Kawasaki has to be praised on bringing back the small in line four engines to the world market. As an owner of the vintage Honda 400 four, I cannot emphasized enough how much fun you get when riding these lovely sounding machines. And Kawasaki has not just allowed that again , but elevated it to the highest level! I hope they will bring on different models with this fantastic engine.
Man what a great video. I been torn between these 2 bikes for exactly what you said basically the same price and this information is exactly what I needed. The 650 it is. Just went and looked at one this morning and now I know the 650 is for me! Thank you sir.
Awesome vid. Thanks for the demo on the seating position. After much thought, I am definitely going with the Ninja 650 as comport is more what I'm looking for in a sport bike.
Great choice! I like both of these bikes, but I think you're right. If you know what you want in a bike, you'll probably know which of these is right for you. I love them both, but for different reasons.
19.30 Hi there, here in the UK we are getting the full power version. Autumn 23, as a new bike for 2024! I have seen a tester ride one of these and he said it gave 23 miles per liter, which is about 90 to the gallon or so. If someone had one of these, never did track days, but give it some beans every now and then, like some people do what mileage would a person get to a tank full. I will get one when available in the UK. I don't care about the cost, I am a huge Kawasaki fan. When I was in my 20's I had a 750 Turbo, it was amazing, but you couldn't Ride it to it's full potential all the time, so not being able to get the most out of the ZX4R, wouldn't bother me, it will still be a great bike. Thank for your informative comparison, keep up the good work. Keith from England
I had the first edition Versys 650. Such a fun motor, I could wring its neck passing cars all day and hit the curves with confidence. It's not a good sounding engine so don't spend money on a slip-on.
I did that a little bit last summer when I was filming outside. Sometimes the audio of a revving engine doesn't really film that well, so there are things that I leave to other videos who do a better job of those things. Having said that. A bike like this, part of it is the sound, so I'll try to get it on audio. The Black ZX-4R did sell and deliver yesterday though, so I'm down to my very last ZX-4RR for the year now.
I'm not in the market for a small sportbike, but if I were, I'd spend the extra $1000 and get the ZX-4RR KRT Edition. The inline 4 engine is well worth the price of admission, then factor in all the other upgraded kit (suspension, brakes, etc) and it's money well spent.
Well it seems here in Canada good luck getting one, at least for a while until the hype dies down. I dunno if the dealer allocations are so tiny because they don't understand the demand, or if they want it to be a rare exclusive edition...
i have a zx25r, thing i hate is its exhaust gasket and O2 sensors when u try to change into full exhaust, camshaft tensioner when u keep revving to its limiter.
In Australia zx4r or rr can't be be ridden as a first bike. 400 500 650 ninjas can be ridden on learners but my zx bikes both had to sit for months before legally allowed to ride. (Mine still parked due to licence lol)
They're different purposes. Ninja 650 is NOT a sport bike, it's a sports-tourer, it's meant for traveling long distances, that plastics give you good wind protection during those travels. There are built-in points to attach frames for attaching side luggage bags and top case.
so Question, concerning the 650.. by the way.. awesome freaking bike.. easy on my back while riding... Question is about sound and what swap can i make.. to make it sound a little meaner ?
There are aftermarket pipes for it, but your choices will be limited with that style. If you google search, you should be able to find the options. I've heard a few and they sound decent.
Yeah. I drove a Versys 650 for years and it didn't have traction control, it was fine. I will say though, that as you drive this bike aggressively, knowing it's there could help some people feel more comfortable as they find it's limits at peak power, when shifting gears.
@@PeterLoweOne Granted, but I had one for 2 years on stock tires with full exhaust and she never got away, not even close while ripping through the gears. The top end is not very strong, so as long as you have ok throttle control to handle the torque at low speed in 1st, there is no risk sliding. Even pulled accidental small wheelies in 1st at lights, that was fun :)... now got the z900 SE...damn happy it has KTRC...
There are a lot of Ninjas that are good for shorter riders. Choosing between them may have more to do with your experience or your other preferences, more than height. If you're newer to riding and shorter or light weight, the Ninja 400 has always been my recommendation and I would consider the all new Ninja 500 as it's a direct replacement for the 400.
i just bought a ninja 650 found it on sale for 7k new where as the zx4r will be 9800 and add fees to both. 2nd thing is i already have a zx6r and they sell them for 10k new same place so do i love the zx4r yes would i get it over a zx6r i cant see why i would. the ninja 650 is the perfect sport bike for cost and touring or daily duty. had the zx6r not kinda price the zx4r out id say sure. but i feel like the zx4r should cost around 8k
I can see myself buying the ZX4RR simply because it would be all the engine I would ever need to have the fun that I want. But you're right, if you have a ZX6R, you really need to think about why you would want a ZX4R. The Ninja 650 is a great bike with more comfort than both of the 6R and 4R. Thanks for watching!
Hi, your video was very useful to me since am planning ZX4R here in India. Since it is high revving engine, may I know how it performs at low end tractability… like is it possible to drive at 40-50 kmph in 6th gear ?? Your response would be more helpful to me
..the ZX4 rr engine is not set up for doing that (roll-on from lower speed/ higher gear). You have to rev the engine high for passing power! The Ninja 650 is better for that (40-50kph in 5th or 6th gear) ..A new Ninja 500 is coming to India soon to replace the Ninja 400, and costs almost 1/2 the price of these 2 bikes !
@@SenthilShetty27..I've owned a Ninja 650 since 2018 and absolutely love the bike. I never liked the sound or the aftermarket mufflers either, especially at idle. But when riding, the sound of the engine is nice! In 2024 I will buy the Ninja ZX4 r ...because I miss the sound of 4 cyl. I'm keeping the 650 bcs I have room for a few more bikes..
@@PopsRacer61 That’s great. I have owned Z650 before, I loved its practicality and performance, just hate its exhaust this sold. Now confused to finalise between ZX4R and Z900
@@SenthilShetty27..a very good friend of mine has the Z900 ! I rode it, and it's very comfortable, and faster than the Zx4 r of course. He put a wind screen on his and blocks the wind ! The ZX4 R is more fun in the twisties and around the city or track. The Z900 is very good in a straight line but more comfortable than the ZX4 !
For you maybe. Let's be clear, the 400, 4 cylinder engine will make more horsepower. But watch the video to see why people may want one over the other.
I disagree as someone who owned an N400 and switched to an N650 recently. I like the lower end torque on the street, I really don't want to live at 10k+ RPMs all the time to wring usable torque out of the 4R. Also, the N400 was just physically too small and I'm not even a huge guy. Felt more like a toy... perfect for the track obviously but even though it's all most people NEED, the N650 feels a lot nicer and more planted, especially on the interstate. What I wish they'd make is an N750 triple... best of all worlds except top end horsepower which doesn't really matter in the real world.
much more lowendtorq vs lil more topend power if you are 100% race type guy yea zx4 r is better , but trust me as daily after test ride 9 out of 10 test rider would choice 650 lil more upright position + much stronger lowend and lower rpm for most people be enough reason for get 650 instead of this 400 😁👌🏻+ fast launch on zx4 r so each time you start from light comapre to 650 is nightmare 🤭 you must spin engine 2 times more and slide clutch 4 times more for get the same launch 🤭
@@spurscar7 One thing to remember is that wringing out the Ninja 400 or Ninja 650 to the upper reaches of the rev range is a very different experience than doing the same with a supersport 4 cylinder bike. You may find that you enjoy it on a bike designed to make power up there.
In short, the bikes computers tell it to stop making more horsepower at 11,500 rpm and I guess that keeps the sound of the bike just within the limits allowed for a new motorcycle. Without that computer limitation, it would continue to build more horsepower as the revs build and would top out at a higher peak horsepower near 16,000 rpm. Since Kawasaki is limiting the power due to a regulation, they won't instruct people how to get around that, but we know that aftermarket companies often help reprogram motorcycle computers, often with new exhaust systems in order to build more power, and that would seem to me like it would be a common thing for users to do with these bikes to unlock their full potential. That would move the responsibility of too much noise from Kawasaki, to the individual owners.
@@mv4075 Obviously it must be? I didn't design the bike, but that's what Kawasaki is telling us was done to meet regulations. You may want to reach out to Kawasaki to get a better answer.
@@mv4075 The ZX4 has an electronic throttle, so throttle at the grip isn't the same as throttle at the actual throttle bodies. After 11.5K, it starts closing the throttle. Full throttle is louder than partial throttle.
Muchas gracias, me ha costado un poco decidirme por que modelo kawasaki irme. Finalmente con este video he decidido irme por la ninja 650, ya que la quiero para uso diario, y estéticamente está muy hermosa!
You are better off with the 650 over the 4rr because it was built from the ground up, just modded. And weights lighter for what it is. And you will save a good chunk of money.
I think some people will like the 650, and you might be one of them, I definitely think the 4RR serves a purpose, and those who want it will love it, but there's no question the market for the 4RR is a smaller market.
@@frankwoods9680 either one. The ZX-4RR is going to be a bit more compact as that's the riding position in the class. I know taller riders who are comfortable on the Ninja 650 though. That's definitely a great choice!
zx4 r redline 16 k n650 have 5 k rpm at gps 100 km/h if zx4 r would have gearing that at 8 k rpm would have 100 km/h rollon on last gear can be very close 🤭 rpm vs rpm 1 to 9-10 k rpm n650 win gear vs gear depend on gearing can be close max acceleration zx4 r be slightly faster especially at high speed where lower drag impact the most 👍🏻
Hello pete been trying to figure out the symbol on my 2023 kawasaki z650 it looks like 3 circles touching eachother in a triangular shape and come on when im cruising sometimes its a little white symbol and i cant figure it out it pops up to the left of the fuel meter
Great question! It's the "eco" indicator. It tells you that you're driving economically. My Z900RS SE has the same thing, and if you look really closely, you'll see that the 3 circles are actually the lower case letters e-c-o
Kawasaki has to be praised on bringing back the small in line four engines to the world market. As an owner of the vintage Honda 400 four, I cannot emphasized enough how much fun you get when riding these lovely sounding machines. And Kawasaki has not just allowed that again , but elevated it to the highest level!
I hope they will bring on different models with this fantastic engine.
This type of comparison video is exactly what I was looking for a long time. Subscribed!🎉
Awesome! Thanks for supporting what I do!
Been watching motorcycle reviews for so many years now, but I rarely see anyone cover rider triangle as well as you do. Thank you sir! Subbed!
Thanks for the support!
Man what a great video. I been torn between these 2 bikes for exactly what you said basically the same price and this information is exactly what I needed. The 650 it is. Just went and looked at one this morning and now I know the 650 is for me! Thank you sir.
Thanks for the in-depth views and information. Enjoying your content about the motorcycles you do
I appreciate your kind words! Thanks for watching!
IDK about Canada, but here the 650 is about $ 2000 cheaper than the ZX-4R
ZX-4R and 650 are the same price in Canada. 10 000 $CAN MSRP
Wow. Ninja 650 overpriced or is it ZX4RR is good deal there? Which is it?
Hes talking about the ZX-4R not the double R
Awesome vid. Thanks for the demo on the seating position. After much thought, I am definitely going with the Ninja 650 as comport is more what I'm looking for in a sport bike.
Great choice! I like both of these bikes, but I think you're right. If you know what you want in a bike, you'll probably know which of these is right for you. I love them both, but for different reasons.
Do a video for 2024 ninja 650 vs ninja 500 vs zx4rr please !
19.30
Hi there, here in the UK we are getting the full power version. Autumn 23, as a new bike for 2024! I have seen a tester ride one of these and he said it gave 23 miles per liter, which is about 90 to the gallon or so.
If someone had one of these, never did track days, but give it some beans every now and then, like some people do what mileage would a person get to a tank full. I will get one when available in the UK. I don't care about the cost, I am a huge Kawasaki fan. When I was in my 20's I had a 750 Turbo, it was amazing, but you couldn't Ride it to it's full potential all the time, so not being able to get the most out of the ZX4R, wouldn't bother me, it will still be a great bike. Thank for your informative comparison, keep up the good work.
Keith from England
I had the first edition Versys 650. Such a fun motor, I could wring its neck passing cars all day and hit the curves with confidence. It's not a good sounding engine so don't spend money on a slip-on.
Your comment is spot on 👌
The sound doesn't do anything good for the otherwise excellent bike 😢
Hi Peter, is it possible for you to give us engine sound when comparing different models?. Thanks.
I did that a little bit last summer when I was filming outside. Sometimes the audio of a revving engine doesn't really film that well, so there are things that I leave to other videos who do a better job of those things. Having said that. A bike like this, part of it is the sound, so I'll try to get it on audio. The Black ZX-4R did sell and deliver yesterday though, so I'm down to my very last ZX-4RR for the year now.
Perfectly done review
question about ninja 650: how do you deal with wind resistance during long rides at high speed?
puig windshield
I'm not in the market for a small sportbike, but if I were, I'd spend the extra $1000 and get the ZX-4RR KRT Edition. The inline 4 engine is well worth the price of admission, then factor in all the other upgraded kit (suspension, brakes, etc) and it's money well spent.
Well it seems here in Canada good luck getting one, at least for a while until the hype dies down. I dunno if the dealer allocations are so tiny because they don't understand the demand, or if they want it to be a rare exclusive edition...
Thank you for comparing these two bikes. I am leaning towards the Ninja 650 as it seems to be a well rounded street motorcycle.🤩
i have a zx25r, thing i hate is its exhaust gasket and O2 sensors when u try to change into full exhaust, camshaft tensioner when u keep revving to its limiter.
I hope there is a naked version of the 400RR in the pipeline.
That'd be pretty cool to have, especially when manufacturers are multiplatforming motors now.
this helped me a lot thank you
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
In Australia zx4r or rr can't be be ridden as a first bike. 400 500 650 ninjas can be ridden on learners but my zx bikes both had to sit for months before legally allowed to ride. (Mine still parked due to licence lol)
Here in usa you can get a H2 at 18 years old as your 1st bike if you have the money.
Which bike is easier to work on or cost more to have things done on it like normal maintenance?
The 650 is a 2 cylinder, so my guess is that it's a little less complex to work on.
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks!
They're different purposes. Ninja 650 is NOT a sport bike, it's a sports-tourer, it's meant for traveling long distances, that plastics give you good wind protection during those travels. There are built-in points to attach frames for attaching side luggage bags and top case.
You should watch the video. 😉
@@PeterLoweOne definitely commented without watching hahaha
@@NiteFPS He keeps calling it sport bike through the whole video, so idk if we watched same video.
so Question, concerning the 650.. by the way.. awesome freaking bike.. easy on my back while riding... Question is about sound and what swap can i make.. to make it sound a little meaner ?
There are aftermarket pipes for it, but your choices will be limited with that style. If you google search, you should be able to find the options. I've heard a few and they sound decent.
Nicely done! 👏
Traction control on the 650 is really only useful if it rains....otherwise, you would really need to screw up big time to ever need KTRC.
Or you take it down a dirt road.
Yeah. I drove a Versys 650 for years and it didn't have traction control, it was fine. I will say though, that as you drive this bike aggressively, knowing it's there could help some people feel more comfortable as they find it's limits at peak power, when shifting gears.
@@PeterLoweOne Granted, but I had one for 2 years on stock tires with full exhaust and she never got away, not even close while ripping through the gears. The top end is not very strong, so as long as you have ok throttle control to handle the torque at low speed in 1st, there is no risk sliding. Even pulled accidental small wheelies in 1st at lights, that was fun :)... now got the z900 SE...damn happy it has KTRC...
@@xy4859 I moved from the Versys 650 to the Z900RS SE. I loved my Versys, but I love the new bike too!
Which ninja would be better for a shorter rider?
There are a lot of Ninjas that are good for shorter riders. Choosing between them may have more to do with your experience or your other preferences, more than height. If you're newer to riding and shorter or light weight, the Ninja 400 has always been my recommendation and I would consider the all new Ninja 500 as it's a direct replacement for the 400.
Guess it’s going to be hard to get my hands on a 4rr
i just bought a ninja 650 found it on sale for 7k new where as the zx4r will be 9800 and add fees to both. 2nd thing is i already have a zx6r and they sell them for 10k new same place so do i love the zx4r yes would i get it over a zx6r i cant see why i would. the ninja 650 is the perfect sport bike for cost and touring or daily duty. had the zx6r not kinda price the zx4r out id say sure. but i feel like the zx4r should cost around 8k
I can see myself buying the ZX4RR simply because it would be all the engine I would ever need to have the fun that I want. But you're right, if you have a ZX6R, you really need to think about why you would want a ZX4R. The Ninja 650 is a great bike with more comfort than both of the 6R and 4R. Thanks for watching!
Can you do zx6r and Ninja 650 next? I'm not sure anymore...
I'm waiting to see the 2024 ZX-6. Once it arrives, I'll have videos of it up.
Take in mind that the Ninja 400 can keep up with the Z4rr, especially with the turns.
on straights ? it cant 👍🏻 even restricted smoked ninja 400 on straights 👍🏻
Sound wise I’d got with the zx4 everywhere else I’d got with the 650
Hi, your video was very useful to me since am planning ZX4R here in India. Since it is high revving engine, may I know how it performs at low end tractability… like is it possible to drive at 40-50 kmph in 6th gear ??
Your response would be more helpful to me
..the ZX4 rr engine is not set up for doing that (roll-on from lower speed/ higher gear). You have to rev the engine high for passing power! The Ninja 650 is better for that (40-50kph in 5th or 6th gear) ..A new Ninja 500 is coming to India soon to replace the Ninja 400, and costs almost 1/2 the price of these 2 bikes !
@@PopsRacer61 Thank you, but am keen on 4 cylinders for the sound. Ninja 500 is just 2 cylinders which wouldn’t sound sweet.
@@SenthilShetty27..I've owned a Ninja 650 since 2018 and absolutely love the bike. I never liked the sound or the aftermarket mufflers either, especially at idle. But when riding, the sound of the engine is nice! In 2024 I will buy the Ninja ZX4 r ...because I miss the sound of 4 cyl. I'm keeping the 650 bcs I have room for a few more bikes..
@@PopsRacer61 That’s great. I have owned Z650 before, I loved its practicality and performance, just hate its exhaust this sold. Now confused to finalise between ZX4R and Z900
@@SenthilShetty27..a very good friend of mine has the Z900 ! I rode it, and it's very comfortable, and faster than the Zx4 r of course. He put a wind screen on his and blocks the wind ! The ZX4 R is more fun in the twisties and around the city or track. The Z900 is very good in a straight line but more comfortable than the ZX4 !
how you get the zx 6r fully black?
Paint it? This ZX-4R is available to Canadians, but my guess is the country is likely sold out of them already.
@@PeterLoweOne oh for me it has red stipes and stuff
Love your videos very pro 👍👍
Thanks so much for watching! Feel free to subscribe! I've got a lot more coming!
If they come close in HP, that pretty much puts the nail in the coffin for the 650.
For you maybe. Let's be clear, the 400, 4 cylinder engine will make more horsepower. But watch the video to see why people may want one over the other.
I disagree as someone who owned an N400 and switched to an N650 recently. I like the lower end torque on the street, I really don't want to live at 10k+ RPMs all the time to wring usable torque out of the 4R. Also, the N400 was just physically too small and I'm not even a huge guy. Felt more like a toy... perfect for the track obviously but even though it's all most people NEED, the N650 feels a lot nicer and more planted, especially on the interstate. What I wish they'd make is an N750 triple... best of all worlds except top end horsepower which doesn't really matter in the real world.
much more lowendtorq vs lil more topend power if you are 100% race type guy yea zx4 r is better , but trust me as daily after test ride 9 out of 10 test rider would choice 650 lil more upright position + much stronger lowend and lower rpm for most people be enough reason for get 650 instead of this 400 😁👌🏻+ fast launch on zx4 r so each time you start from light comapre to 650 is nightmare 🤭 you must spin engine 2 times more and slide clutch 4 times more for get the same launch 🤭
@@spurscar7 One thing to remember is that wringing out the Ninja 400 or Ninja 650 to the upper reaches of the rev range is a very different experience than doing the same with a supersport 4 cylinder bike. You may find that you enjoy it on a bike designed to make power up there.
@@PeterLoweOne Exactly, Peter, torque beats BHP in most real world driving scenarios 👍
I buy Zx4rr soon I'm just in line up 🥰🙏
Please explain the 11.5 vs 16 redline vs power vs noise regs.
In short, the bikes computers tell it to stop making more horsepower at 11,500 rpm and I guess that keeps the sound of the bike just within the limits allowed for a new motorcycle. Without that computer limitation, it would continue to build more horsepower as the revs build and would top out at a higher peak horsepower near 16,000 rpm. Since Kawasaki is limiting the power due to a regulation, they won't instruct people how to get around that, but we know that aftermarket companies often help reprogram motorcycle computers, often with new exhaust systems in order to build more power, and that would seem to me like it would be a common thing for users to do with these bikes to unlock their full potential. That would move the responsibility of too much noise from Kawasaki, to the individual owners.
@@PeterLoweOne I fail to understand how the sound is suppressed from 11.5 to 16k.
????
@@mv4075 Obviously it must be? I didn't design the bike, but that's what Kawasaki is telling us was done to meet regulations. You may want to reach out to Kawasaki to get a better answer.
@@mv4075 The ZX4 has an electronic throttle, so throttle at the grip isn't the same as throttle at the actual throttle bodies. After 11.5K, it starts closing the throttle. Full throttle is louder than partial throttle.
@@mv4075 at low RPMs bikes are always quieter.. duh
Muchas gracias, me ha costado un poco decidirme por que modelo kawasaki irme. Finalmente con este video he decidido irme por la ninja 650, ya que la quiero para uso diario, y estéticamente está muy hermosa!
You are better off with the 650 over the 4rr because it was built from the ground up, just modded. And weights lighter for what it is. And you will save a good chunk of money.
I think some people will like the 650, and you might be one of them, I definitely think the 4RR serves a purpose, and those who want it will love it, but there's no question the market for the 4RR is a smaller market.
Which one is bigger
Ninja 650 is longer.
What height are you?
About 6 feet tall
@@PeterLoweOnewhich of these do you think would best suit a 6'3 person 😅
@@frankwoods9680 either one. The ZX-4RR is going to be a bit more compact as that's the riding position in the class. I know taller riders who are comfortable on the Ninja 650 though. That's definitely a great choice!
@@PeterLoweOne awesome, thanks!
Everyone that compares a ZX-4RR to a ninja 400 or other twin motorcycles just proves that they missed the entire point of the small inline 4.
People can't critically think anymore. The 650 is awesome and the zx4rr is too. These are the exact two I'm torn between
$1000 cheaper here in PH. 650 VS 4RR
Man I cant decide between ZX-25R or ZX-4R now
I see some videos where the ninja 400 is faster than the zx25r so imagine the zx4r
if u have some extra money, go for zx4rr. Unless you love 250cc bike, zx25r is the answer. But me personally, i would go with zx4rr.
Ride Safe Brothers ✌️
Psalm 20:4
I though the 400ZXR was same price as the 600
I film in Canada. Canadian prices can be found at www.kawasaki.ca
zx4 r redline 16 k n650 have 5 k rpm at gps 100 km/h if zx4 r would have gearing that at 8 k rpm would have 100 km/h rollon on last gear can be very close 🤭 rpm vs rpm 1 to 9-10 k rpm n650 win gear vs gear depend on gearing can be close max acceleration zx4 r be slightly faster especially at high speed where lower drag impact the most 👍🏻
Hi
Hello pete been trying to figure out the symbol on my 2023 kawasaki z650 it looks like 3 circles touching eachother in a triangular shape and come on when im cruising sometimes its a little white symbol and i cant figure it out it pops up to the left of the fuel meter
Great question! It's the "eco" indicator. It tells you that you're driving economically. My Z900RS SE has the same thing, and if you look really closely, you'll see that the 3 circles are actually the lower case letters e-c-o
@@PeterLoweOne
Keeping the riding style within those ECO circles, the mileage gets down to really surprisingly low levels 👍