[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/7697165976/[/flickr]
The good times are sure to roll as Kawasaki plans to launch two more Ninja branded bikes. The Japanese automaker will offer the Kawasaki Ninja 300R and Ninja 400R in the US markets next year. These two performance motorcycles will sit above the Ninja 250R (pictured above). Currently there is no good 400cc bike in the market and rumors were doing the rounds of a Honda CBR400R and a Yamaha R4. However with Kawasaki confirming a 400cc bike, its just a matter of time before its Japanese rivals unveil their 400cc motorcycles.
Both the bikes have a parallel twin engine. The Kawasaki Ninja 300R produces a peak power output of 39 BHP at 11,000 RPM from its 399cc engine. This makes the 300R a very sporty machine, just like the Ninja 250R. The Kawasaki Ninja 400R on the hand is already on sale in Canada. The 399cc engine produces 44 PS of peak power 9500 RPM and 37 Nm of peak torque at 7500 RPM. The Ninja 400R has a kerb weight of 203 kgs and a tank capacity of 15.5-litres. It looks very similar to the Ninja 650R.
In the U.S. Kawasaki sells the Ninja 250R without fuel injection. Elsewhere the Ninja 250R is offered with fuel injection. The carbureted Ninja 250R could be replaced by the Ninja 300R but nothing is confirmed as of yet. Clearly Kawasaki is on a product assault but sadly the company doesn’t find the Indian market lucrative enough due to low volumes.
While Kawasaki will put the Ninja 300R and Ninja 400R on sale in U.S markets in early-2013, an Indian launch seems unlikely. Bajaj-KTM plan to launch a KTM branded 350-375cc bike next year and it is uncertain as to where the Ninja 300R and 400R would fit in. The Ninja 250R is currently priced at around Rs. 3.2 lakhs, while the Ninja 650 costs around Rs. 5.5 lakhs (on-road). The 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 250R would be more expensive, leaving little space for the 300R and 400R (pictured below) to fit in.
