New 2011 Kawasakis Coming October 5

[want1sobad]

ninja 1000 looks sharp - just not feelin' the dual exhaust......

[dubojr1]

What do you think about the white guages... I'm thinking the black blended better. KOSO's are in my future anyway!

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by scotty

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...-Ninja400R.htm

Just found this..?

FI

[want1sobad]

mixed feelings on the white gauges....i do think black is better.

[sombo]

Originally Posted by Rosie

FI

Two things. 1) we in the USA aren't getting that bike. 2) it's just a sleeved down version of the 650R. It's the exact same bike just with less power. IMO that's a dumb thing to do, but whatever. A smart thing to do would be to put that motor in the 250 frame.

[rwheelz]

Canada is getting the Ninja 400, but not the US. What we want is for Kawi to produce an I-4 400, now that would be a bike worth owning.

[backinthesaddleagain]

+1 with some nice suspension

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by sombo

Two things. 1) we in the USA aren't getting that bike.

Regarding the second point.. well, that's the reason why I would like it. Too much power = not good, at least not for me. I just want a fuel injected 250, and I LOVE my Ninjette, but if they can't make up their mind and bring it to the US, one of these years I'll buy the Canadian version of the 400!!

[Havok]

Originally Posted by sombo

Two things. 1) we in the USA aren't getting that bike. 2) it's just a sleeved down version of the 650R. It's the exact same bike just with less power. IMO that's a dumb thing to do, but whatever. A smart thing to do would be to put that motor in the 250 frame.

The only reason the 400 exists is because of canadas class liscense

At 7k msrp with the exchange rate at just about 1-1 that is way expensive for. 400 cc bike

[sombo]

Originally Posted by Havok

The only reason the 400 exists is because of canadas class liscense

Still would have been better to put it in the 250 frame.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by sombo

Still would have been better to put it in the 250 frame.

it's easier/safer to put a smaller/less powerful engine into a frame designed for a larger engine (400 into a 650 frame), but when you put a more powerful engine into a frame engineered for less power, things break. Any manufacturer (Kawasaki included) is not going to go that route for safety and liability reasons w/o seriously reengineering the bike. That would cost time and money which they are not willing to do to go 400 into 250 frame when they can go 400 into 650 frame a lot cheaper and safer.

BTW, your comment about buying a 400 instead of the 600 being dumb is exactly what killed the 400 market about 20yrs ago. People/buyers felt the same way and you saw the 400s disappear from the market while the 600s thrived, hence why we don't have 400cc sport bikes available to us today.

[sombo]

First of all, I NEVER said buying a 400 was stupid. Don't know where you got that from. I personally like the ZX4R they used to make and would love to see it remade. However this is not the case. They took the 650 and just added sleeves to the cylinders and called it a brand new bike. Same size, same weight, same everything else, just with less power. They need to make it lighter for it to make more sense.

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by Havok

The only reason the 400 exists is because of canadas class liscense

At 7k msrp with the exchange rate at just about 1-1 that is way expensive for. 400 cc bike

The lisense system he isn't staggered, at least not in NB. Anybody at 16 can hop on a zx-14 after getting his license. The reason is probably because there simply is a market for smaller bikes here, the 250R and cbr125r are selling very well.

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by sombo

First of all, I NEVER said buying a 400 was stupid. Don't know where you got that from. I personally like the ZX4R they used to make and would love to see it remade. However this is not the case. They took the 650 and just added sleeves to the cylinders and called it a brand new bike. Same size, same weight, same everything else, just with less power. They need to make it lighter for it to make more sense.

That's because it's the cheapest option. They're making this bike to cater to a few areas on the planet that have a restricted licensing system, or have now adopted a restricted licensing system (ie: Quebec). They're not gonna sink hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars on a brand new bike design from scratch. Not unless there's a good market for it. Past experience has taught them that there isn't.

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by Rosie

Regarding the second point.. well, that's the reason why I would like it. Too much power = not good, at least not for me. I just want a fuel injected 250, and I LOVE my Ninjette, but if they can't make up their mind and bring it to the US, one of these years I'll buy the Canadian version of the 400!!

I have a sister who lives in Europe. I wonder how much the necessary hardware to make the bike FI would cost? I'll see if I can find a 250 Ninja European Version Factory Manual and find the list of parts and prices. If it is reasonable, I'll send her the money, and she can send the parts to me or bring them on her next visit.

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by kkim

it's easier/safer to put a smaller/less powerful engine into a frame designed for a larger engine (400 into a 650 frame), but when you put a more powerful engine into a frame engineered for less power, things break. Any manufacturer (Kawasaki included) is not going to go that route for safety and liability reasons w/o seriously reengineering the bike. That would cost time and money which they are not willing to do to go 400 into 250 frame when they can go 400 into 650 frame a lot cheaper and safer.

BTW, your comment about buying a 400 instead of the 600 being dumb is exactly what killed the 400 market about 20yrs ago. People/buyers felt the same way and you saw the 400s disappear from the market while the 600s thrived, hence why we don't have 400cc sport bikes available to us today.

Kelly, I can remember when Norton came out with the Electra 400. That bike had so much promise. Berliner Corp. the importer, pushed the machine, but the American market lusted after the 750 Atlas and later the 850 Commando. I think that smaller machines have a niche--proof, The Ninjette. Unfortunately the Motorcycle magazines try to ram these overpowered behemoths that belong on a racetrack down our throats. An FI 250, even 350 would be nice. For those wanting something bigger, a 400. I am not sure if the press reflects people's wants. I tend to think that they are creating a need just like the automotive press---A 560HP Cadillac! Give me a break!

[kkim]

Originally Posted by sombo

2) it's just a sleeved down version of the 650R. It's the exact same bike just with less power. IMO that's a dumb thing to do, but whatever. A smart thing to do would be to put that motor in the 250 frame.

Originally Posted by sombo

First of all, I NEVER said buying a 400 was stupid. Don't know where you got that from.

... and I never said you said that buying a 400 was stupid, either. don't know where you got that from.

rest assured we'll never see the 400 in the states unless it proves to be a hit in the Canadian market, which I doubt, if the comments posted here are any indication.

[Reswob]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

What do you think about the white guages... I'm thinking the black blended better. KOSO's are in my future anyway!

White face gauges are 'sportier' and supposed to be easier to read. Either way they need to ditch the fuel gauge for something useful like a clock or gear indicator.

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by Reswob

Either way they need to ditch the fuel gauge for something useful like a clock or gear indicator.

What is a gear indicator for?

[maglin]

KAWA IS BACK!!!

One year off the motogp and came up with new and top end motorcycles...

[maglin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlJJ6A7-V0A


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkg3AKJmfi8

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

I have a sister who lives in Europe. I wonder how much the necessary hardware to make the bike FI would cost? I'll see if I can find a 250 Ninja European Version Factory Manual and find the list of parts and prices. If it is reasonable, I'll send her the money, and she can send the parts to me or bring them on her next visit.

That would be a good idea.. and I'm actually from Europe so I would have no problem getting the parts either, my problem is that I could probably give the parts to my cat to play with because I would have no idea how to put them together

That's ok, there's always hope someday Kawi will realize that even if we have a 250, we still deserve some technology such as fuel injection..

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rosie

That would be a good idea.. and I'm actually from Europe so I would have no problem getting the parts either, my problem is that I could probably give the parts to my cat to play with because I would have no idea how to put them together

That's ok, there's always hope someday Kawi will realize that even if we have a 250, we still deserve some technology such as fuel injection..

It'll come one day. It's just a matter of time before they can justify the cost of bringing it over to meet north american emissions standards and/or recoup enough of their original investment from the redesign of the 250 in order to justify the extra expense to normalize their product everywhere.

It exists somewhere. That's a good enough sign.

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

It exists somewhere. That's a good enough sign.

I have hope

[sombo]

Originally Posted by kkim

BTW, your comment about buying a 400 instead of the 600 being dumb is exactly what killed the 400 market about 20yrs ago. People/buyers felt the same way and you saw the 400s disappear from the market while the 600s thrived, hence why we don't have 400cc sport bikes available to us today.

Right there in bold. That's where I got it.

And as your quote points out, I never said buying it was stupid. The concept of how they made it is stupid and that's just what I said.

Neener neener neener.


Anyway, the other thing they could have done to keep costs down is just bring over the I-4 400cc they are currently making just with a full fairing. They still make 250cc and 400cc I-4 ZRX style sport bikes exclusively for Japan. No extra hundreds of thousands of dollars to R/D a new bike, would actually be cheaper then how they did the 400 (plastic is cheaper then metal sleeves and new pistons and all the other tweaks to run properly).

I'm just saying, they could have done it a different way that could have been better.

[mikedabike64]

good lurking, nice pic of the white ninja, and nice first post.

[KURT]

After doing the 2nd Kawasaki survey, I came away thinking they are definately pondering at a fuel-injected 350... Anybody else get that idea?

[sombo]

Originally Posted by KURT

After doing the 2nd Kawasaki survey, I came away thinking they are definately pondering at a fuel-injected 350... Anybody else get that idea?

Yah, I got that feeling too. I mean they have 350cc motors from ATV's they could use the hardware from I suppose.

[dubojr1]

Most of things are years in R&D. It would probably at least a couple years before introducing any changes.

[ally99]

Dayum, the Ninja is so hot in white. Almost trumps pink, right Addy? ;-)

[rwheelz]

Originally Posted by KURT

After doing the 2nd Kawasaki survey, I came away thinking they are definately pondering at a fuel-injected 350... Anybody else get that idea?

Where do I find this survey? We should send a petition to Kawi asking for an all new high-revving fuel injected inline-4 400cc ninja. I would promise to buy one, but it has to SCREAM!