Kawasaki Ninja 400 Vs Yamaha R3 - Which is the Best Beginner Sportbike?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 พ.ค. 2022
- A Comprehensive Specs comparison between the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Yamaha YZF-R3.
The Extremely popular beginner sportbike from Kawasaki that is widely regarded as one of the best all rounders in the class, the Ninja 400. Up against Yamaha’s own little lightweight super sport that’s garnered a whole lotta love all around the world, the R3. If you’re looking at your first motorcycle or for an easy everyday sport bike you will not be able to escape the presence that these two hold in the category, and today we are putting them head to head in one epic showdown.
G’day I’m Kwackajack and welcome to another episode of the versus series! Today we are putting two titans of the beginner class under the magnifying glass for a detailed specs comparison to see just what the differences are and who comes out on top. We’ll be analysing the styling, claimed Engine & power specs, exhaust notes, Weight, Suspension & brakes, Fuel economy, features & price to see where they stack up. Having also owned the Ninja 400 and spent a lot of time around R3’s I’ll be adding in a little bit of my own personal experience with each in aswell. Now before we get started please do me a huge favour and give this video a like, and hit subscribe to join our awesome little community of moto enthusiasts!
NOTICE: This video is fair use under U.S. copyright law because it is transformative in nature, uses no more of the original than necessary and has no negative effect on the market for the original work. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
After watching this I think I finally made decision,I will start at Ducati Panigale V4 ,seems like a good begginer bike ,cheeers :D
Watches a video about kawa and yamaha: CHOOSES A DIFFERENT BRAND
@@Stefanollit means both bikes are sh😂t
bro 😂😂
Are you still alive?
@@tylerbrody876 yeah,only cause i'm taking uber xDD
After doing much thinking and research, I finally went with the R3. Reasons:
1. Actually sitting on both, I realized instantly that I did NOT like the extra fairing on the ninja. It felt fat, clunky, and too much for me personally. Despite it looking really good, I wasn’t a fan of the POV when I actually sat on it.
2. The R3 seems to be preferred by people who actually have a lot of experience riding motorcycles. I’m willing to give up just a little bit of power for an overall better engine/seating/experience
3. The looks of the R3 grew on me tremendously. The Ninja looks great don’t get me wrong, and it was the bike I was originally gonna get, but after months of looking at them, I realized just how good the R3 looks.
4. I’m only 185lbs. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. I don’t think I’m going to stress too much about 70 CC’s.
5. The R3 dash looks better imo
6. I found a helluva deal (1200 miles on a 2019 Yamaha Blue) for $3,900.
7. The gold inverted fork on the Yamaha looks/feels very premium.
8. The wheels on the R3 are better looking imo.
9. The full coverage insurance on the R3 was $40/mo. The Ninja 400? $140/month. Massive difference.
Verdict: I would have been very happy with either, but ultimately, I’m very glad I went with the R3 😊 let me know you guys opinions!
I want a R3 as well. Such beautiful Machines on both ends 💯
The r3 is a beautiful bike. Yamaha has the styling sorted.
I think i will do the same, and go with R3
I'm glad i find my answer. R3
newbie issues 😂
I've sat on both to get an idea on what the ergonomics are like and the r3 immediately impressed me. It had more room to allow me to get into a tuck and the shape of the tank reminded me of previous sport bikes I've ridden; which as a function, to me, felt more natural to lock my knees on when braking or hanging off.
I'm looking forward to riding one next track season. A lot of my friends have went to this class of bikes for racing and had nothing but positive things to say.
Can I sit in a 90 degree angle when riding?
@@mdmathewdc 90 degree, as in having your upper body be upright? If so, sure, the clip ons(handle bars) aren't super aggressive so I'm sure it's fine if you want to ride in a more upright position than compared to an R6.
Thanks, tank shape ALLOWING the rider to grip the tank with their legs joins the rider with bike to become one so to speak.
Been watching your videos for a couple of months now. Those really helped me with starting-up and getting used to my Ninja 400(still less than a month old). It's my first clutch manual bike. All the information was really helpful. Also, your videos really got me hyped up on getting the Ninja. Keep-up it up man!
Glad to hear mate! Thanks for supporting the channel
Just got the Ninja 400 yesterday
What did you pay for yours if you don’t mind me asking?
How do you like it a month later?
My mate is planning to get his licence and an R3 in the next few months, and I've got the Ninja so this was a great watch for me! I love my Ninja, but the R3 seems great too. Will be great when we can compare them for ourselves :)
Hey in actually planning on getting either the ninja 400 or the r3 when i get my license and im saving up already but im not sure wether i want the ninja 400 or r3. Did you happen to do those tests?😂 just wondering which you’s liked more
@@austinsilversmith8014 I just recently got the ninja 400 and I've been riding it daily for the past week. I've already put a couple hundred miles down on it and as a first bike, it's great. I've never been on the R3 myself, but a friend of mine who has experience on both a ninja and an R3 helped me choose the ninja. For me personally, the deciding factor was the rider position. the R3 has a much more aggressive, tucked in riding stance while with the Ninja, although you can still easily tuck in, has a more natural upright riding stance. Since I'm getting a bike for an every day vehicle (can't afford a car) I wanted one that would be most comfortable and as someone who's tall (6'0+) I felt like the tucked in stance would end up making my lower back sore over time. I definitely notice on the more longer rides on the highway where I'm tucked in, it can cause some discomfort so I'm glad I went with the Ninja because I can sit upright comfortably on it.
There's a lot more factors that cause people to go either way, but that is the personal experience that I can confidently talk on. If you haven't seen it yet, Yammie Noob has a video comparing the two to each other and it's pretty good. Just note that while each bike has differences between them, they're not major differences and either way you go you'll have a blast. Good like on getting your license and stay safe out there when you do!
@@austinsilversmith8014 I have owned my R3 since 2015. The Ninja 400 is also a good bike - just buy the one you think looks best. Performance of Ninja 400 is better as the brakes. R3 has a better gearbox and feels a little more premium and has more nimble handling. Neither are perfect but both can be improved with a cartrige kit in the front, linear springs, and a better rear shock [but it's not necessary if you just want to commute. Both come with budget tyres. Changing to something like a diablo2, s22, or Road 5 makes a noticable difference.
@@mrpug2794 we don’t watch Yammie anymore
@@user-360johnn that was a month ago dog, lol. I still watched him despite the controversies but the spite thing just ended it for me
Once again love your review and I’m pretty certain to go the ninja 400 when I recover. Keep up the good work
Thanks for the most excellent, and comprehensive comparo. I've been making myself a little crazy trying to decide between the two, and for me it comes down to the rider's triangle, with the Ninja 500's ergos being a bit more accommodating to my old knees and hips.
Phenomenally helpful video.
I recently purchased a ninja 400 because of your videos having useful, unique information, without all the added bs. Especially thankful for the lv10 review and explanation for going back to stock :)
You know he only owns that one bike, the 400. Banks won't loan him anymore , they see that man bunn, and its over.
Getting creative now on the hair comments, I like it
Just bought a ninja 400 2023 im so excited it is getting delivered in 2 days
How has the experience been so far?
@peo it's been fantastic had a few problems with the clutch but I've riden 13000k miles and I still love my ninja 400. Over 6 months the bike spent only 1 week in the shop so it's hella reliable I'd say
really helpful mate
Excellent video loved it. I prefer the Kawasaki as long term. Could you please do a comparison between Ninja 400 vs KTM RC 390(2022 model).?
Picked up my ninja 400 a couple of weeks ago… I live in southport would be great to go for a ride at some point 🤙🏽
Great review I’m looking into both and am torn between the 2
I have been looking at getting my own motorbike and this helped me a lor. I'm going to get the Yamaha R3 and the only reason is that we still have my Grandfathers old bike - TW200- So I thought why not carry on the legacy and get another Yamaha motorbike just for the fun of it.
I prefer the Kwak to the Yam.
The styling of it looks more detailed. The slip clutch and slightly more power does it for me.
sounds like you're referring to kwakajack vs yammienoob yt channels lol
I'm the opposite lol, I think the Kawi is over stylized and prefer the simplicity of the R3, I think it'll age better.
@@Cruz474 as a first gen R3 owner in India, I'll say it turns more heads than a Ninja 300 and has aged like fine wine. Ps. Ninja 400 didn't sell well due to it being overpriced, so no comparison with that.
I’ve had the 2020 R3 for about a year now , I love everything about it.. does great on the highway also but since I’m 5’6 about 135 pounds I do get affected by the wind at times..
I’m looking to upgrade either to a R7 or ninja 650 , but I really want a Harley iron 883
watching 2 of your vs videos I'm getting a r3 for my starter bike and a n650 whenever I upgrade In the future if there isn't any new bikes by then 😂
It's simple really. I want all the motorcycles I don't already have! I really like the 1st gen r3 then the n400 then gen2 r3.
The R3 has better hardware. USD forks and aluminium swingarm. But the Ninja 400 has a more powerful engine. The R3 aint no slouch either and its a little cheaper to buy. So for me personally, I'd rather buy the R3.
the comment i needed and without needing to ask you have said it
Having owned MANY many, er, many bikes, and, being a Kwak fan I would deffo take the Ninja 400. Among the bikes I've owned, one being a GPZ400R (smaller Jap import of the well known GPZ600R, but SILL a very capable bike in itself (only major differences between 400 & 600 being 400 had an Ally frame whereas the 600 had a Steel frame, CC difference, but surprisingly enough, only about a 15 MPH difference between the two)). And having owned a few Kwak twins, Kawasaki certainly know how to make solid, capable twin cylinder bikes (I had a blue and white 38BHP 1990 GPX250R too) It's a shame the new 4 cyl Ninja 250 is not more widely sold as THAT certainly looks to be a VERY DECENT bike for learners... 😎🇬🇧
I think n400 also have immobilizer right unlike the r3? pls correct me if im wrong
I think as much as I’d love Kawasaki, R3 would be good. I’m a short guy though so It’s hard between the two.
I put 12k miles on my 2020 R3 in 2 years. Love the bike
Great video man. Just forgot one thing to cover and that's reliability, but since the come with a cade by cade basis I understand why you didn't include it. For anyone wondering which is more reliable, yamaha r3 takes the win.
New rider here. Can you add dual disc brakes to the front?
damn this is a hard pick for me. trying to get my first bike and i picked the ninja 400, but seeing this video is making it hard to choose now lol. i feel like the ninja would be a better option for me, but the yamaha seems more user friendly for a beginner. what would u personally recommend out of the two??
Ninja 400, check out my '7 reasons why' video :)
your asking which one to buy on a guy named kwakajack!! try asking on neutral viewers not that i am saying ninja is bad
Am looking to get my first bike and was looking between these two, think I'll go for the yamaha! Thanks!
any hints on the upcoming bike purchase? For an upcoming video I'd like to see the Z 900 against the MTo 9
I’ve done this comparison before :)
But it was before the current model MT
Always been a Yamaha fan myself.
This may be a stupid question but what is the wight ?
I have a ninja 300 and I don't see much difference (from this video) between the 300 and 400 apart from the mileage and 0-100 time. I'd say if a cheaper option is needed ninja 300 is a good option as well
The bigger fuel tank on the Ninja 300 is a huge advantage over the 400.
How about an R1/ZX10R comparison? I have each bike, both 24 model year. Thanks
im a harley rider but i just got a older Ninja 250 that was sitting but after i got it started and took it for a rip well lets just say my harley is now colecting dust ? this old bike is Fun and im in my late 60s which brings me here i love Kawasaki but Yamaha suzuki and honda are cool too
Great Vid BUT what about mechanical reliability and maintenance cost / issues & any insurance price difference? Mainly though it's all about dependability, reliability, factory warranty differences. Any thoughts anyone? I will buy new & keep it stock. Just want to have fun & ride the crap out of it when it's not raining here in The Atlanta Georgia Metropolitan Area. We got some killer Mountains to ride in here 🌻
In terms of mechanical reliability they are both Japanese bikes and both bomb proof as a result. Shouldn't get any problems with either for thousands of miles if serviced on time and regularly. Warranty can differ depending on market sold in but I would wager they would both be the same number of years. They have to be competitive with each other or otherwise they'd lose sales.
Does the R3 have slipper assist clutch? If not, it's not for me. BTW YSS Thailand offer complete suspension upgrades for ninja 400 suspensions and steering damper, with needed adjustments by track team.
No slip and assist clutch on R3/MT03 not in any market including Thailand. However the R15M has one in Thailand and it also has a quick shifter as standard yet its the baby R series bike at 155cc...🤣😆
I know why though, its because more 150cc bikes are sold in Thailand than 300cc so put the gizmos on the bike that is gonna sell better and make em more safe too with the slipper clutch.
@@Twilight-cl3zc Thanks
video de boa qualidade, parabens...
yes
I went with the Ninja, admittedly though, I have been a kawasaki fan since my older brother bought one back in the early 90's. My family are bike people, but with different likes. My father is a Royal Enfield fan, for example and was the one who forced me to look around at all options before purchasing. So, I did in fact look at the R3, at one point, but nothing I saw or tested, could turn my eye from the kawasaki ninja 400. In looks, feel and options. May I suggest, that if price is a problem, just barter! I picked up my brand new ninja krt 400, with 3 months rego for $8000, on the dot. Just saying that you don't know unless you try.
how is it $8K. I price a 2023 KRT and upgrade performance package with the Premium Cover for just under $7k
Got my self an R3 purely coz they had 1% finance offer lol still a decent bike tho ✌️
1%?? i mean i got rly good credit but what???
Ninja 400 has been known to have transmission issues even on some 2022 models. Have you experienced any or heard about this?
Ben ; First time I have ever heard this transmission problem with a Ninja 400 ?
Had mine since new 2019 and no trans issues yet 23k kms
@@bryanoliver5550 It's a cheap design using 5 friction plates - three of which are very thin in comparison to the main two. The YZF-R3 has less power but uses 6 friction plates - and doesn't have the wear factor of a slipper to worry about either. You can solve the issue with the Ninja - but it is expensive, time consuming, and voids warranty. Overall, there's just no reason to put a slipper clutch on a bike like this. That being said if you don't abuse the slipper, it should be fine for commuting and so on. But you wouldn't track it or ride it hard and expect 40k k's from it either.
i weigh 110kg and 5'9 will i be fine on the r3?
I'm stuck between 4 the z4 ,ninja 4 ,mto3 and the r3
Is R3 equipped with inline 2 cylinders ?
I was going to grab a new Z400 for cruising around but the dealer wanted $8100 out the door lol. WTF.
Same, I went to this place to get the ninja 400. They didn't even ask me if I had money for a down payment, they just put the application in as though I was financing the whole thing, thankfully I wasn't approved (I was new to credit at the time). Later, I received two rejection letters in the mail, the dealership's letter didn't tell me the amount applied for, but the letter from the bank sure did. They applied for $2200 over asking price on the bike.
No thank you, glad I dodged that bullet.
Welcome to inflation 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Im 5 foot flat ive sat on both tip toe the r3 cant on the ninja thinking about getting the r3
For the young ones. 1983,my Yamaha RD LC, second Type had 46 horsepower and was lightweight racer. It's 40 years ago now. Where is the Power? :-)
How are they about the same weight? When the Kawasaki has a much larger engine!?
All about your preference
Looks r3 allday!
Let’s face it guys, 600cc race bikes and up are not for the public roads… so I’m gonna have to get the r3, basically these beginner bikes are all very similar. As a result it comes down to engine noise for me. Out of all the beginner bikes the ONLY one that sounds like a proper sports bike is the Yamaha r3. (IMHO) The Ninja 400 and all the other beginner bikes sound like a nasty dirt bike…. 😬
400r vs R3? Which one is fire?
Ninja 400 hits the gym more often
I never knew about LAMS motorcycles. That probably saves a few lives every year. I always recommend to anyone who is thinking of buying his/her first motorcycle to buy an off road bike first. Pavement is like the sea - unforgiving.
In Texas, a "motorcycle only" license is available (with parent approval) to riders who are 15 years old and pass the M/C safety and traffic/signs test and the actual riding (observed by DPS officer) test at the Department of Public Safety. But at 18 (or 16 with parent approval) we can get a license to drive a car or ride any motorcycle. (after passing all the written and driving and/or riding on the road tests.)
Oh yeah, don't forget the fees. ... Always a fee.
I own an R3 and my partner has the Ninja. Ninja for me - just more comfy and a more aggressive riding position - the R3 is quite upright
I feel like a ninja on the Ninja
I might go for the Ninja 400 since my brother already has an R3.
Classical sibling
Bro has that, therefore me get something else
lol
Do you recommend the ninja 400 or 300 for my first bike?
Definitely the 400 👍🏻
Yup its a great bike 400 all the way 👍
அருமை 🔥
I rode the r3 coming from my mt03 and couldn't fault either. Mt03 had more punch down low and didn't have that ferrings so I self gratify my decision. Ride on.
How? It's the same engine and transmission in both. Maybe it felt that way because the MT is more upright.
28 km/l in an R3?
lol
I just got mine directly from a Yamaha shop and it's doing around 19.6 km/l
And I am not going over 8500 rpm yet until the first 1000km as it says on its manual
But I really liked the R3, I just didn't get the Ninja400 because there is a good cost difference in the parts and maintenance here in Brazil.
They stole my ninja after only 2,500 miles, right out my garage. I loved that bike 😓
Sorrry dude people suck
The wheals don’t lock?
Sounds like someone was watching your habits and caught you slippin'. Perhaps a friend or associate of a neighbor. Did you ever replace it?
have better friends
@@quanwick4516 He's an idiot. I hope the theif is taking better care of it.
I bought a 2019 Ninja 400 new as my first bike and loved her for 2 years....had to sell her before a serious surgery a year ago.
I'm coming back to riding when I get the cash together and even though I could buy anything I'm buying a 2024 Ninja 400.
They're an amazing bike, bulletproof reliable, easy and fun to ride, you can use all of the gears and they're a ton of fun.
I had a SPARK exhaust first time around, deciding on a Leo Vince or Yoshi for my next bike.
I can't wait to buy my 2nd Ninja 400!!
If your on the fence about these 2x....get the Kawi!!!
Just an observation: I know that metric units of measure are 1/100(0) or *100(0) , making conversions easier than remembering how many ounces or in³ are in a gallon, etc.
But watching this video, I have to wonder if when the metric system was created, did they just run out of words to use for measurement units?.
What I mean is:
The Ninja averages 24½ km/L, which is some really great Mileage(?)
What was that? MILEAGE? How do you say that in metric?
Metric has an extra word for "thousand." Is 24½ thousand meters more difficult to say than 24½ kilometers? I guess it takes more space and time to write it.
What if we tried that?
57.6 "5,280" feet/128 ounces is some really great mileage. That would sound more awkward than 24½thousand meters/liter
So kilometer is the word for 1,000 meters, just like
mile is the word for 5,280 feet & gallon ... 128 ounces
Of course, there still isn't a good word for "kilometerage" so the metric society has submitted to using "mileage."
But WTF. I won't get into that if you don't ask me why "oz" is the abbreviation fore ounce.
Ride Safe. Look Cool. (Not necessarily in that order!)
It’s between these 2 and the mt03. I cant decide
ninja all day expressway legal.
r3 good also for shorter budget.
so maybe r3 1st then upgrade N400
You should rise your volume master for people who use speakers instead of headphones.
I edit them using speakers, and haven’t had any issues with sound on tv’s, pc’s, phones etc..
Is it not loud enough on your setup?
Might want to check your setup, his vids are average volume for me.
R3 has clutch with slipper assist ;)
Xbox vs playstation
I don’t think you can lose with either.
Wait what? Isn't the ninja 400 lighter then the r3? That's what I've heard and even says it online.
Yeah it says wet weight for ninja abs is 366 while r3 says 375 pounds
Those numbers were off each manufacturer’s website mate, so you might wanna check where you’re getting your info
If that’s the listed dry weight then you need to understand how they come to that number. That is every single part minus grease, oil or gas so it’s misleading. If one has slightly more oil capacity and a larger fuel tank it can change the reality of it all. And honestly the only place a 9 lb difference would make is on the track for racing purposes. Weighing 9 lbs less is like me saying I lost weight but only a lb and you can’t see it or feel it. Neither one of these engines would really notice the difference all that much.
The Yamaha R3 engine is inline 2 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400 engine parallel twin
Not too shappy .
Imma need to go to a dealer and see how I feel on them. 😂
I have narrowed it down between these (2) bikes (KRT Edition). I use to own a ZX-7R modified for the track. Since my accident on public road (I was hit). It almost cost my life but I'm now ready to get back to riding again. I figure in couple of years I can upgrade to my dream bike MV Augusta F3-RC and I can keep the 400 or R3 as a spare bike for teaching or something.
Ride safe
I would have the one that I like best after a test ride of both, ha-ha.
For me it’s like , if I’m going to spend $5k plus I’d rather just get an R6 used, but if I can get a starter bike for 3k-4K I think it’s a good idea
Ninja 400 anyday. Higher torque at lower rpm
So tie
Add the rc 390 and let’s have a shoot out.
Ninja 400 VS Ninja 650
Cfmoto 450ss
Wouldn't the ninja 300 be a better comparison?
Currently sold
@@lewisdavis1491 not sure what you mean
@@ichista motorcycles you can buy brand new right now
@@lewisdavis1491 can still buy the ninja 300 where I am
Ninja 300 has been discontinued its not currently for sale so one ur seeing isnt current 2023 year model.
The ninja 400 is so cool but it starts at 6k in my country, anyone can recommend a cheaper cool bike?
R3 is cheaper
My choice is Yamaha r3
Ninja looks best.
I think 1st timers on a motorcycle would appreciate buying yamaha r15 or honda cbr150 or suzuki gsxr150. considering newbies are content going 120km/hr top speed, and small bikes are lighter, in case they drop it
No not at all.. a ninja 400 and r3 is still extremely light . Atleast in America most people don't even like 250s anymore I don't think many want to start on a 150.
You would get ran over on a 150cc bike here in the US no to mention if you took that thing on the highway/freeway you would be blown off the road. Both these bikes would be perfect to use on highway 150cc's would be redlining begging to explode on the ride for long periods.
Yamaha 👑
I laughed when he called the ninja under rated
underrated means not as much praised as it should. So that's a compliment
@@reconnaisance I know but it's funny to me because of how insanely popular the ninja is
kawasaki is faster than r3 and better
I think kawasaki beats yamaha in every single pov. Cheers
r3 mabagal
I support yamaha model
Your support is immaterial and inconsequential and has zero influence on people’s opinions.
So we can all address that the ninja 400 better, yes? Yes okay that’s common sense
KTM Duke 390...
I went with the R3. Too many Ninja 400's on the street
And? There’s a lot of them on the streets for. A reason 💀
@@aseal9567 You own a Ninja 400.. But anyway, too many of them on the streets. Imagine if the Ninja 400 was the only motorcycle. Oh wait, I know, I know why. It's cheap and it's fast, which a lot of riders want fast to ride like the knuckle head gearless hooligans that they see on Gixxers. That's the reason
@@tonyhamilton7785 u hating too much
@@jadenbarr1047 100%. I hate being a sheep
@@tonyhamilton7785 if you do things just to spite the crowd, you are still a sheep. Just the black one.
Ninja 400 anything less. You will regret. I had a Honda rebel 250 for my first. Big mistake
: -D
R3 headlight looks so ugly, like soms fish eye
See channel owner's dp . He also love kawasaki . Then why he say kawasaki is worst. Definatley worst than yamaha .😂