India-bound Kawasaki Z400 - BIMS 2019 Live
Kawasaki has displayed its new Z400 at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show. The Kawasaki Z400 was unveiled to the world at the 2018 EICMA show on 7 November in Milan, Italy. We previously saw the Z400 at the Thai Motor Show 2018 in Bangkok in November last year.
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The motorcycle could arrive in the Indian market although Kawasaki has not announced a launch timeline for our market. We hope that India launch happens in 2019. Kawasaki has already introduced the fully faired version of the Z400, the Ninja 400 in the Indian market at INR 4.69 lakh (ex-showroom). The motorcycle would join the existing Z range of models in the Indian market that include the Z250, Z650, Z900, Z900RS, Z1000 and the Z1000R.
The India-bound Kawasaki Z400 draws inspiration from the Sugomi design philosophy. Feature list includes a full-LED headlight (also seen on the Ninja 400), muscular design, single piece handlebar for upright ergonomics as compared to the Ninja 400 and a raised & sculpted tail section. The Z400 is built around the same steel trellis chassis that also underpins the Ninja 400.
The Europen-spec Z400, which adheres to the A2 license restrictions, draws 45 PS of power and 38 Nm of peak torque from the 399cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor. The India bound model, similar to the Ninja 400, could churn out 49 PS at 10,000 rpm. The engine would transfer the power to the rear wheel via a six-speed transmission.
The Z400 shares the suspension, brakes and wheels with the Ninja 400. Thus, the naked roadster features 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and Bottom-Link Uni-Trak, gas-charged shock with adjustable preload at the back. Stopping power comes from a semi-floating 310 mm petal disc at the front and a 220 mm petal disc at the rear.
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There is no direct threat to the Z400 in the Indian market, as Yamaha currently has no plans to introduce the MT-03 in the country any time soon. Its closest rivals are the Royal Enfield 650 Twins, the KTM 390 Duke and the BMW G 310 R. KTM is working on a 500 cc parallel-twin cylinder engine, but that would take a while before it goes on sale.