By Kawasaki officially launched the ZX-4R in India at a jaw-dropping Rs. 8.49 lakh (Ex-Showroom). This two-wheeled beast has instantly claimed the title of one of the most expensive 400 cc motorcycles in the country, surpassing even the Versys 650 adventure tourer in price and coming tantalizingly close to the larger Z900 street naked, with just a mere Rs 71,000 difference. The heart of the ZX-4R throbs with a 399cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine that churns out a thrilling 80hp, boosted to 77hp without ram air assistance.
To put that into perspective, it’s nearly as powerful as the Honda CB650R. However, this powerplant achieves its peak performance at a stratospheric 14,500rpm, making it clear that riders will need to push the engine to its limits to experience its full potential. Notably, the engine leans more towards RPMs than torque, with its 39Nm torque figure putting it on par with the recently launched KTM 390 Duke. In the Indian market, Kawasaki has chosen to introduce only the base variant, with the higher-spec SE variant and the formidable ZX-4RR conspicuously absent.
Nevertheless, the base model impresses with a trellis frame, supported by an upside-down fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock. Safety is paramount, with dual-channel ABS coming as standard, and braking duties are handled by twin 290mm discs at the front and a single 220mm unit at the rear. The tire sizes, 120/70-ZR17 front and 160/60-ZR17 rear, mirror those of the larger Ninja 650, adding to the bike’s appeal. The cockpit of the ZX-4R features a familiar 4.3-inch Bluetooth-equipped color TFT display, enabling turn-by-turn navigation and notification alerts. It also boasts a dedicated Track layout and offers four preset riding modes: Sport, Road, Rain, and a customizable Rider mode, allowing riders to fine-tune traction control and power modes to suit their preferences.
