike was one of the nimblest bikes I've owned even now and I've never popped as many wheelies since. The fun part of a small capacity screaming four, as always, is you can ride around with the throttle pinned, rev matching to keep the engine on the boil while not reaching license melting speeds. At the same time, it's zippy enough that you don't have the yawn factor of a low spec, low compression mass produced twin. It makes all sort of sense to those of us who grew up with them. Some of the best days of our lives were lived on those small screaming fours. I rode mine on multi day adventures half way across the Australian continent, in snow and sleet, off road, camped rough, lived on the road for a year, yeah, it makes a whole lot of sense to go back to a small capacity screaming four.

[@joelhansen7373]

I can tell you’re too young to have ever experienced the utter joy of riding/racing an old Honda 400 Four. You trash it for not having low end torque without understanding the secret to riding a 400 Four is the same as riding an old two-stroke race bike - its all about preserving your speed in the corners so you don’t need to rely on low end torque to dig out of a corner. That keeps it a horsepower contest where high rpm wins.

[@nicholasc1781]

I'm certainly one of the people this type of bike is for. I really like the idea of a tiny inline 4 will all the pieces of a 600/1000 without any of the power. I want the toy version of the bigger bikes. I wish this was a class of bike that was still made. I don't have any aspirations of blinding speed or track days. I just want to goof around on the streets with a high revving bike that isn't going to send me to jail for revving it out in a couple gears.

[@MrJoelibear]

I will be purchasing the ZX-4RR 100000%. I currently own a 2009 Yamaha R1 and a 2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. I live in Australia and have a tonne of good roads but the R1 is extreme overkill and i find 400c single/duals to be underkill. I have tried the R7 and its very good but I hate the sound. I used to have a CBR250RR which is very similar to the ZX4RR. I need this bike!!

[@skie2fly69]

I'm loving this idea. I got onto an r3 two summers ago and rode the piss out of it. At the time all the other manufacturers switched their 300's out to 400s. I grew out of the r3 and replaced with it my BMW R1250R. Big jump, but I dad mode the BMW. Imiss the r3, but I love the idea of this zingy little ZX4RR. Kinda wish it was my first bike, yeah, torque matters, but since the power is so high in the Rev range, I think this would be a great starter street bike for those with self conttol, ie, keep it under 10 or 11 thousand rpms, and once you're comfortable zip it up into tbose higher rpms a month or three later. Too much torque on a lightweight sport bike, like all these amazing parallel twins have, with a sitting on top of it seating postions, can make most newbies feel like they might fly off the back of the bike, cause no one taught them to grip the bike with their knees to stay where they belong. I want to get that ZX4RR for the simple joy of that classic inline sound, ripping through those revs without doing felony speeds just to hear those piston rings scream...hahaha

[@andrewgagner2927]

I had an FZR400 back in the 90s; was my second bike. In terms of both stupid fun and stupidly impractical, it stood right up there with my CJ-5..... still wish I had both though.

[@the.just.able.biker67]

Sports bikes aren't really my thing, but I imagine it'd be a lot more involving trying to keep this thing at its peak power on a track rather than relying on a big blob of torque if you happen to come out of a corner in too high a gear. Plus, I bet it sounds awesome 👍

[@crash5811]

It is so much more exciting to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. My zx14r is triple digits if u even look at the throttle funny. I really want a zx4rr for a track bike. 3 hrs each way to the nearest track but its worth it

[@ricsim78]

The biggest issue with the ZX4RR is the price! When I found out it is going to retail for around $9699 here in the United States, it is a little crazy. Considering for $1000 more, you can get the Ninja 636. The other issue is curb weight is nearly as high as the 636 as well. I am still very interested in it, because I love my Ninja 400 and I am sure it would be a true blast to ride. I will stick with my Ninja 400 for another year or two.

[@hokogan]

Something to keep in mind is the curb weight isn’t far off from the early 90s heydays of the 400/4, and the crank inertia will make it *feel* lighter than a 600.

[@Reckless_Ops]

I owned a FZR400 race bike that I eventually retired and rode on street for years in the early 2000s. It was a fun bike. A total fly weight with decent HP. It was the bike I could throw my buddies on to learn, and still have a blast at the track and in the twisties. I would be interested in a ZX4RR once they hit the used market. I have a daughter who is interested in street riding, but I could borrow for an occasional joy ride or track day. The current Ninja 400 could likely do this, but I like the way an inline 4 compliments aggressive riding, while being completely tame in the low revs.

[@HS-hi2gc]

I've ridden bikes small and big. I've had three Kawasaki bikes with one being a 03 zx6r I've wanted one of these for 30 years this will be my final grand finale for me yeah it's pricey but I got the funds and it will be a very unique bike.

[@dalegribble9101]

Out with the boring twins. Bring back small displacement i4 engines. I would love to get the new modern 250 i4's Sold in Europe too. I have way more fun on the small displacement bikes ragging the twisties in the UK than I do on the 600's where you cant ride them anywhere without serious risk to your licence.

[@TheXaelem]

I had a zxr400 and it was the most fun bike I ever owned. Just like the vfr400 I had you could really rev those little engines out and have some real fun without going crazy speeds...

[@negoras]

i just love the category.Used to have a zxr 400 and i love the idea making this things again...Real world performance and a throttle than you can twist it everyday without braking all speed limits and one of the most beutiful motorcycle sounds that rev to the sky.Also you will become a master at gear changes,because if you want to fast you must be in the peak power.Great school for sportriders,or sportriders that want to have fun at legal speeds.

[@AlexS-gn9tq]

It’s at least inline four. People are sick and tired of awful sounding parallel twins. God, they even killed the legendary Honda Hornet by putting a parallel twin crap into it.

[@freddeford5543]

This bike goes back to the 1980s when the fzr400 and such were extremely popular for their incredible handling and exotic frame, for the times. This bike is probably going to be a whole lot of fun to ride, like a yz125 was the first time you rode one. Don't judge a bike by the hp or engine size. This zx400 will probably be a track weapon, and the boys that are full of testosterone will want one. Heck, at 50 yrs old, I want one! Parallel twins were cool in the 1960s, but are just silly today, when you can have an inline 4 with a cool sound. The zx400 won't be for rookies. It is going to be a hotrod.

[@artvertex4152]

Here in Thailand and in southeast Asia most race track in rural area are small. They basically looks like a go-cart track. The straight is very short. Track day in a 1000 cc bike here is pointless, you won’t even reach 150 kph in a straight line. These small inline 4 are just perfect for these tracks.

[@mylexicon2]

The ZX-4RR is a niche product for people who want a high-revving peaky 4-cylinder Supersport bike, but who also want moderate, street-relevant power figures. I’m not buying a ZX-4RR, but I can appreciate what it is, and I hope they find a place for it in motorsport somewhere, maybe a Moto3 replacement. Wheel torque is what matters and that’s affected by gearing. The low torque figures for the ZX-4RR means you might have to shift 2 or maybe 3 times before you hit 80mph. Fun times.

[@flip_moto]

this thing is siiiiick. It makes a ton of sense for the riders who have space for multiple bikes, for street or track. I wouldn't pick it for my only bike, but damn I want to wring this little 'effer out and only be hitting 90 at the next street light. Also, a bike like this might give the Junior Cup a kick in the pants like the RS660 did for the Twin Cup in MotoAmerica.

[@TheDornado]

Gotta disagree. Here is what makes this bike so amazing. Like you said, low torque and low RPMs, so you can get it as a new rider and ride in on the street without hurting yourself. Then, you are wanting to try the track, okay now you are NEVER below 10,000 RPM where Kawi 4's become a total BEAST. I owned an '02 ZX-6R and it was two different bikes. There was the every day ride it around at below 8k RPMs on the street. And then on the weekends I would go to the SoCal canyons and use the 8K-14.5K insanity to it's fullest. I miss that bike and engine every single day. It is the one bike I regret selling every day. If they would toss that 4 banger in a naked bike they would have my money INSTANTLY. But that is what will make this so special, it is two bikes in one and a perfect way to start on the track IMO.

[@Dschinghiss]

People love it BECAUSE it makes no sense. In a time where every manufacturer plays it safe with a parallel twin and doesnt want to take risks because of emission standards and high R&D costs, this bike just stands out. Every other Street Bike / Supersport nowadays is just virtually the same. And lets be honest: If everything was about the most logical, then we wouldnt ride bikes in the first place and get a Prius instead. But biking is about having fun and sometimes you just wanna have something bonkers that makes no sense whatsoever just because its ridiculous. Like a small capacity inline four. Revving this thing to the moon on a 100km/h road will be way more fun than barely tapping the potential of an R7 on the same road. Quirks like this make bikes lovable.

[@kj385]

The gearing will keep it from being that slow off the line. I’ve ridden an R3 (smaller parallel twin) and it was still fun. So this 400 should be a hoot.

[@Digital.Dictator]

Parallel twin and inline 4 are two completely different animals.

[@27RCA]

I like it! But just because I want a bike with the inline 4 sound and full fairings, and I don't want the aggressive ergos of the ZX6R. If the CBR650R was prettier I'd like it more though

[@BiffBallbag]

It only doesn't make sense to those who don't understand what this bike truly is, a motorcycle nerds dream.

[@180FiftyFive]

It's simple. If it doesn't make sense to YOU, it's NOT FOR YOU. It's like trying to get an uninterested person into biking, metal music or tattoos. You either get it or you don't. It MAKES SENSE for multiple rider types; 1. people who will take it to the track 2. riders like me who want something they can use to the full potential power-wise. bikers who want an agile, high-revving, engaging bike in the twisties without the overkill of a 600cc or 1000cc

[@sportstermissions]

You are over thinking it. Look at it like people buying a Harley when there are more powerful and cheaper cruisers out there. Same concept. People want what they want...

[@monkeyzx9]

It makes no sense in the US, but in Europe where the power regulations for certain licenses restrain the permitted power output for riders they fit perfectly.

[@BlackRiverRider]

I think it’s the novelty that will carry it for the majority of buyers. If they aren’t using it for track, then it’s the fact that it’s unique which has it’s own appeal. I personally would go for the 6R over it looking at price, but that might change if I could demo one.

[@vincentcontinelli1274]

I am getting one in canada because over here is your bike under 400cc you save a 1000$ every year for registration. Which makes this bike the “fastest” bike for young people who can’t afford the big registration fees

[@IHATEBIKESLOL05]

Only reason I want one is because it's a sporty Inline-4, that actually complies with a European A2 license. But that price tag is pretty heavy, might just end up with a used daytona 675 or a Striple 675 instead.

[@DR-hw9js]

Okay so by now this is my 4th comment. To answer your question. Yes i will absolutely buy this Bike the Second it available and my garage situation is right (Space). Ive been salaving over the ZX-25R this is unbelievable!. This bike would be my Corners and backroad junky. Seriously a literal twisties Wet dream! So the Ninja 300 i have I wished it had the torque closer to 9k but it just doesn't. I ridden the 400 and it carries that power closer to the top. But the torque between the Ninja 400 and the ZX-4RR isn't that different. Consider the bike can make nearly 100hp after some serious tuning. It also has the big bike parts of the ZX10R. Seriously the rear shock is directly from the ZX-10R. I've wished for years a small bike that hand big bike balls as supporting assets. That kind of power that can be exploited endlessly..... Especially on a back roads or the track. So imagine this. The Torque of the Ninja 400 at a much higher RPM that just doesn't let up. I can only imagine. At that point the Ninja 400 and 300 are gasping for air and can't get any more in. As I stated before..... A bike that ultimately will weight about the Ninja 300 stock after a good diet this is a small bike track enthusiast wet dream and a serious bargin if you want small displacment thrasher and NOT spend an arm and a leg in upgrades. You might swap springs, exhaust and a tune which is Standard mods. You will save thousands for a factory bike that can get you to advance and rip with the 1000cc bike all day at small bike ownership cost. This is truly a no brainer and was my biggest gripe about the Ninja 300 and 400 once it reaches peak torque it falls off a cliff in the power curve. Finally a small bike that can sustain that power and rip the corners. For all the guys that literally spent the cost of the bike myself included in upgrades on a Ninja 300 and 400 we truly could have had a much better bike. Truth be told if the ZX-4RR exist when i bought my first 636 i would have bought that bike first No questions asked!

[@UltimateEnd0]

I'm buying a ZX4R for my first bike.

[@TheMikesylv]

I have always had a lot more fun on a light smaller bike . If you have ever driven a Mazda Miata you will know what I am talking about, it is so much fun to drive , you bang through the gears with your foot to the floor ringing it out to red line dipping into the corners with a huge smile on your face

[@edwardmusicman896]

The ZX4R is designed for beginner riders who wants to use it on the track with a lighter weight than the ZX6R. With the tech similar to the 10R and a screaming in line 4, with just 399 cc, a lot of sport bike enthusiasts will long for this bike. Not just the U.S. but everywhere…

[@squidishtendencies1523]

430 is heavy. That bike is gonna be a screamin pig! Heavy as shit and always revved out.

[@erctaylor023]

Just like when the ZX-25R arrived here in the Philippines and it cost almost as the Ninja 400 and now the ZX-4R cost almost as the ZX-6R

[@angiesandiego205]

I have a 2022 zx6r and i had a 400. I misss the erganomics of the 400 ans also i dont need to go 160mph. im 100 percent getting the 400rr.....its right in between and I believe the seating postion will be simular to the r3. have a good day!

[@akidemixschoolofmarksmansh4142]

I wanted one so bad, but I was living in fantasy land on the price. I thought for 7500 this will be in my garage. But then the ACTUAL price came out at 9500 and my dreams quickly became nightmares. At that price, plus crate, dealer, TTL, it became out of reach. I really love the idea of being able to use all my bike. It's size, weight and power in combination with the almost F1 redline is so appealing to me. I've emailed Kawasaki about getting a 25r shipped out here, but I got no response. Looks like I have to go back to dreaming. Take care spite, I'm a huge fan.

[@DEADmetal3]

I plan on getting the ZX-4RR (don't care about the extra price tag) here in Lithuania, as a 600cc 110+ HP machine is a bit of an overkill for many real life street riding situations - at least considering the roads in this country - where both, your safety and your driving license is concerned. Additionally, I have a small and high strung engine fetish! And so I find a lot of fun in riding a machine close to its power limit, if it has such an engine. Also the sound - I think that to me, ZX-4R will sound better than ZX-6R or ZX-10R. I was planning on getting ZX-25R from asian market, and somehow registering it here, but that bike might actually have felt underpowered in some cases and being in need of high RPM just a bit too often. So in this sense I'm finding ZX-4R as being at a perfect spot in the goldilock zone. Things that I'm not so happy about with ZX-4R: no analogue tach (I'll look into replacing the dash to one from ZX-6R); bore to stroke is lower than that of ZX-25R as well as of 600cc 4 cylinder supersports, and being a 400cc engine it could be revving somewhat higher (R6 has the limiter at 16.5k RPM! A higher bore to stroke ratio would have potentially given it some extra RPM... at the expense of some torque); I'd very much prefer an aluminum frame (better rigidity for the same weight? Rust proof); the forks could be at least 39mm; lastly, riding position could be more aggressive. Although, it seems to be somewhat more aggressive than that of ZX-25R. Hopefully this bike will spark competition in its category and Japanese motorcycle manufacturers will go full nostalgia in this sense! Speaking of which, Chinese are competing with Kove 400RR, announced like half a year ago.

[@rbnrod129]

the major/minor things I wanted on a 400 was an i-4 and a fully digital speedometer/tachometer.

[@robertcabrera6232]

As a 60 year old who came of age in the late 70s, and got into riding as a 15 year old on a Yamaha RD250, owned an RD400 in high school, and as a young adult, tore-up my city's streets on an FJ600, I think the ZX4RR is a great bike. If I were a 15 year old today, it would be the kind of bike I would aspire to own. Like those old RDs, it punches way above its weight. Its the kind of bike that a young person can learn to ride on, have a blast around town or in their neighborhood, and use it to pull in girls. At my age now the last bike I want to ride is a small displacement sport-bike, as my back and body can no longer take the tightly crouched jockey position one must contort themselves into to ride them, but if I could, there are a number of exciting new bikes out there, with this one being at or near the top of my list. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy riding the more upright retro universal machines, like my Z900RS, and leave my hooligan racer boy fantasies in my past.

[@Daschickenify]

The reach to the bars is actually quite reasonable on the ZX4RR, far more relaxed than the ZX6R, but the pegs are still pretty high.

[@coryk.9025]

You have to be skeptical when a company says they’re getting a lot of preorders, it’s all just to drive up hype so more people will rush to buy it, oldest trick in the book for sales.

[@kaibarlow6067]

As someone with an old 400cc 4 cyl as well as the 250cc babyblade- yes the lack of torque is notable. However they are a great street sports bike for the people that want the "road racing" experience without having to do Mach jesus just to hit redline in 2nd. You will still be speeding but nowhere near what a 600 or a litre would be. They are a bike that isn't meant to be practical in forms of torque or power delivery. They're just made to be flogged without seeing whatever higher entity is responsible for reminding you of your pending mortality every time you twist your wrist. I can see why the concept doesn't make sense to people who don't have those sorts of bikes in their markets. But here in Australia and in Japan they're some of the most sought after bikes you can buy for the whole package you receive. The r7 had me uhming and ahhing as to having a more reliable rideable bike available. But the lack of character and sheer stupidity the 4cyl delivers never quite sold me on it

[@stiggy186]

I am not, nor will I ever be, a sportbike guy. I'm not the target market for the ZX4RR and I would never buy one (or any other similar bike). But I like it because it's absurd. In an era of endless sensible parallel twins in the pursuit of profitability, I love seeing a major manufacturer get weird. I applaud Kawasaki for making it, even if they sell 17 of them.

[@sugarnads]

Youve NEVER ridden a 400cc sports bike have you? I had a gsxr400 in 1985. 60ish ps at about 12000rpm, redlined at 12,500. 147kg (somewhere around that). Heavier than my rgv250 (128kg) and lighter than the gsxr750 (176). Plenty of torques. Liquid smooth. As much fun to ride as my 18yo chinese gf of the time. I wish i still had it. It went like shit off a shovel. Kept up with gsxr750s in the twisties and easy to potter about on when you werent up it for the rent. It was very forgiving. Unlike the 100+hp superbikes it wouldnt spit you off at the drop of toooo much throttle in second gear coming out f a hairpin. It was a fkn wonderful bike. This new zxr with 75ish hp is way too heavy at 180kg. It should be 150-160 with carbon fibre or aluminium frame not cheap shit heavy steel. But if youve never ridden a hot 400 4 you wont ever understand how good they are

[@AcatGaming]

People don't realise that if you track this bike, its gonna be gutless in 2nd gear waiting for the powerband to kick in. Remember and inline 4 makes its power at the top. Stick w a ninja 400 folks. Bc by the time you are exiting a corner you are already well sped up.

[@hvymax]

I remember reserving an original Gixxer for a superbike. When it arrived I said give it to the next guy because I could barely get my feet on the pegs

[@MrEiniweini]

I don't get the idea of a power mode option on a bike that makes only 26 torque. Power modes don't reduce top end HP, they just reduce the throttle that gets you there. It is like putting training wheels on a tricycle.

[@spitescorner]

Yeah seems like an unnecessary addition

[@slypigno9835]

Just watched this and just bought 40th anniversary version. Looks almost like the one I wanted 40 years ago. It is going to be a great ride.

[@mbag012]

I dont understand why this was made. At 414lbs, it is a bit too heavy. I guess the less rotating inertia makes a big difference, but unless I hear that the handling is absolute beastly on this bike, I dont think I will be picking this one up. The ZX6R just makes so much more sense to me.

[@samhoffman1280]

The 4RR is going to be great for the same reasons a Miata is great. You get the scream of a 4 cylinder without the insane speed. Also you can’t compare peak torque numbers at big rpm differences because torque changes with gearing but HP doesn’t. 26 lb ft at 11000 rpm is 54 HP which is already more powerful than a ninja 400 and about the same HP as an R7 at its torque peak of 6300. So at the same speed and at their respective torque peaks the acceleration of the R7 will be the same as the 4RR. It’s not a drag bike so power down low isn’t the design goal, its the thrill of keeping the engine screaming from 11k to 16k.

[@cai11tube]

its much more fun riding a "slow" bike fast and faster than a bigger displacement bike in the twisties, corners and trackday. it also takes alot more skill to ride and maintain peak performance in the narrow powerband where the power is up there 8K rpm and above. inline 4 engine is always much more expensive to manufacture compared to parallel twins or a single thumper. why would the other manufaturers switch to parallel twins from inline 4s in recent times? especially in the supersport 600CC category?

[@markgarganera6670]

Hey there, been following your videos for quite some time now and this is the first time that I will leave a comment. I am from the Philippines and all of us currently owned a ZX25R and some of those who wanted to buy a sports bike is very much excited with this ZX4R. Why? first, in the Philippines traffic is really a headache so having a Liter bike here is just a waste of money (not unless if you really have a lot of spare money to spend) I think you can only enjoy it in the track and not all can afford going to track aside from it's expensive, we only have one track available. So most of motorcycle enthusiast here especially those beginners will just opt out to those lower CC (let's just say 600CC will be enough). For me though, my ZX25R is no longer enough that is why I am so eager to upgrade to this 4R because of it's specs and it is already an express way legal. I think I will agree with you when you say "that it doesn't make sense" that they release it in the US. For me I think they released it in the wrong place. Maybe if they release it in Asia will be the best way to do it.

[@Stratocasterhead51]

"Its not about that high revving RPM" This should tell you guys everything you need to know about spites' opinion on sports bikes. Oh and btw, torque is directly proportional to engine size, it is quite simply the force of the parts in motion. So its not exactly a burn on kawasaki for making "abysmal" torque. Oh and your Ninja 400 makes the exact same torque, just a bit lower down in the rev range. You speak of the expected real world wet weight being 430Ibs. Christ the 636 is around 430Ibs and that has a much larger engine in it, larger frame, larger brakes, larger forks... etc. So NO the weight will be pretty much correct. Also bonus points for your remarkable grasp of what RAM air is, truly astonishing. This video just illustrates how truly clueless you are about sport bikes.

[@Tdd750]

I thought the same about his opinion, I think he’s trying to have a different, controversial opinion to get more traction on his channel.

[@Stratocasterhead51]

@@Tdd750 Well, he has always been the devils advocate long before he parted ways with YN. At least Yammie Noob in his hyperbole had a goof notion of what a sport bike actually was.

[@petezny4343]

Spite ride a 1977 Honda CB400F Super Sport with a Yoshimura exhaust then ride the 1980 Honda 400 Hawk (parallel twin). KZbin the Japanese ZX250 Four with the Akrapovic exhaust. Then you'll get it.

[@MrAl67]

Less high-sides for beginner racers. Sounds incredible! And you can rev it out with going to jail on the street. If I was younger, I would jump on it.

[@UltimateEnd0]

I'm purchasing one b/c i'm too broke for the extra ~$2500 for the ZX6R. This is going to be my first bike and I like all of the features and nannies that ZX4RR offers. Nannies are the future so I don't care if I learn without them. I can put the ZX4RR on lower power mode when I first start.

[@Powerslide15]

I’m a toothpick, so I really want to try this bike as my second bike. The issue that is stopping me from getting one is the price tag. I’d rather pay the extra grand for the ZX6R.

[@N3ilCrox]

My old daily when I worked overseas was a CB400 and I think tbh this is a punch to Honda when they killed the CB400 in Japan when it was one of the best sellers over there and its fun. I'd get the ZX4RR as a remembrance of my old CB400 over there. (also the RR gets the ZX10R's rear shock)

[@joshmxvi]

It makes sense if you want a genuine sport bike with less displacement. Zx6r does 110mph in 3rd. I want to be able to use the whole gearbox.

[@seelix6005]

Me (Before seeing the price) : Maybe I'll upgrade from my Ninja 300. Me (After seeing the price) : I'll just stick with my Ninja 300.

[@Myndi78]

It's an inner city screamer THAT'S the point of it! If you have ever taken something like a Bandit400 into an urban enviroment you will know exactly what I mean 🤗 It's FUN to ride at 14000rpm and not break the speedlimit, it sounds and feels like you're going 300mph but you get to keep your licence! And for beginner riders adding all those electronic aids is just perfect - a small cc inline4 is the perfect tool for those riders to still sound and feel like 'real sportsbike riders' 😀 I think they are going to sell VERY well and I bet there are going to be lots of youtube clips of young riders straightpiping and being stupid on these bikes! It's brilliant!

[@JustinTorres-mp7zp]

I’m definitely gonna be test riding this before I make a decision. $10k is a lot for 399cc

[@markjames8902]

I can see this for the junior racing circuit, where it can run full out and pegged at the redline. But on the street? Total pain in the ass.

[@TotalAnomy]

What I wanna know from Kawasaki is: 1: How come they don't just slap that Z400 engine on a million other bikes? For instance, make a Versys 400 2: Why don't they reconfigure the Z400 engine to a 270° firing order instead of 180°?

[@spitescorner]

I'd be here for a 270 degree ninja 400/z400

[@chazzity19]

i don't think it has to make sense, it just has to be cool, and 400cc inline 4 with 80 horsepower that absolutely screams is cool as hell

[@Lunsomat3000]

I'm excited to testride it. My first an only bike is an inline 4 yamaha xj6 with 600 ccm with 78PS, 60nm and 220kg - and I fricking love it. But 187kg seems like 10-20kg too heavy for a modern 400cc bike. Maybe 4 cylinders plus fairings just weigh that much

[@zackarybrown6752]

I think this bike is aimed at an enthusiast racing bracket in the US that is limited by CC. Just like the Aprilia RS 660 completely took over the 600 racing bracket.

[@mudddge]

Twins racing, not 600

[@anantatunggadewa4700]

We hope Indonesia is the market for zx4rr as well , 400cc inline 4 is the perfect bike for me specially I live in Bali which is the road is no so wide and big like in usa

[@lukelowe918]

4 Cylinder small displacement motorcycles sound amazing and that is enough reason for it to exist

[@ChaoticLaughter7]

For me personally, I think it depends largly on where you live. I live on a small island where no joke, the max speed limit we have is 40mph. if you own anything over a 600cc motorcycle good luck getting it out of second gear without breaking the speed limit. The ZH4RR means that I could have the screaming engine of a 1000cc inline 4 whilst still keeping resonably within the speed limit. Could still take it to a few track days too if I wanted to. Can imagine it being very strange in the states or anywhere with higher speed limits and longer roads. If the price is right, ill deffinatly be getting one. Not a fan of the green styling though, hopefully you can get it in black.

[@MrJwuzhear]

Man what?! What about the sound? Bro you haven’t even ridden one and you’re reviewing it. You’re judging based on specs

[@ammarz2684]

The whole point with this is the sound. You can get the screaming sound without getting a speeding ticket.

[@williamonthewestside]

Being an owner and fan of bigger, sport bikes, primarily for the track I’m super excited about the ZX4RR. I think this will primarily be a track bike for most owners, who want something small and flexible, but substantial more power than a ninja 400 or a KTM RC 390 (had and loved both). I think they will hit the mark at 414 pounds with 4 gallons of gas and I see a lot of areas were a ton of weight can be dropped off for the track. I think in the end do you restricted you’ll have a close to 80 hp bike at 380 pounds with the right tech, which will be a hoot Fun and not frightening at the track. Lots of learning and growth opportunities at a relatively low cost. I think the people who will use that 400 on the street will primarily be a novelty choice. Sidenote, put a couple sessions on the R7 at the track. Honestly, it was the most boring vehicle I’ve ridden. I’m sure modified is probably better. But completely uninspiring. RS660 is much better. Thanks for your video

[@eljefe9377]

Why buy a 4rr when you can buy a 6r and get the same tech (minus TFT). Plus you will pay the same MSRP (give or take a G).

[@ThaBootyBandit]

This will be slower than a ninja 400 around a track 100%.

[@twrcrew8852]

it might be because youre texan but the whole point of this bike is to be what it is. lots of revs for the fun feeling and sound. just like the old ones. not torque. torque on a sports bike just throw that idea away for this type of thing. it's a scaled-down track toy, much like the 600 supersport is but even moreso. the rush from the 80hp at top end and momentum carrying at a lighter weight, same story it always was. keeping in mind, the average japanese rider is between 5'5 and 5'10 weighing 120-180lbs with a 32 inch waist carving hairpins in japan on these kinds of bikes having fun at 25-45mph. the better deal is it will GIVE you this, with even better mpg on the way home. Yes it was a mistake to sell maybe in a waffle grid state, but in states that mimic europe or japan road wise, it's great i think.

[@twrcrew8852]

also, that 26ft of torque might be good for the track, with a jumpy 50ft of torque through a p2 engine (the R7) - althought not exactly super likely - a poor exit could mean a lowside and definitely means a lowside is easier than on a "torqueless" race engine. This miniscule torque figure lets you lay on the power without having nearly as much of a worry of a lowside. so you get that ferrari scream out the exit without the accidental slide on some dust. yamaha mt07 was "jerky" according to some older videos right? well, with almost half the torque, why not see it as an advantage in this situation?

[@IgoByaGo]

I hope they sell it next year. I will try to get one. I had a 2013 636 and 300, the 300 was so much fun. The 636 was way overkill for me. I want to ride again, but I don't have nice riding roads with high speeds here in Seabrook, TX. However, I want to rev the piss out of a small inline 4 and doing 40-60 mph in my area. Soooo I will probably get one. Unless I can find another 636 like I had (I was in a car accident and couldn't ride and I sold it :-( I am hoping to start riding again soon). I haven't been on a bike in 5 years. My dad is talking about how he misses riding with me and I miss it too. Now that I live 2 miles away from him, we can go riding together a lot.

[@SpoonFPV]

It's a $10K beginning bike for folks that know love and understand bikes. So...not beginners. I would be excited to buy a bike like this as a toy, but I still have my toy of a beginner bike that sits in the corner waiting to be abused.

[@stsscodok9889]

The price killed it for me, no way in hell I'd get the zx4 over the zx6

[@matallen32]

Horrific price, but us old school boy racers love to rev (i used to change gear at 18-19krpm indicated when racing 89' MC19CBR250) I think any rider aid that mute power on this bike is completely wasted, lose some weight and potential for get fun on a tight twisty track

[@bakotako]

like for me as an experienced short rider, i was really looking forward to this. as i dont want a beginners bike and cant fit a 600 comfortably, i was hoping this would be a 8k bike, 400cc size bike with inline4 600cc power. well it doesnt hit the mark. its literally 10k, seat/weight/width is bigger than many 600cc, and yeh im just disappointed. i really dont know what to do. mebe a ninja 400 and upgrade it but i dunno like i dont think you can relate cuz you can most likely fit all bikes maybe not the grom. but for short riders, the list is extremely limited. and a beginners bike get boring fast. think about it like this. you live in a small town and there is like one burger joint, one chinese place, and one pizza place. then a parisian expensive restaurant opens with crazy sophisticated menu and you are like heck yeah i dont care about the price of the food. its someone different. i mean thats what the zx4r is for me atleast. i think other short riders to 5'5-6"

[@kobebryant3830]

Guys you dont understand In USA It May makes No Sense but in Many other Countrys cc does Matter so If you get the 10000 you will pay for example 1600$ per year 600 cc 800$ and for that 399 its Just 200$ its Just taxes Not includes Insurance

[@county_bear9509]

The biggest thing for me is that for the same MSRP you can get a Honda cbr650r. I think it’s a cool bike but compared to the 650s I don’t see a point. It’s not going to be any faster in a straight line, have worse riding manners, probably worse economy despite the displacement, and more expensive than most 650s. I can only see this for a track enthusiast… but even then a ninja 400 or rc390 are both so much lighter.

[@sambruchh]

As a new rider I’d be more comfortable jumping to this instead of a 600. So I can see how it’d be more approachable for noobs wanting an inline four.

[@nizzan91]

It makes all the sense. Light, fun to ride sportbike that you can rev to the moon without immediately losing your license. Big bikes are fun too, but you rev out the first two gears and you are in jail.

[@julyman9]

Hi Spite, Canadian guy here. In my province insurance is crazy expensive if the bike has a cc greater then 600. The zx4r would make a excellent street. Ike with cheaper insurance is the main reason I’m buying one

[@spitescorner]

Not sure what prices will look like on this guy, but my VFR800 was close to $1500US per year. I'd wager this would be around $600-700 per year

[@martinmatouch5347]

It's just a track bike for 400cc category. And making nearly twice the power than Ninja 400 is really something.