Kawasaki Z400 may soon turn into reality as the Japanese brand is preparing to bring tougher rival to the segment leader, KTM 390 Duke. Also, the growing popularity of BMW G310R is another reason why Kawasaki plans to bring a more powerful streetfighter into the game. They currently retail Z250 and Z300 in limited markets, leaving some important market vulnerable to the effect of the other two rivals. The most happening place for the unveil would be EICMA 2018, leaving Kawasaki with a couple of weeks for testing and upgrading the machine. It has been codenamed ER400DK.
The motorcycle is expected to be powered by the same 399cc, liquid cooled and fuel injected engine from India spec Ninja 400. The power figures are expected to remain unchanged, offering riders with a chance to exploit the lightweight frame and its agility around the streets. The engine is good for 49 HP at 10,000 rpm and 38 Nm at 8,000 rpm.
When compared to KTM 390 Duke, the torque is up by 1 Nm whereas the power difference of 6.5 HP makes the 399cc engine a gem before all others. When it comes to design lines, expecting relevant parts to Z250 or Z300 would be the right guess.
For India, Kawasaki Z400 will be an important product. The brand will try bringing the same before March 31, 2019, as that date will mark the end of Z250’s non-ABS life cycle for the country. Also, localization of Z400 would mean the same for Ninja 400, bringing down the pricing by a large margin. As they were able to drop INR 62,000 from Ninja 300, even after introducing ABS into the bike, one can expect a drop of around INR 1 lakh from Ninja 400’s current price if localization and part sharing are increased considerably. If localized, Kawasaki Z400 can be expected for around INR 3.25 lakh.
