ZX4RR - 5 Things I Hate

500 miles on the ZX4RR, and 5 things that drive me nuts. Curious what they are? I'll share what things on Kawasaki's Ninja drive me nuts and why.
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Gear I Use:
DJI Action 4
DJI Mic 2
Insta360 X4
Zoom H1 Essential
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Motorcycle Roster:
2022 Suzuki DR650
2023 BMW R Nine T Urban GS
2024 Kawasaki ZX-4RR
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Riding Gear:
Schuberth S3 Helmet
Scorpion EXO-AT950 Helmet
Arai XD-4 Helmet
REV'IT! Airwave 3 Jacket
Dainese Super Speed Textile Jacket
REV'IT! Airwave 3 Pants
Dainese York Air Shoes
Klim Induction Gloves
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[@Elvis_not_Presley2]

After a year of ownership I don’t recommend The ZX4RR to anyone because it’s not for everyone. It’s definitely overpriced and has its quirks. I don’t regret buying it though because I love riding it. It really compares to the R7 and the Ninja is just so comfortable to be on. I hated the sound of the 180 twins and I love a 4cyl but a 1000 is overkill and 600’s were uncomfortable. I’ve toured and I commute with it everyday. 52mpg is a hard thing to part with too. 😁

[@tsdmoto]

Thanks for the detailed feedback about your ownership experience. Agree on all of these points. Wish Kawi would put a 270 degree crank engine in their twin powered bikes !

[@S1k18]

1000cc is not and never will be "overkill"😂

[@Elvis_not_Presley2]

@@S1k18 Don’t get me wrong, I love a liter bikes but when I get in the twisties, I realize that 200hp is just too much. I already doing double or triple the speed limit on a backroad with a bike that has a quarter of the power. More power isn’t going to be any more fun unless the road is straight.

[@jimpanzer07]

just got a ZX6R, it can be made comfy with Heli bars and aftermarket rearsets that lower pegs and with more than double the power of ZX4RR its a blast everywhere!

[@tsdmoto]

@@jimpanzer07 Definitely the better value for money and congrats on the sick ride ! What color did you buy?

[@juggernautultimate]

As a romanian i can confirm that we get it fully tuned with 77HP, BUT !!!! we do not have 4y warranty, we get 2y here. Maybe other countries with other policies they get higher warranties, but not for us. pricewise is not that big of a difference from what y'all have ( talking comparatively minumum wagewise )

[@Clayton.Wilson]

I've watched about every zx4rr review on youtube and brother, you knocked it out of the park! Hitting so many different topics that no one else talks about (I.e. interface and seat). You have a subscriber for life mate. Keep cranking great content!

[@tsdmoto]

I appreciate the support and thank you for taking the time to comment ! Ride safe !!

[@joeysantos56]

Blew me away finding out the swingarm is steel too!

[@tsdmoto]

Yea that might have hurt more than the frame

[@MrSkyentist]

That neutral finder thing only works if you're stopped, otherwise it's basically impossible to grab neutral. Super frustrating when rolling to a stop at like 4 or 5 mph. It won't let you go into 2nd if you're stopped and the bike is running though.

[@hokogan]

From my understanding, the tune is more about noise regs than emissions. Europe measures it differently than North America, hence the two different tunes.

[@tsdmoto]

Interesting, either way it sucks

[@Elvis_not_Presley2]

You are correct. It was a noise regulation.

[@tsdmoto]

@@Elvis_not_Presley2 Well that stinks, consider we have Harleys with straight pipes running around all over 'murica

[@MrSkyentist]

The dumbest part is how the noise regulation works. In the US it's based off a percentage of rpm from max power output. By capping the max power at 10.5k, it lowers the percentage they conduct the test at and "lower" the noise output. It's such a joke because the stock exhaust is super quiet.

[@Dirtbillys]

The zx4rr is top heavy to me. I have a 1999 yami yzf r6 and first time i rode it i couldn't believe how light it is up top compared to the zxrrr.

[@GearShifter925]

I ❤ love it's sweet SOUNDS.... I heard that this " ONLY 400cc " bike could really gives Tough competition to higher cc bikes of 500cc/600cc/700cc .. ??? 😊👍🏻

[@tsdmoto]

I am blessed and I've also worked hard to be so. :) I don't really compare bikes for their performance, I don't ride on a track, at least not yet. I'm more into the way a motorcycles makes me feel. If this motorcycle was flashed, it could probably take on 800cc and below twins in situations where the track or environment would allow the rider to spin it up and keep the revs up at the top. But if you're riding in situations where tighter more technical turns are common, or in traffic, the torque of the twins would be easier to take advantage of. Compared to a 600cc inline 4 such as the ZX6R or GSX-R600, the ZX4R wouldn't have a snow ball's chance in hell of keeping up.

[@bearwolffish]

Is not comparable to inline 4 600, is comparable to twin cylinder 689 (r7) Probably smoking 500's, not smoking most middleweights but will hang.. and it's unique, sounds amazing. But doesn't have that low torque to rip out corners or pop the slow wheelie.

[@berttompkins9096]

Also, to the author here. Steel frames Can be more résilient and stronger given its weight. Its probably stronger and only slightly heavier than the aluminum frame. Bicycles ran into this issue long ago. Cracks in aluminum arent healthy. Suzuki recalled the GSX 1000 . Remember?

[@tsdmoto]

That's a great point about steel and bicycles. But for 400cc I4 approaching 10k USD, it deserves something nicer, if steel, than something along the lines of a KTM or Ducati style chassis. This frame looks a bit low rent.

[@ktkace]

Not mild steel... only cromoly steel.

[@xAnimeID]

Anyone else find it gets really hot in traffic or sat idling ? 100c hot

[@ninja1970fin]

owner 3 months just simply love it, cheers from 🇫🇮

[@tsdmoto]

She is a fun little thing

[@SHSPVR]

I agree about the fact that they detune this considerably vs rest of the world and it was more about noise regs than emissions so uncork it and gain the extra 25 horsepower from it, Now as for the Engine failure that has to do with the spark plugs which was manufacturing issue for 2023 and some early 2024 model which on recall, I have no problem find neutral, By the way it called a super sport bike not sport bike as for UI read the manual, And the clip on door in a perfect place just like most of the other bikes Not too high and not too low for me. Oh I own one I absolutely love it

[@jedadiahtucker2132]

the only thing i hate so far after a year is the lack of cruise control. i mean its got throtle by wire ad relaxed ergo. and at this price common kawi

[@tsdmoto]

Agreed agreed agreed. I don't miss it much due to how I use the bike but when I did an all day ride to The Dragon, I really missed having cruise.

[@Elvis_not_Presley2]

@@jedadiahtucker2132 Yes! I’ve done 7 hour tours and cruise would be great! I use a cramp buster but if you want to have fun you gotta make sure to rotate it so it doesn’t interfere!

[@alexaalfordjr1579]

Got this as my first bike and it’s the only one I’ve ridden I didn’t know if neutral was always this hard to find but it is tough haha but if you just barelyyyy press it (down from 2nd or up from 1st) you can find it 3k miles in and now I find it easy every time.

[@alant383]

One of my first mods would be an ECU flash or maybe a Bazzaz if available to clean up the fuel mapping and remove all those crappy limitations. But what irks me most is the 1960's era (almost) steel frame technology on the USA version instead of a 2024 year tech al alloy frame

[@dorayaki5494]

People who claim that the R7, GSX8R or the Ninja650 are sportsbikes never actually rode one. They are likely the most bland kind of motorcycles I've ever seen/heard and ridden. The 4RR only has 2 big issues to me. The pricing and the torque. The latter can't be fixed since it's a small displacement motorcycle. 4RR, ZX6R, R6, 600RR, 650R, R600 etc... All amazing motorcycles and I'd recommend them to any rider out there. Especially the old school 2000's - 2010's models.

[@jcl675]

Not sure if a RapidBike Evo is an option or if it would fix the lack of puff past 11k. I'm pretty happy with mine. I got it so I could get incremental upgrades (velocity stacks/air filter/header/slip-on) without worrying about a dyno tune or ecu flash all the time. It piggybacks and modifies the O2 sensor signal the ECU sees and auto adapts the fueling. Smoothed out the throttle and made the bike a little quicker, but more predictable (no hard data to back that up). I think you can remove it for warranty purposes without it being detected, but you should ask RapidBike about that. Surprised about the steel frame. I think my D675 weighs just under or right around 400lbs wet. after the slip-on. I'm at 16k miles on it and my only peev is the new coolant I put in it bubbling out of the overflow tube of the tiny reservoir with the 100degree temps right now. I ordered a Motion Pro plastic coolant reservoir that I will try to add in-line with the drain tube if I can fit it under the fairing...

[@tsdmoto]

Thx I'll check that out.

[@naturalforlife6741]

I have no problem finding neutral on mine. It has a positive neutral that will go right into neutral at a complete stop. You can't be rolling and get it into neutral. The clip ons are actually below the top plate. 4 cylinders way more. 22 lbs. is a lot more then a few. I guess you can sell it. Or you can buy some cheese to go with all that whine.

[@tsdmoto]

Thx for the comment. I think it's a great bike but those are my critical thought about it. A summary of all of the things I love about it will be coming out soon!

[@koli_v]

Here are the answers to all 5 issues. 1'st issue:- easy fix with ecu flash 2'nd issue:- skill issue 3'rd issue:- new tech haters(personal preference) 4'th issue:- its a sports tourer 5'th issue:- reaching for excuses (strict emission norms is the reason)

[@tsdmoto]

You're spot on, after riding motorcycles for 30 years I have no idea how to find neutral, and somehow I hate tech but I love tech on the KTM 390 ?

[@koli_v]

@@tsdmoto again, finding neutral is not difficult when you are riding the same bike for years, it becomes difficult when you ride multiple bikes and adjust along to their shift mechanism, and about the tech, its personal preference, some like it some don't its not a con to be pointed out.

[@berttompkins9096]

Can one of you blokes over the pond please post the euro ECU part numbers for us handicapped amurikans?. Id like to order a euro mapped ecu and buy the 4 year warrantee. Swap em out if the warrantee is needed.

[@tsdmoto]

Can I get a hell yea for this guy ?

[@joek81981]

I have this bike. I do not recommend it. Mine does what yours did for the first time, quiet often. And for me, that transmission is more of a let-down to this bike than the weight. I can make it go in to gear -- -- on command now. Its greeeeaaaat. Super convenient to have surprise-neutrals between each and every gear. I don't even play the lottery anymore, I just ride this.

[@bertsbike]

Thanks for the shout out on the neutral finder... This bike not have it?

[@tsdmoto]

@@bertsbike no idea but I have a hard time with it … I guess I COULD read the manual

[@bertsbike]

@@tsdmoto Well, There is that.😝

[@jcl675]

@@tsdmoto A shift shaft support might help. I didn't really notice a difference when I put my Racetorx unit on....but N was always easy to find on the D675 (except when the shift detent spring broke).

[@brumfiba]

Kawasakis all have a positive neutral finder. You have to be stopped and in first gear, then lift up on the shift lever and you will pop into neutral. It's basically impossible to hit anything but neutral if you do this. Now if you're used to putting it in neutral while you coast to a stop, you'll probably be frustrated. It's just a Kawasaki thing.

[@tsdmoto]

@jcl675 That's a great idea, I'll check it out!

[@jimpanzer07]

The weight is heavy, Kawi cost cutting is embarrassing as the lower triple clamp is steel, shift and brake pedals steel, cheap looking steel swingarm, heavy steel sprocket. I dumped 11 pounds off mine with Graves slip on, Suprlite steel sprocket, carbon heel plates and carbon seat cowl. Love bike but needs that flash for extra power😎

[@TJS2K]

sounds like you bought the wrong bike if these things bother you.

[@itzvex1198]

Hey mate just some information confirmed for you, America overall has a lower EPA guideline to work from when you look at all the states. However, Because a lot of your laws are state wide and not Fed level some states are extreme. So therefore all the vehicle manufacturers go to the most extreme factors and then deliver it for the entire country, the European Union do have a strict EPA commission however in comparison it's not as bad as some of your States individually are. For example in Australia we actually receive the European variant of all bikes, my 2016 KTM 450exc is a perfect example of this. You guys in the states have the same bike it's just called something else, I believe xcw. It might also be called an exc, could be wrong tho... For example the year model of my bike in the US has a carbon filter, and the sensor mounted on the exhaust. Your version is also slightly restricted on power. Here in Australia I don't have any of that, not a single extra sensor on the bike, straight through exhaust. no silencer etc and no carbon filter. One of the reasons for this as well is because the bike is not sold as a vehicle that necessarily goes on the road, there is a long process to get a vehicle on the road here in Australia and it's not just buying the bike, chucking a plate way below the rear tire and then off you go. Because the bike is considered an off-road bike not necessarily going on the road, they can get away with other things not being on the bike. Whether it's from noise emissions, pollution etc. there are certain things that do not need to be mounted onto the bike. As the years have gone on, it has gotten worse for everyone but specifically the US. I will say I don't believe it is fair to have a go at Kawazaki or any vehicle manufacturer that offers vehicles within the us because it is a State-wide issue within your country. It's something that needs to be sorted out within your own space. The rest of the world doesn't necessarily have this problem, it's only because of the US and their policies. In the European Union for example the bikes are featured with Euro 5 or Euro 6 compliant Motor, it's not state to state it's an overall certification within the area.

[@williamardenjr116]

Talk about finding neutral ride a buell 😂

[@tsdmoto]

LOL I've never done that but I take it that neutral on a Buell is not easy to locate

[@dougmaverick3287]

How are they ergonomics on the bike is it comfortable riding for many hours? I know super sports aren't designed for comfort just wonder how this one is?

[@tsdmoto]

Legs will get cramped if you're close to or taller than me, seat is miserable after an hour or on bumpy pavement. You'll also need to learn to support yourself with your core , if you don't your wrists can get sore.

[@trueX87]

Yamaha R6 it's beter then Sex for my❤

[@Juergen732]

Now your stuck with it. 😂

[@tsdmoto]

Not exactly upset about it

[@jesus2400]

It’s a 400cc bike if you want trq get a liter bike.

[@yamantarakji]

can't you tune it?

[@tsdmoto]

You can but by by warranty

[@yamantarakji]

@@tsdmoto oh have you looked at the Power Commander thingy? It’s basically a tune add-on box that you can remove later. It’s a bitch to install though

[@S1k18]

Heres the list of what things i hate about the zx4rr: Everything.

[@tsdmoto]

Wow that's harsh

[@berttompkins9096]

You are a sofa engineer. You talk out of your bunghole.

[@TheJoker-gg8hc]

It should be considered false advertising to hand out "80hp" flyers but send 56hp to your door. The bike might be worth it with 80hp to your door, but you have to re-tune it, which costs money, and Kawasaki dealerships told me "the tune voids the warranty". So I don't see why a new rider, an intermediate rider, or an advanced rider would buy this. It's no disrespect to Kawasaki. I bought a ninja 400 and might get a zx6r. I was excited about this bike, but it's got too many red flags that don't even fucking have anything to do with the bike itself. Bureaucratic shit have made the bike worthless

[@tsdmoto]

Bureaucracy definitely handicapped the motorcycle as delivered.