Kawasaki ZX-4R range set for autumn 2023 launch

Kawasaki has announced a new addition to its sports bike line-up, with the Kawasaki ZX-4R range expected to arrive in European dealers by autumn 2023. 

It is important to be clear right off the bat that the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R has nothing to do with the already-existing Kawasaki Ninja 400. Both might be 400cc, but where the Ninja 400 has a twin-cylinder engine, the ZX-4R has four. 

Rumours have been abound for a good while now about a new mid-range four-cylinder sports bike from Kawasaki, and this is their answer. The motorcycle utilises a newly-designed engine which produces 57kW (76.4 horsepower), or 59kW (79.1 horsepower) when the Ram Air system is pressurised.

The engine itself is a 399cc, water-cooled four-stroke unit with a DOHC configuration, and is fed from a 15-litre fuel tank with a generous rev limit of over 15,000rpm.

As for the chassis, the frame is derived from that used in the Asian-marketed Kawasaki ZX-25R, which could in many ways be described as the younger sibling of the ZX-4R.

Unlike the rest of Kawasaki’s ‘ZX’ sports bike range, the new ZX-4R uses a steel trellis chassis which Kawasaki describes as “high tensile”. 
The suspension comes from Showa, with whom Kawasaki works closely in WorldSBK, with SFF-BP front forks and horizontal back-link rear suspension.

 
The suspension is also where we find some difference in the specifications between the the ZX-4R variants. The standard ZX-4R features the aforementioned SFF-BP forks and horizontal back-link rear suspension, but on the ZX-4R SE and ZX-4RR the front forks also have preload adjustment, and the RR also has a Showa BFRC-lite rear shock - the same as the Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Radial-mounted callipers squeeze on dual 290mm front brake discs, while a single 220mm disc operates at the rear wheel. 

Away from the mechanicals, and we find LED lighting all-round, KTRC traction control and power modes (Sport, Road, Rain, and Rider, the latter being a custom map), a two-way quickshifter on the SE and RR models, and a 4.3-inch LCD colour display which has an integrated ‘track mode’. Further, the bike can be connected to the Kawasaki Rideology app.

Pricing and availability is not yet confirmed, despite the expectation of an autumn release in Europe. Kawasaki also mentions that specifications can differ between markets, and that the 57kW version is the most powerful that will be available.

Specs comparison between Kawasaki ZX-4R, ZX-4R SE, ZX-4RR

2023 Kawasaki ZX-4R, ZX-4R SE, ZX-4RR General Specifications

Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja and ZX10RR (2021) Review | Jonathan Rea WorldSBK For the Road Tested