VOL. 55 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 13, 2018 P51
I
t's no secret how impressed
we've been with Kawasaki's
Ninja 400 entry-level sportbike.
It provides razor-sharp, corner-
carving handling and a spunky
engine with power to delight and
entertain even the most expe-
rienced sport riders. The 2019
Z400 ABS embodies that same
performance package, but now
in stripped-down, naked trim.
Featuring the same 399cc
parallel-twin engine as the Ninja,
the Z400 has been tuned for
more bottom-end characteristic
of a street fighter through care-
ful airbox and intake design. The
sporty engine also doubles as a
stressed member of the trellis-
style frame to not only provide
optimal chassis rigidity but also to
keep weight down as low as pos-
sible. A compact assist/slipper
clutch with light lever pull com-
plements the six-speed transmis-
sion in mitigating engine back-
torque to prevent rear-wheel
hop or chatter under aggressive
downshifts.
Bump absorption is handled
by a 41mm non-adjustable tele-
scopic front fork and a five-way
preload-adjustable rear shock.
A steep 24.5-degree rake and
short 53.9-inch wheelbase helps
with the lil' Z's precise steering
and handling abilities while a
longer swingarm compensates
and ensures stability. Largest
in its class, the Z400 features a
310mm semi-floating petal-style
front rotor clamped down on by
a two-piston Nissin front caliper,
and is matched with a Nissin
dual-piston/220mm rotor combo
out back. Finally, as its name
would suggest, the 2019 Z400
comes with ABS standard.
The all-new Z400 with its
distinctly sharp Sugomi design
provides a crouching stance,
with a low-positioned head, and
upswept tail to give this smallest
Z a silhouette instantly relatable
to its bigger Z650 and Z900
brothers. It is competitively
priced at $4799 and available in
either green or red. CN
