2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition First Look
Rennie Scaysbrook | February 1, 2023
Kawasaki will debut their first 400cc four-cylinder sportbike since the death of the legendary ZXR400 at the turn of the century when it debuts the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition later this year.
Kawasaki’s really letting the good times roll with the new ZX-4RR. We can’t wait to ride this thing!
The ZX-4RR KRT Edition sits alongside the twin-cylinder Ninja 250/300/400 platform that has seen junior race grids splashed in green for the better part of a decade, rather than replace it. The 399cc inline four-cylinder motor will pump out a claimed 26.5 lb-ft of torque at 11,000 rpm but claimed power hasn’t been disclosed. Its 16,000 rpm redline is nearly 1800 rpm up on the ZX-10RR, so the noise will undoubtedly be one of the big selling factors. Kawasaki has fitted ram air induction and dual-length intake funnels and 34mm throttle bodies, as well as variable traction control and variable engine power modes of Full and Low (which offers 80 percent of the power in Full but with a less abrupt throttle response). There are also four riding modes of Sport, Road, Rain, and Rider, the last of which is a manual mode that lets the rider choose one of the two power modes.
The go is pushed through a six-speed transmission mated to a slip-and-assist clutch and Kawasaki’s up-and-down quickshifter.
As for the chassis, the main frame is similar to the Ninja 400 in the tubular steel trellis design but it’s mated to an arched/banana-style swingarm, made famous by little bikes like the legendary Aprilia RS250.
Stripped down, you can see the chassis links to the Ninja 400 twin-cylinder model.
The suspension comes from Showa and the fully-adjustable Big Piston Separate Function fork up front and rear shock, which operates directly on the swingarm with no linkage. The brakes are pretty up-spec for this category in the dual four-piston monobloc front calipers gripping 290mm discs while a single-piston caliper clamps a 220mm disc with traditional ABS in place (no Cornering ABS as there’s no IMU fitted). Dunlop supplies the rubber in their GPR300 radial tires.
Kawasaki claims a curb weight of 414 lb and a seat height of 31.5 in.
The electronics include full LED lighting front and rear and you get a 4.3-inch TFT display that runs the Kawasaki Bluetooth Rideology app.
Expect to see the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition in dealerships this Spring for $9,699 MSRP.
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