Ninja 400 or CBR500?

50448 Views 72 Replies 21 Participants Last post by forundred, 11 mo ago

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2017

Laurie (NonNinjaRider) mentioned about the Honda CBR500R in another post but I'm going to reply here in the Ninja 400 Vs the competition forum cos I'm a tidy house keeper.

Honda have a bit of an obvious dilemma in producing a CBR400R to compete with the Ninja 400 because they already have an existing 500cc option in the same model range.

Do they drop the 500 from the line up and go with a new 400 that will replace the 300 as well or hot up the 300 a bit and keep the existing 500 as a more relaxed mid size option?

The 500 was given a styling update last year so I'm picking Honda will retain it in their model line up for a while yet, but apart from adding preload adjusters to the front forks the rest of the machine was pretty much left untouched. It does look much sharper now tho.

Looking at the two on paper it's pretty close in the HP dept at 45 vs 47 with the Honda having the edge. They are both parallel twin cylinder engine design.

The big difference is in the weight... The Ninja has the weight of a 300 class bike while the CBR has the weight of a 650cc class bike. This will be a deal breaker for a lot of buyers I'd imagine.

Looking at the Powersports Honda site I see the retail price of the 500 starts at $6,600 but I'm sure there will be some deals available. There would need to be if it is going to compete with the Ninja which starts at 5K.

I've only compared power, weight and price here but they are three key selling points and from Kawasaki's perspective two outta three aint bad.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 73 Posts

NonNinjaRider

· #2 · Dec 17, 2017 (Edited)

Interesting.... I checked the Honda Aus website.....didn't Honda offer a In-Line 4 cylinder 400cc motorcycle just a couple of years ago?
Also I find it strange that Honda Aus offers the new CB300R yet New Zealand does not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB400SF Bingo!

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 17, 2017

NonNinjaRider said:
Interesting.... I checked the Honda Aus website.....didn't Honda offer a In-Line 4 cylinder 400cc motorcycle just a couple of years ago?
Also I find it strange that Honda Aus offers the new CB300R yet New Zealand does not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB400SF Bingo!

There's a few floating around that have been brought in as imports but your right, it wasn't a full release here like in Australia. Oddly I saw a dealer advertising a brand new zero mileage one recently but it was 3 or 4 years old. Dunno where he got that from.

Rm1sner

· #4 · Dec 20, 2017

I'd like to see Honda bring the new 250rr body style to the states. Maybe a 350rr version? Probably the best looking motorcycle in the smaller classes. Opinions may differ lol.

Reactions: 2

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 20, 2017

Rm1sner said:
I'd like to see Honda bring the new 250rr body style to the states. Maybe a 350rr version? Probably the best looking motorcycle in the smaller classes. Opinions may differ lol.

Agreed! I was surprised to see such a hot looking machine with a reasonably high spec level being made by Honda who tend to err on the conservative side usually.
Before this bike only KTM were offering USD forks, aluminium swing arm, throttle by wire etc in the small bike segment.
It's criminal that Honda dont offer the 250RR as a world wide release model. I would have bought one if so.

Reactions: 2

Rm1sner

· #6 · Dec 20, 2017

Exactly!! I hope to see it in the next couple years. I’d trade the 400 in on one. I would have liked to see USD forks on the ninja at least but I guess I’m being picky. Can’t expect them to put a ton of stuff on a bike that retains the same price as the predecessor.

Reactions: 3

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 10, 2018

Top speed shoot out

Thought I'd post this YT clip up for entertainment value. Esp as we have a thread show casing these two competitors.

Reactions: 2

xorbe

· #8 · Jan 10, 2018

I saw that video I think ... needs gps readings ...

Reactions: 1

NinjaRyder

· #9 · Jan 10, 2018

Love how the 400 sounds which to me with the right exhaust can sound a bit exotic, compared to the 500 Honda in that respect the Ninja would be better to me. Not always about speed and performance although sound is part of that.

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 10, 2018

xorbe said:
I saw that video I think ... needs gps readings ...

Yeah we can take those speeds with liberal grains of salt. I'd knock 10 Kph off both for a start.

NinjaRyder said:
Love how the 400 sounds which to me with the right exhaust can sound a bit exotic, compared to the 500 Honda in that respect the Ninja would be better to me. Not always about speed and performance although sound is part of that.

Agree, the 400 sounds way more exhilarating screaming away. Best top speed -check, best sound - check!
Probably wont see this clip featuring on the CBR500 forum. :smile_big:

NonNinjaRider

· #11 · Jan 24, 2018

Myself..I sure wish that Tri-Colour paint scheme for the CBR 500 R was avaliable in Canada..

Yes the CBR is heavier..but on the highway with cross winds that maybe an advantage.

Reactions: 2

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 24, 2018

NonNinjaRider said:
Myself..I sure wish that Tri-Colour paint scheme for the CBR 500 R was avaliable in Canada..

Yes the CBR is heavier..but on the highway with cross winds that maybe an advantage.

Yes I would imagine for the type of riding your intending to do Laurie then the CBR would be ideal.
If your not so performance orientated then bike mass is not such an issue.

A couple of things to consider though would be the better fuel economy of the Ninja and the lower purchase price.
I see the CBR is listed at $7,400 CND while the Ninja is $6200 or $5800 if your not bothered about ABS?
I'm guessing you may get a better trade for your CBR300 through a Honda dealer though.

NonNinjaRider

· #13 · Jan 26, 2018 (Edited)

All in all Kiwi it is tempting...more so in the Tri-Colour but at my stage in life and I'm so where as supple as I used to be the CBR 300 R is just fine. At least that's what I keep telling myself when I see a left over Ninja 300 in white..

NonNinjaRider

· #14 · Jan 26, 2018

This is still my Fav...

See less See more

Reactions: 2

freezuch

· #15 · Jan 26, 2018

NonNinjaRider said:
This is still my Fav...

To each it's own, but one of the reasons I went with Honda is that I didn't like Ninja 300 front. Hence why I am so happy about redesigned 400.

Kiwi Rider

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 28, 2018

NonNinjaRider said:
This is still my Fav...

And only $5,300 on run out... https://www.kawasaki.ca/product/ninja-300-abs

A BIG saving over the CBR.

Reactions: 1

Lucros

· #17 · Feb 21, 2018

The only thing I like better is the paint job on the 500r, other then that to me the ninja beats it, after watching a bunch of videos on both ninja definitely seems like a more fun bike

emudshit

· #18 · Feb 21, 2018

Lucros said:
The only thing I like better is the paint job on the 500r, other then that to me the ninja beats it, after watching a bunch of videos on both ninja definitely seems like a more fun bike

LOL the sparkle black paint job on the n400 makes the hondas paint job look super cheap though

Wheelinthai

· #19 · Feb 21, 2018

Kiwi Rider said:
Agreed! I was surprised to see such a hot looking machine with a reasonably high spec level being made by Honda who tend to err on the conservative side usually.
Before this bike only KTM were offering USD forks, aluminium swing arm, throttle by wire etc in the small bike segment.
It's criminal that Honda dont offer the 250RR as a world wide release model. I would have bought one if so.

Omce you've ridden Ninja 400, all others are mute point. Ninja 400 rides so well, you'll forget about USD forks and aluminium swing arm. The bike is already light, and it has very adquate stock suspensions. I too love throttle by wire, but Ninja 400 throttle is much better in feel than my CBR 650F. No complain here. I really appreciate slipper assist clutch and gear position indicator on Ninja 400. Ever wonder why Ninja 400 is tested more on track than other bikes in its class? Talk about price.:devil:

Reactions: 3

Kawasushi

· #20 · Apr 17, 2018

A co worker had a cbr500, he liked it, but also said it topped off at 110. The n400 goes 118ish, and is also lighter.

What do i like about the n400? I love the gear position indicator. The fuel gauge, how light and nimble it feels, and the insane gas milage. Ill go ride 150m and not even think about filling up yet. Rode sat for a few hrs, some a1a (street by the beach) and some i95 (highway, going erm, fast? Heh). Still almost half a tank.

Cheap fun! Love my n400 so far

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 73 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.