Kawasaki ZX-4RR to arrive in September costing less than £9000

Kawasaki have teased more details on their hotly anticipated ZX-4R sportsbike, confirming that only the RR version will be coming to the UK at a competitive £8699.

Available from September 2023 in a traditionally Kawasaki lime green, with elements of red, black, and distinctive RR logos, the bike reignites an extinct four-cylinder 400 class that was consigned to the history books in the early noughties, which previously included the likes of Kawasaki’s own ZXR400, Honda’s CBR400RR, and many more.

The incoming RR will be powered by a 399cc DOHC four-cylinder engine housed in a steel trellis chassis, producing a claimed 78.9bhp at 14,500rpm. More shove than an £8910 parallel twin Yamaha R7, it will then continue to rev out past 15,000rpm.

Being the RR version, the bike gets a quickshifter and autoblipper, plus traction control to keep everything pointing in the right direction. There’s also a 4.3in full colour LCD dash that includes the option for a track mode to display lap times, gear position, and revs of over 10,000rpm.

Away from the electronics, you also get 37mm upside down Showa big piston separate function forks with preload adjustability, plus 290mm semi floating front discs with radial calipers and ABS. The rear rotor sits at 220mm, with a 120- front and 160-section rear tyre allowing for a good selection of grippy modern rubber. Kawasaki’s US website also quotes a newbie-friendly 800mm seat height.

Other models found elsewhere in the world include a lesser specced standard ZX-4R, and an advanced SE version that builds on the RR with a smoked screen, USB socket, and frame sliders.