Kawasaki recently brought in their flagship small-capacity sportbike, the Ninja 400 in India. The bike rivals the Yamaha YZF-R3, Benelli 302R and the TVS Apache RR 310. However, its biggest competition comes from the KTM RC 390. How does the Kawasaki Ninja 400 fare against the KTM RC390 on paper? We find out in this competition check.
Design
The Kawasaki Ninja 400 sports a new design that has been inspired by its elder siblings, the Ninja H2 and the Ninja ZX-10R. It gets sharp lines running all through the bodywork, a sculpted fuel tank and raised tail section. The split headlamp setup lends the bike a distinctive look. Kawasaki is offering the bike only in the KRT edition colours.
The KTM RC 390 gets a sharp design language. While it may not feature as many lines as the Ninja 400, the styling does lend the bike an aggressive appeal. It also gets a more dedicated riding position thanks to the lower set handlebar and rear set foot pegs. The dual LED projector headlamp setup that includes LED daytime-running lights adds to its unique appeal. KTM also offers the RC 390 in a single colour scheme of black, orange and white.
Engine
The KTM RC 390 is powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder that delivers 43bhp and 36Nm of torque. It is also mated to a six-speed transmission with slipper clutch. The bike has a kerb weight of 159kgs
The Kawasaki Ninja 400 uses a steel trellis chassis with the 399cc parallel-twin engine as a stressed member. This unit produces 44.8bhp and 38Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch. The Ninja 400 weighs 173kgs.
After a long stint at the top of the performance section, the KTM RC 390 finally has a worthy competitor. While the Ninja 400 has a higher power output, the RC390 benefits from a higher power-to-weight ratio.
Cycle parts
While the Ninja 400 rides on 41mm conventional telescopic front forks, the KTM comes equipped with 43mm inverted forks up front. Both bikes get a monoshock at the rear.
Stopping power on the Ninja 400 is taken care of by a 310mm petal disc for the front and a 220mm petal disc at the rear. Braking on the RC390 is handled by a larger 320mm disc at the front and a 230mm rear disc. Both bikes get dual-channel ABS as standard.
Pricing
Kawasaki India has priced the Ninja 400 at Rs 4.69 lakhs. At that price tag, you could buy two KTM RC390s each priced at Rs 2.35 lakhs. While the RC390 offers value for money, the Ninja 400 offer refinement thanks to the extra cylinder. Besides with such an astronomical price tag exclusivity is guaranteed.
