2019 KAWASAKI Z400 ABS
FIRST REVIEW
P92
(Top) That
motor is a gem
and strong as
an ox. (Bottom)
For only two-
piston units,
the brakes are
excellent, as is
the ABS.
Despite the
fork being
unadjustable, the
little Z will still rail
corners with gusto.
from my riding jeans an unwel-
come result.
I found the Ninja 400 to be a
slightly more comfortable setup
for my six-foot frame—odd consid-
ering it's a sport bike. However,
a day's riding is still pretty stress-
free on the Z, with absolutely zero
weight on the rider's wrists.
Kawasaki's 399cc parallel-twin
motor is probably the best version
of a junior engine currently avail-
able on the market. More than
something like the Yamaha YZF-
R3, the Z's engine is a little more
>
features a gear position indicator right at the
point where the speedo should probably be.
There are no significant electronics to speak
of other than the superbly mapped Nissin ABS
acting on the twin piston front and rear calipers,
although in true Kawasaki fashion you can't
switch the ABS off.
Testing the
new Kawasaki Z400
The Z's relaxed riding position is the first thing
you'll notice. You'll also notice—if you're above
six feet tall—that the seat-to-peg distance is
probably too short, meaning leg cramps might
set in after an hour on board.
Yet the reach to the bar is nicely spaced and
allows you to settle into a comfortable position
quickly. The seat unit itself is not the most com-
fortable, as that aforementioned skinny part to
the front of the seat pad caused me to slide into
the tank more than I've have liked—the wedgie
