Kawasaki Ninja ZXR400 Review

Introduction
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I bought my ZXR400 second hand in July 2003 for £2000. I rode my 8000th mile on it yesterday. It ferrys me the 11 miles back and forth to university most days, as well as longer 200 miles journeys to relatives across the country. I have been to France on it once, covering 700 miles in 5 days. I ride mostly solo but I have taken a pillion on both long and short trips.

So be assured my opinion is well formed and not read out of magazine or "what I think".

ZXR400's are japanese imports, so have their clocks in kilometres. The headlamps have to be altered so they dip to the left to be legal in Britain. There are 2 basic models, the H-model and the L-model. After 1990 they manuafactured the L-model, mine, being made in 1994 is thus L4, the forth version of the L-model, so it has basic modifications but nothing significant.

L model Stats
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overall length = 1995mm
overall width = 700mm
overall height = 1080mm
wheelbase = 1385mm
road clearance = 120mm
seat height = 760mm
dry weight = 159kg
curb weight front = 93kg
curb weight rear = 92kg
fuel tank capacity = 16L
minimum turning radius = 3.2m

engine = 4-stroke,DOHC,4 cyl
cooling system = liquid cooled
bore & stroke = 57 x 39mm
displacement = 398ml
compression ratio = 12.1
max hp = 47.8kw (65ps) @ 13000 rpm
max torque = 36.3N-m @12000 rpm
carburation = Keihin CVK-D32x4

starting system = electric
ignition system = battery & coil
timing = electronic
ignition timing = from 12.5° BTDC @ 1200 rpm to 45° BTDC @ 6000 rpm
spark plug = NGK CR9EK or ND U27ETR
cylider numbers = L-R 1-2-3-4
firing order = 1-2-4-3
battery = 12v 8 ah
headlight = semi sealed beam
bulb = quartz halogen 12v 60/55w,(uk) 12v 60/35w x 2
tail/brake light = 12v 5/21w x 2

lubrication system = forced lubrication (wet sump with cooler)
engine oil = SE or SF grade SAE10W-40,10W-50,20W-40 or 20W-50 capacity 3L
clutch type = wet multi disc
gearbox type = 6 speed constant mesh,return shift
gear ratios:
1st = 2.846 (37/13)
2nd = 2.000 (38/19)
3rd = 1.578 (30/19)
4th = 1.318 (29/22)
5th = 1.200 (30/25)
6th = 1.111 (30/27)
final drive system = chain

frame type = tubular diamond
caster = 23.5°
trail = 82mm
front tyre = 120/60/vr17 tubeless
rear tyre = 160/60/vr17 tubeless
front suspension = telescopic forks
wheel travel = 120mm
rear suspension = swing arm (unitrak)
wheel travel = 120mm
brake type front = dual discs
brake type rear = single disc

Low-Fat Stats
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65 horsepower propelling 159 kilograms (+fuel +me) makes for some great acceleration. Indeed, 0-60 is under 5 seconds for this crotch rocket.

4-stroke so sounds lovely!

6 gears (1 down 5 up) that can that you upto 135 mph (on private land!)

Dual brake discs (I think 28cm) at the front for excellent stopping power.

Does 215 miles to the tank (riding sensibly) at 65 mpg, although I'm averaging 53 mpg 'cos I like to rag her!
I'm 5' 10" and I can fit both feet flat on the ground - the ZXR400 has a low ride height, perfect for women.

Engine
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400cc isn't a lot but it's not how big it is, it's what you do with it that counts! Kawasaki have made a corker of an engine here.

Less the 2000 revs it's nothing (idle should be 1700 says the manual - there is a twiddly bit on the end of a wire on the right hand side to adjust the tickover dead easy), and will be lumpy upto 4000 rpm. From 4000 to 7000 is where you want to be as the balance between power and economy. There's a nice power band just after 7000 rpm which will whisk you upto 10,000 rpm in the blink of an eye, and if you're not careful into the back of a car too. Past 10,000 things get really hairy (fun!) and you'll just be hanging on all the way up past 12,000 rpm (where the engine sounds like it's scrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmming to stop!) and onto the 14,000 rpm redline.. which is insane.

The engine doesn't pickup as quickly as I like it to, I think this is down to it being carbarated rather than injection. It also has a manual choke, however, this is hardly used unless the temperature is well below 10°C. It takes 3L of semi-synthetic oil, which I change every 2500 km to keep the motor in top nick.

Tyres
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So they've not as fat as your mates 185/55's on his GSXR, but less width = easier to lean. I have a Metzler M3 rear and a Pirelli Dragon MTR on the front. I did put a Pirelli Dragon on the back as well, but I found the handling to be more stable with the Metzler. Having gone through two new tyres on the back and still yet to replace the rear, you can see I love the acceleration =)

Modern tyres grip just as well in the wet as they do in the dry, and I've gone around

Pictures of Kawasaki Ninja ZXR400

corners just as fast in the wet with no slippage at all. Just watch out for those metal drain covers!

Handling
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Being quite a low bike generally, having low mass and an aggressive caster (the angle the front forks make with the ground) means this bike LOVES the corners. You don't have to heave it around at all, it dives straight in, then pops back out again no trouble.

Once I was riding around a corner, fairly well leant over, and the road surface because all bobbly and bumpy, I thought I was done for - but the bike stuck to it's line astoundingly well... I was very impressed at it's ability to just take bumps without interupting the ride at all.

Speed bumps are fun as well, the hard suspension means that by the time you've gone over it the suspension has to barely move. I've found the best speed for them is 40 mph :D

Braking is THE most important thing when you're travelling at silly speeds, and the ZXR has never disappointed. It stops as quickly as you can brace yourself and even with my sharpest emergency stops I've not had the front lock up... the back has though, so be careful with that one!

The suspension has adjustable rebound, compression and preload on the front, and preload and rebound on the back, although I've never used it with anything other than the factory settings.

Handling gets 10/10 in my book.

Gearbox
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Six gears, all very useful and well spaced. The first gear is down from neutral and needs a bit of a stomp. Then click up hard enough to pass through neutral and you're second, click up again - third... etc.

The gearbox has only rarely failed to get in gear, and most embarrassingly this only occurs when I am showing off by driving away from mates at high speed. I'm revving the engine, go up a gear, but it doesn't click into place - the revs jump up to the red (as does my facial colour) - and I have to back off a little bit to get it in properly. That'll teach me for showing off!

Once in gear it's never fallen out, and I've never had any problems with the gearbox.

In top gear 6000 rpm = 60 mph, which is great since I can read my speed of the larger tacho than glace across to my small (and in kph) speedo.

Electrics
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The headlights are always on when the bike is on (being japanese) and so you don't have to worry about that. They are alright at night time, but full beam is much better. It's like floodlighting! The headlight style is "dragonfly," which in my opinion, looks cooler as they aren't just round, they have a little corner that makes them look like dragonfly wings, I guess.

The headlights and brake lights have 2 bulbs each, so if one goes you still have the other and can carry on until you get it replaced. Also both sides of the headlights are dipped AND fullbeam, not like you see on some bikes where only one side is dipped.

The indicators stick out from the fairing, and if they get knocked off (like when you're taking a cover off the bike) then they are easy to fit back into place thanks to some bendy rubber bits on them.

The ignition switch has On, Off, Locked and Parking positions. Only in the on position can you press the starter button and get her going. Locked is where the steering column cannot be moved, and Parked is the same but with the lights on.

I have never had any trouble with the electrics, including lights, starter motor or battery.

Colours & Fairing
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Apart from the obligatory (and most common) Green/White/Blue Kawasaki colours and "Kawasaki Green" colour bikes, you can get red ones, black ones, blue ones, and like mine - purple!

The ZXR400 is fully faired in its aerodynamic clothes. The fairing comes off easily enough for maintainence and oil changes.

Mirrors
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Many sportsbikes have mirrors more for looks than practicality (think Italian bikes) and although this maybe true for the ZXR they definitly have their uses. Mostly when you're on the motorway and can't look around, but because you're keeping your head down you can look straight in the them to get a clear view behind.

They are easy enough to pivot into place and won't change unless you want them to. They are also pivoted where they attach to the fairing, so if you hit anything they'll fold in.
They aren't much use at lower speeds as it is often easier to look around.

Windscreen
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I'm sure it does have some effect on the aerodynamics, but mostly I'd say that was directing the wind into your chest or neck. You have to be seriously bent over the tank to hide behind it so the wind goes over your helmet. I have never found it an issue though, I didn't expect weather protection for a sportsbike.

You can get different coloured screens (mine's purple) and also double-bubble screens which reportedly offer more wind protection.

Dials
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On the dashboard we have speedometer on the left which has zero straight down, 85 mph straight up and it carrys on to show 120 mph around 2'o'clock. There is an odometer in this dial with a trip below it. The trip is reset by turning a little knob poking out the left of the dial. It makes a very satisfying clicking noise doing this!!

In the middle we have the tachometer, zero straight down again, 12,000 rpm at the top and it carrys on to show 16,000 rpm around 2'o'clock, again.

There is a third, smaller, dial on the right displaying water temperature for the radiator. It should be pointing at 9'o'clock when up to temperature, a little about this and the cooling fan comes on. In summer it's on most of the time when I stop at traffic lights.

Overall they are in a clear position and easily read at any speed.

Under the dials are 4 lights, going left to right: Indicator (flashes orange), Oil (Red), Neutral (Green), High Beam (Blue). These are clear and simple and colour coordinated. Easy!

Grips
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They are fairly low down, so you'll have to lean over the tank slightly. They are angled back about 30 degrees and feel very natural to hold. This bike is certainly ergonomic.
The levers are in easy reach and have adjustment dials on them to change how close or far away they are from the grips.

Fueltank
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Holding 17 litres of Unleaded (hopefully 97 RON or higher) fuel, to fill up you'll need the OTHER key to the one you have for ignition. Sit on the bike to keep it upright, lift the flap, insert the key and turn to unlock the filler cap which hinges out the way. There'll be a bit of metal inside the tank, so don't fill it past that, you'll have to stop when it looks full. Swing the cap back, lock up, and away you go (to pay!).

Sometimes I hear a whistling coming from the tank, I think it's just the gas escaping that's evapourated from the tank.

Economy
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Costing £2000 when I bought it, £30 for tax, and just over £15 for an MOT it isn't an expensive vehicle. I've spent £550 on petrol for the 8000 miles it's done, which works out to be just under 7 pence per mile.

Tyres cost £100 each, chain and sprockets were over £100 for parts and labour. I've paid £160 for the full services which include new spark plugs and oil/filter change.

When I bought the bike it had new downpipes on it, as this often rot through on the ZXR400, so I was spared this expense. However the stock exhaust that came with it rotted through as well, so that was £150 for a new end can.

Overall maintainence has cost me over £1000 for the year, but I'm hoping this will decrease now all the major work has been completed.

Passengers
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There are fold-out pegs for the pillion, but nothing to hold on to. The favoured approach is place their hands on the fueltank to take the strain during braking. The seat isn't too comfy but the posture isn't uncomfortable. You'll probably go numb after a while anyway. =)
So it's possible, but not for more than 100 miles.

Features
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There are loops either side of the pillion seat under the fairing which are hook-on points for cargo nets and the like. They are welded to the subframe so are very secure. I've carried bags on the back seat for many miles without problem.

There is supposed to be a little toolkit that comes with the bike, mine didn't so I can say no more about it.
There is space under the pillion seat for said toolkit, but not anything else. It's about an inch deep and probably the area of a mousemat. But before you think you can put your favourite book in there - it's divided in two for some reason. You could keep chocolate bars in it I guess!

Style
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I haven't noticed that it's remarkably head turning, but the exhaust I have is quiet compared to some. It does have a good look to it, modern, japanese, despite being 14 years old in it's styling (the H-model even more, but that is less curvy). I like it's look personally, but it's all personal preferences at the end of the day.

Reliability
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The downpipes tend to rust and rot through, as did the end can. The only times I've stopped are when I have run out of petrol, and you just twist on to reserve (the fuel valve is by your left leg when you're going along) and carry on. If you HAVE spluttered to a stop, then after turning onto reserve when you start her back up make sure you're not on the throttle! Otherwise you'll flood its tiny cylinders and you'll be there a while trying to bring it back to life with the starter motor!

I've never had any electrical difficulties or problems with the mechanics of it, so I'd say the ZXR is a very reliable machine.

It has never failed to start, even on a cold morning after a few weeks out in the snow over Christmas.

Ease of Repairs
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I used to regularly adjust the chain tension, which requires a paddock stand and a big spanner to loosen the rear wheel, without and issues. Except once afterwards I was trying to be clever with my girlfriend watching by lifting the bike off the paddock stand by myself and the bike nearly fell on me! My girlfriend has to rescue me! D'oh!

Oiling the chain is an easy 5 minute job. Changing the oil and filter isn't too bad if you have all the stuff you need prepared.

Support From Owners And Breakers
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Being an import, and a discontinued one at that, there is a heavy reliance on other owners and breakers for support. There are a few websites with forums out there full with helpful members. There are some German sites as well which Google can translate for you.

I have found that breakers often have ZXR400 parts in as they are fairly common bikes, and so the parts aren't too expensive.

I could still by an exhaust from Micron to fit the ZXR400, so companies do still manuafacture parts for them.
I bought the owner's manual as well as the service manuals (for the ZXR H-model, then the L-model supplement) for £70 , and they contain a wealth of information. You could strip the bike to bits and put it back together if you wanted to.

Therefore, with the numbers of riders owning ZXR400s, the support in the capitalist world as well, and the availabilty of manuals, any problems you do encounter will most likely be solved without much hassle and hunting about.

Usage
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The ZXR400 makes an excellent track day bike, so I've been told. There are screw hole to mount crash bobbins and also a wide varity of hop-up bits to get the ZXR upto race spec.

Short journeys are easy with the bike warming up quickly, although it's sometimes quicker to go in the car by the time you've dressed up in your gear.

I use my bike mostly for my 11 mile commute to uni, and it does a great job. Heavy traffic isn't an issue, B-roads are great fun and the A-road dual carriageway is fine but boring (and I got done for doing 90 in the 50 part). The best thing I find it because of it's nibbleness and light handling I can filter through the rush hour traffic much easier than bigger bikes... and STILL keep up with the bigger bikes on the open roads unless they want to do over 130... which rarely happens! =)

I've made several cross-country runs, and it has to be said - my bottom does get rather worn after 200 miles. Best advice is to wear extra bottom padding, like put a towel in your trousers. The posture is fine for my young 20 year old body, however my achy father complained of hurting wrists after 20 miles when he rode it. There is a quite a bit of pressure on your wrists, but you can relieve it by gripping to the bike with your knees, and holding yourself up like that.

I've been to France on the bike, and we toured around for several hours everyday. I was fine like this with my extra bottom padding, but it was a bit of an effort. Possible, but not recommended.

Weather Conditions
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Sun and dry roads aren't guarenteed in Britain anytime of the year. So how does the ZXR400 handle in the wet and windy conditions? Just fine. =)

The bike offers no protection against the rain, so you WILL get wet. But the handling is just as spot on as it was in the dry. The gusts of wind don't seem to affect the bike too much as all, due to it's light weight and the strong gyroscopic force exerted by the wheels spinning quickly, it seems a lot more stable than bigger bikes, or a pushbike.

If it's subzero and I can see even a trace of ice outside I'll get the bus (or more often not go in at all!)... because all it needs it one patch of ice on a bend that's been shaded by the sun from a tree and you're off.
Hail isn't fun weather to ride it mostly because when they hit you at speed it really really hurts.

Fog is alright so long as you go slowly, at night the full beam is too bright and you just see white everywhere and not the road. There are no foglights on this bike.

Cleaning
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The fairing is dead easy to shampoo and clean, all exposed and easy to get to. The worse area is on the inside of the windscreen at the bottom. I polish my bike all over with Autoglym, and it comes up lovely. I use parrafin and a toothbrush to clean the oil off the chain guard, and also the swingarm before I polish it. I use parrafin on a flannel to clean the road crap off the wheels.

It's all very easy to clean, and 45 minutes work can make it look like new.

Show off!
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I've tried to get my knee down, really I have, but I'm too wussy. I haven't felt anything wrong with the bike, I just lack the confidence! I've seen a standard ZXR go round and around a roundabout, knee scraping all the way, so it can be done!

I've also seen wheelies on a ZXR, but you need to be in first gear and really rev it. It's terrible news for the chain and I wouldn't recommend it. Blasting away from traffic lights in first it never picks up, which in my eyes is a good thing, because I know it's not going to flip backwards accidentally if I give it some welly!

Stoppies, or End-o's, are easily done due to the ZXR's light weight and excellent brakes. I wouldn't try this though, as any grit on the front forks and it'll cut straight through the seals which can be expensive to replace.
Burnouts are possible as well, but again, it'll wreck your rear tyre and spray bits of molten rubber all inside your bike so anyone looking to buy it will see it's been abused. Again, not recommended.

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Conclusion
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The ZXR400 an excellent bike, well designed and engineered. It will last the distance if looked after, but it does need regular maintainence to keep it in shape.

The ZXR400 has all the performance you could ever want (really) and it'll be cheaper on the insurance (20 year old male 4 years no claims, ungaraged on-the-road ZXR400 in Warwick = £300) compared to a larger bike.

With a good support network in place, and regular sales of ZXR400s it would make an excellent bike for anyone, especially as a first bike and for women/short blokes.

I love my bike to bits and I can't think of selling her anytime soon.

 

Advantages:
Everything you'd want in a sportsbike, Practical 

Disadvantages:
No good for touring, Not as headturning as others 

Source : http://www.ciao.co.uk/Kawasaki_ZXR400__Review_5448755