STRIPPED BARE

When Kawasaki’s Ninja 400 hit the market last year, it was an all-new design with a new engine mounted in a new chassis. It was such a successful formula that the LAMS-compliant model quickly took the mantle of the best-selling midsize roadbike in Australia. Given that success, it’s little wonder that Kawasaki has been quick to introduce the ‘Z400’ naked version of this great little green machine.

FRATERNAL TWINS

Essentially, the Z400 is a Ninja 400 with the fairing removed. The two share the same steel tube trellis frame and the same 399cc parallel-twin engine. Brakes and suspension are the same, too, as are the wheels, tyres and even the seat height.

In the case of the Z400, all this commonality is a good thing, because it results in a machine that feels as light and nimble as a