[TusharK]

In February, Kawasaki launched the Ninja 500 in India. However, the bike maker continued to offer the Ninja 400 to clear existing inventory. The latter has now been formally discontinued.



The Ninja 400 is no longer listed on the official website, which indicates that the model has been taken off the shelves.

In 2022, the Ninja 400 was upgraded to comply with the BS6 emission norms. The updated bike was powered by a 399cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that made 44.8 BHP @ 10,000 rpm and 37 Nm @ 8,000 rpm. It came with a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch.

Its replacement, the Ninja 500, uses a 451cc parallel-twin engine that makes 45 BHP @ 9,000 rpm and 42.6 Nm @ 6,000 rpm. It too is imported as a CBU and costs Rs 5.24 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Ninja 500 competes with the Yamaha R3, Aprilia RS 457 and the KTM RC 390 in the Indian market.

Link to Team-BHP News

[IC_Morningstar]

Is there any business sense to launch this type of bike with such an exorbitant price. The newer KTM RC will match this power figure, will have quick shifter, cruise control and thicker USD and still will cost 2 lakhs less than this. It will be a pain for any customer it get because with such a small sales figure getting spare part for this bike will be like seeing Halley comet.

[Rohitthebest]

This has the same engine that they have launched latest Eliminator few months back.
I have an eye on that bike and waiting for few ownership reviews or official TBHP review on the same before taking a plunge.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by IC_Morningstar

The newer KTM RC will match this power figure

It's a twin. Dont go just by the bhp numbers. Ditto the R3.

The RC will not come close to either on a highway.

When I was buying my replacement bike after selling my Duke 200, I was looking at Ninjas (250s) and Duke 390s.

If I had gotten a clean Ninja at a reasonable price (under 1.5 then) I would have picked it up as my first choice.

I then found my 390 which had done 2000+ km only and I closed the deal at a much lower price. Love it to bits.

But you need to ride the Ninja to appreciate it for what it is. Way beyond on paper numbers.

Cheers, Doc

[IC_Morningstar]

Originally Posted by ebonho

But you need to ride the Ninja to appreciate it for what it is. Way beyond on paper numbers.

Of course I agree with you but the experience that we are talking about is relatable to BHPians and very few out of this circle. The masses will go with numbers only and in this segment people will do brochure comparison like torque, 0-60 or 0-100 which will definitely be very close. India is still not a matured market where people go with hardware number rather than optimization. That's why I fear that bike like these wont sell in huge number resulting into superbike companies forbidding this market.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by IC_Morningstar

Of course I agree with you but the experience that we are talking about is relatable to BHPians and very few out of this circle. The masses will go with numbers only and in this segment people will do brochure comparison like torque, 0-60 or 0-100 which will definitely be very close. India is still not a matured market where people go with hardware number rather than optimization. That's why I fear that bike like these wont sell in huge number resulting into superbike companies forbidding this market.

I don't think Kawasaki has ever been too bothered about the demographic you are referring to.

If anything, they have been in India is some form or the other since my high school days in the mid to late 80s.

And they are still around. With probably the best fleet of offerings amongst the big 4.

Consistently. With parts and service support. Independently. On their own.

Cheers, Doc

[SavoyWalrus]

I'll never understand Kawasaki. If they knew that there was a replacement for the 400, they could've planned towards localising the 400 rather than the decade-old 300. The N400 at the N300 price now would've been incredible VFM.

[ExOblivione]

Originally Posted by SavoyWalrus

I'll never understand Kawasaki. If they knew that there was a replacement for the 400, they could've planned towards localising the 400 rather than the decade-old 300. The N400 at the N300 price now would've been incredible VFM.

N400 is too close to N500, in everyway, so the huge price difference between a locally produced N400 and an imported N500 would ensure that almost no one would go for the 500.

It would be like having two identical offerings competing for the same segments, by the same company, only one is much cheaper.

With the locally produced N300 and a much more expensive N500, they can target two different price (and performance) segments.

Though why they didn't discontinue N400, and bring the N500 as replacement, but produced locally, I don't know. What's stopping them? Is the free trade agreement on Thai imports making it not worth the effort to establish lines to make anything beyond the N300 kit? Will the substantially cheaper Aprilia 457 make them reconsider?

[VW2010]

I don't think Kawasaki has ever been too bothered about the demographic you are referring to.

Kawasaki does not consider india as a market for selling bikes. We do not even get some exciting anniversary bikes whereas markets like USA, Thailand, Philippines had a display bike on launch day.

India Kawasaki dealers are horrible as well and this is one of the brands where you have to buy a bike based on youtube video.

Great bikes but horrible experience is a decent summary of Kawasaki, Yamaha or Suzuki when it comes to super bikes.

BMW,Triumph have test bikes and they let you ride their bike for a decent 1 day ride if you are interested to buy that bike.

Including me some like their bike and still buy without even test riding it. Sad state of affairs with Kawasaki

The bikes sell for them and the brand or dealer do not care about this market.