Kawasaki Ninja 400 R

mmmnaked said:
Wow, ReactionRED is going hard on the defensive about his bike.

The 400R is built for one purpose only: a beginner bike which skirts high insurance premiums with a small engine. You're not pulling away from an R6 on that bike at any speed... unless the R6 is missing 2 spark plugs.

Yes, a few difference in peak HP numbers never tells the story... but when you're comparing a 40(?) horsepower parallel twin to a 120hp supersport... please, give me a break.
Click to expand...

I believe I've made several efforts to make my case and explain the rationale for my purchase. I felt it important to represent the newer/novice rider and this perspective. My point in speaking of the R6 is to establish that this bike is no weakling and can keep pace.. I wasn't trying to make much more of a point than that, so let's not overstate this point...

If those responding to this thread do not like this bike as it relates to a previous 500 rider, then so be it. The community has spoken. I'll keep my bad purchase decision, and my slow heavy bike to myself while you read off a spec sheet on your IPAD.

OP, there's more to this bike than the several CON's listed by other members. My point of view is clearly different from others so I'm leaving it at that.
 
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Guys don't be so hard-headed the 400R is a stupid purchase, pay the extra $130 dollars and get the Ninja 650R.
 
Buying the 400r is pointless. I would be curious to know the weight and dimensions of the 650r motor to the 400r. I can't understand the weight similarities between the bike.

If the op was happy with the ninja 500 she should consider:

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/suzuki/2010-suzuki-gs500f-ar45565.html


[TABLE="class: specs2"]
[TR]
[TD="class: white_right"]year:
[/TD]
[TD="class: white_left"]2010
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: blue_right"] Torque @ RPM:
[/TD]
[TD="class: blue_left"]30.4 lb-ft @ 7,500 rpm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: white_right"] Horse Power @ RPM:
[/TD]
[TD="class: white_left"]51.3 hp @ 9,500 rpm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: blue_right"] Engine:
[/TD]
[TD="class: blue_left"]twin-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled DOHC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: white_right"] Transmission:
[/TD]
[TD="class: white_left"]6-speed constant mesh
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: orange_right"]Curb Weight:
[/TD]
[TD="class: orange_left"]199 kg (439 lbs)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: blue_right"]Energy:
[/TD]
[TD="class: blue_left"]BSR34, twin carburetors
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: white_right"] Displacement:
[/TD]
[TD="class: white_left"]487cc Cc
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



It's a similar bike, the weight and displacement are the same. The fuel economy is better than the ninja 500: 59 mpg.
 
ReactionRED said:
I believe I've made several efforts to make my case and explain the rationale for my purchase. I felt it important to represent the newer/novice rider and this perspective. My point in speaking of the R6 is to establish that this bike is no weakling and can keep pace.. I wasn't trying to make much more of a point than that, so let's not overstate this point...

If those responding to this thread do not like this bike as it relates to a previous 500 rider, then so be it. The community has spoken. I'll keep my bad purchase decision, and my slow heavy bike to myself while you read off a spec sheet on your IPAD.

OP, there's more to this bike than the several CON's listed by other members. My point of view is clearly different from others so I'm leaving it at that.
Click to expand...

This thread wasn't about you justifying your purchase to the GTAM community. Relax. If you enjoy your bike, then that's all that's important.

No need to be defensive about what you ride. Trust me, I know. I ride a Harley.
 
http://www.dragsource.com/index.php?navselect=calculators&calctoview=7

Power to weight for unweighted bikes has to be considered.
ninja 400 (447lbs) 1 hp for every 10.6 lbs of bike weight
ninja 500 (435lbs) 1 hp for every 7.3 lbs of bike weight
ninja 650 (449lbs) 1 hp for every 6.3 lbs of bike weight
GS500 (439lbs) 1hp for every 8.6 lbs of bike weight
MY 2008 cbr125 (280lbs) 1hp for every 21.5 lbs of bike weight
cbr250 (359lbs) 1hp for every 13.9 lbs of bike weight
ninja 250 (375lbs) 1hp for every 11.7 lbs of bike weight


To be more meaningful you have to tack on your body weight and the weight of your gear you intend to haul. Based on this analysis I would have to know more about the fuel economy of the 400 vs the 650. More cc's equates to power you won't use or require. The 400r is overpriced. A price point of 6000 is more realistic.
 
Chart is somewhat useful, but torque @ x rpm range would help complete the picture in a bigger way than HP. I find it amazing that after all these years, so many people still only hang off the HP number, yet torque is what takes you up the hill, pushes you against the big head winds, gets you off the line first, is more oblivious to carried weight, etc.
 
ReactionRED said:
My point in speaking of the R6 is to establish that this bike is no weakling and can keep pace.. I wasn't trying to make much more of a point than that, so let's not overstate this point...
Click to expand...

Your point is wrong though. Your bike can't keep pace with an R6. I've been riding a long time and I've had a number of different types and sizes of bikes over the years to know that when you're out there on a slower bike and your friends decide to let it rip on the highway or away from stop lights, you can't keep up. I don't need an iPad or a spec sheet to know that a 40hp Ninja 400R can't keep up with an R6... I have experience (which you lack) that tells me otherwise.

400R is a fine bike, nothing wrong with it. Newbies should absolutely consider purchasing it... but they shouldn't be told that they'll keep pace with an R6, because that's just a blatant lie.
 
mmmnaked said:
Your point is wrong though. Your bike can't keep pace with an R6. I've been riding a long time and I've had a number of different types and sizes of bikes over the years to know that when you're out there on a slower bike and your friends decide to let it rip on the highway or away from stop lights, you can't keep up. I don't need an iPad or a spec sheet to know that a 40hp Ninja 400R can't keep up with an R6... I have experience (which you lack) that tells me otherwise.

400R is a fine bike, nothing wrong with it. Newbies should absolutely consider purchasing it... but they shouldn't be told that they'll keep pace with an R6, because that's just a blatant lie.
Click to expand...

+1

Analogy: Honda Civic is an awesome car, for most people the 140~200hp of the new models are sufficient. But you can't say it keeps up with the acceleration rate of a 300HP car like the Subaru STI/Mitsu Evo or 400HP car like the M3.
 
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