When it comes to sports bikes, Kawasaki makes some of the best, and they are the stuff of legends. Who hasn’t heard of the Kawasaki Ninja, for example? Speaking of which, Kawasaki is developing what could be its most fun Ninja yet. It’s an absurd 16,000 RPM revin’ machine. The ZX-4RR KRT Edition.
Now, there are some things one needs to understand about sports bikes. If you go for a liter bike, or something like a Hayabusa or ZX-14, you won’t be using but a fraction of its power most of the time. You will be lucky to find a stretch of open road where you can safely twist the throttle and go all out on one of these high-end machines. With a small displacement screamer like the ZX-4RR, you get to have more fun, more of the time.
Why Lightweight Sports Bikes Make Sense
The mind-bending, seldom-used potential of high-end sports bikes is why the ZX-4RR KRT Edition makes sense. It comes with a small inline-four 399cc engine that revs like an F1 car. The cylinders are tiny (roughly 100cc capacity each). The forces produced by the movement of the pistons and crankshaft are manageable. These lightweight parts allow for such high revs, without compromising engine durability. This is further assisted by a favorable bore and stroke of 57.0 x 39.1mm.
The point is that with such a bike, the rider can explore its limits in a fun, safer way. And make no mistake, a lot of low-cc bikes are far from slow. Even one with such as small displacement as the Kawasaki ZX-4RR KRT Edition. This little beast from Kawasaki supposedly makes up to 79 horsepower when ram air is pressurized. That is when the bike is up to speed and the air intake forces more air into the combustion chamber.
Riding Within The Bike's Limits Rather Than Yours
Being able to reach the bike’s limits makes for a much more engaging, and exciting experience. This is as opposed to riding a liter bike, and more often than not, being limited by your skill level, and road conditions, rather than the bike's capabilities. Most liter bikes break all existing speed limits in first gear alone. This will likely not be the case with the ZX-4RR. All these factors help make small displacement sport bikes desirable, and fun to ride.
And it’s not like these bikes are built with less quality than their brand’s flagships. The ZX-4RR KRT Edition comes with high-performance suspension, a slipper clutch, dual front disc brakes, riding modes, a TFT color display with circuit mode, and more. Tires are 120/70 – 17 up front and a lighter 160/60 – 17 in the rear. This tire combination is designed to match the bike’s performance specifications. The seat height is an accessible 31.5 inches, and it weighs only 414.5 lbs wet.
This bike will be a blast to ride. Even seasoned riders will be able to enjoy it. It is so purposely built for performance, that even as a 399 cc bike, Kawasaki considers it a supersport. Its chassis is inspired by the ZX-10RR World Superbike champion. The front and rear weight distribution is ideal, and the bike provides a great balance between rigidity, and flexibility thanks to its high-tensile trellis frame.
The Showa suspension also follows the performance cues of the Ninja ZX-10R, improving handling. The ZX-4RR also has full-led lighting, with the twin headlight up front, and a LED taillight. As expected, electronic rider aids such as traction control, ABS, and a quick shifter are also present. The wheelbase is a short 1,380mm (54.3 inches) further improving cornering performance and the tank holds up to 4.0 gallons of fuel.
The ZX-4RR KRT Promises Fun But Has Stiff Competition
Kawasaki offers one color scheme for the ZX-4RR KRT Edition. And they are the identifiable colors and graphics of the Kawasaki Racing Team. Once available, the initial MSRP will be $9,699. Being a supersport in a segment filled with lightweight sport bikes, the KRT Edition positions itself above the crowd. It should catch the attention of many riders, and motorsport enthusiasts.
With all this said in favor of the ZX-4RR KRT Edition, it will still find tough competitors at this price range. Particularly from Honda and Yamaha. Honda’s CBR650R has a 649cc four-cylinder engine. Making 93.8 horsepower @ 12,000 RPM, with more usable torque throughout its rev range. It comes in with an MSRP of $9,899. Another fierce competitor for the Kawasaki is Yamaha’s YZF-R7. This one comes with a 689 cc parallel twin that is more torque oriented. It’s based on the MT-07 and makes a claimed 72 horsepower, but that power comes in much sooner, making it just as agile. With 49.4 pound-feet of torque, this engine delivers more than what you see on paper. With a strong surge of torque starting as soon as 3,000 rpm it feels faster than it is. And with an MSRP of $9,199, the YZF-R7 costs a full $400 less than the Kawasaki.
It’s not going to be easy, but given the featured technology and its full-on performance-guided design, the ZX-4RR KRT Edition should be a good seller for Kawasaki. Keep listening for that unique sound only a small four-cylinder engine will make at such high revs. It’s going to be a treat.