Motorcycle specifications KawasakiZ 400 2020 The cane in A2.

The A2 license is like diapers, getting dumped or getting your first job as a m.... you've got to take it, and there's no choice. But there's no reason to be sad about it, either, with wheeled tractors. The market has understood this, either with high-value, high-capacity wheels... strangled by the clamping system. Or with small-displacement bikes that are starting to look good. Have you seen the 390 Duke? The 500 Leoncino? The 401 Vitpilen?
Kawa was absent from this segment for a while... only to come back stronger, more convincing, more sugomi with the new Z 400.

Let's think of this Kawa as the worthy descendant of the Z 300, though.... More like the naked version of the Ninja 400. Take away the cladding and you'll find all the ins and outs of the little sports bike. The technical choice is simple, easy and no-nonsense. It's all there for you to enjoy, right up to the limits imposed by your "young" licence.
Powered by a 399 cm3 twin-cylinder, the Z produces 45 hp at 10,000 rpm. That's 6 hp more than the 300. Torque is the big winner, with more than 1 mkg gained.
No surprises or disappointments to be expected on the performance front: the roadster weighs just one kilogram less than the sports car. Only the top speed will have to be revised downwards, as the absence of protection acts as an aerodynamic brake.

even before it gets to grips with the other roadsters in its sector, the 400 will have to introduce itself into the Z family. It's got the name, it's got the style, but... The fork head gives a strange sensation. Whereas the lines of the Z 300 made it look like a very small Z, the 400 seems to be more in search of itself. The rear doesn't hesitate, with a light modelled on that of the ZX-10R. Nice, but lacking in identity. Given that the tactical members of recent history have adopted Z lettering as their light signature. The Z 400 has its own style, a bit of a band apart. It's a pity that the sabot has disappeared; the 300 was better at hiding what we didn't want to see.

Kawasaki has worked hard enough to make us forget where it came from. By its silhouette, of course, and by the welcome on board. A handlebar replaces the two straps and should offer a more relaxed riding position, although the Ninja's is already very comfortable. The speedometer is almost identical to that of the 650 / 900. Reasonable seat height at 785 mm, 167 kilos ready to ride, overall finesse, ultra-smooth clutch, the medium Z presents a good welcome. Medium-sized? Yes, we can no longer say small since the 125 joined the catalog. Hmmm, we'd have liked a 12V socket or at least a USB port. Most buyers will always have a phone to charge or an mp3 to plug in.

we'll be expecting everyday versatility from this machine, and a dynamic that's both light and reassuring. The chassis is designed with this in mind. The tubular steel frame is anchored to the motor, with a simple layout that's sufficient for the expected performance. There's no need to be overzealous when it comes to braking, with one disc per wheel - 310 mm at the front and 220 at the rear, each clamped by a 2-piston caliper. These values are the same caliber as on the Ninja, but a clear increase since the Z 300, which was equipped with a 290 mm front disc and a 37 mm diameter fork. The 400's fork diameter has been increased to 41 mm.

Kawasaki has completed the Z family from one end to the other. Well, almost. We wouldn't be against a Z 1300 descendant. For the time being, one of the priorities is to make the 300 / 400 category more attractive. The compulsory A2 will help in this task, while the Z 400 roadster is working hard to carve out a place for itself. Derived from the Ninja, more powerful and accomplished than the ex-Z-300, it is also one of the most generously powered, even sniffing out the CB 500. Nothing is certain in this category, but the machine will benefit from the Z spirit and image. A considerable asset in the balance.