And I guess that's a no brainier, naked 4 cylinder high revving bikes were very successful in the past (Japan market mostly), why not bringing it back? Especially using the Z design underpinnings, I have to say, it's going to be tremendous, to say the least.
Just to put here for the posterity, the ZX4RR and derivatives will be, possibly, the best bike of the decade. Feel free to criticize all you want...
We live in North America where the perception is anything under a litre is a beginner bike or for off road use.
The economics of trying to sell a 4 cylinder high revving bike in our market is not financially viable.
The mass market does not exist here for small bore naked bikes.
I love small bore high revving bikes but in reality my V twin just easier and cheaper to ride.
We live in North America where the perception is anything under a litre is a beginner bike or for off road use.
The economics of trying to sell a 4 cylinder high revving bike in our market is not financially viable.
The mass market does not exist here for small bore naked bikes.
I love small bore high revving bikes but in reality my V twin just easier and cheaper to ride.
Like, okay, but... they've already built the ZX-4R.
Consider the cost-optimized aspects of the bike - the suspension, the frame. There is NO WAY they are not planning to produce other bikes based on the same design, especially considering the alleged headache that Euro 5 emissions presents. I am expecting to see a naked version inside of a year. I dunno about a retro version, though.
Like, okay, but... they've already built the ZX-4R.
Consider the cost-optimized aspects of the bike - the suspension, the frame. There is NO WAY they are not planning to produce other bikes based on the same design, especially considering the alleged headache that Euro 5 emissions presents. I am expecting to see a naked version inside of a year. I dunno about a retro version, though.
I am bound to disagree. I pretty sure that the ss, the naked and the Zephyr all are ready, designed wise, and all Kawasaki wants to know is how the North America market and Europe will react with ZX4RR, and derivatives.
Yearly motorcycle sales per country
Canada 72,000
USA 573,000
Thailand 1,800,000
Vietnam 3,380,000
Japan 415,000
EU 1,560,000
China 20,000,000
India 3,800,000
What markets would you target?
Each model of motorcycle has to be certified to be sold in Canada and US,
Canada uses the USA DOT standard but still must be approved by Transport Canada to be issued a VIN code.
There is a fee for this approval so the volumes have to justify the cost.
All you have to do is go to a dealership to see what portion of the sales floor is dedicated to small displacement motorcycles.
The ZX4RR may be a great bike but it has to be affordable in the key markets of SE Asia to survive.
Yearly motorcycle sales per country
Canada 72,000
USA 573,000
Thailand 1,800,000
Vietnam 3,380,000
Japan 415,000
EU 1,560,000
China 20,000,000
India 3,800,000
What markets would you target?
Each model of motorcycle has to be certified to be sold in Canada and US,
Canada uses the USA DOT standard but still must be approved by Transport Canada to be issued a VIN code.
There is a fee for this approval so the volumes have to justify the cost.
All you have to do is go to a dealership to see what portion of the sales floor is dedicated to small displacement motorcycles.
The ZX4RR may be a great bike but it has to be affordable in the key markets of SE Asia to survive.
I may agree with the general idea you are bringing, and I even add that the 250cc 4 cylinder version that was sold in those markets actually open up the possibility for 400cc. Kawasaki in particular took the gamble, as usual IMO, and is going forward to expand the small displacement high revving niche worldwide, outside of the usual market, Japan and Asia. I believe this engine will be the new benchmark for small sport bike, in the same way the engine on the Cb750 will be the standard for middleweight naked...
Apparently the ZX-25R only exists because in some Asian markets anything over 250cc is treated as a luxury vehicle, with ridiculous luxury taxes. One comment on this article says that in Indonesia, anything over 250cc gets a +150% MSRP tax at time of purchase, plus 10% luxury tax per year, plus 2.5% vehicle tax per year. So it makes sense in those artificially restricted markets to make an expensive, relatively powerful bike that squeaks in under the 250cc limit.
I assume that the new 4cyl 400 also exists because of some similar restrictions at the 400cc limit in some specific markets, but I don't know that for certain. I think it's cool, but it's definitely a niche bike in unrestricted markets. Most North American dealers are allegedly only getting a single ZX-4R each, for instance. I think a retro-styled one would be even more niche than the ZX-4R when lined up beside the existing Z650RS (slightly cheaper, with less peaky street power) or a parallel twin Z400RS (much cheaper).
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