[seniorider]

First impressions after some practice time today in a large school parking lot and related streets: (Yup, wife's a retired teacher. She walked the dog and watched me ride. I don't know what grade she gave me yet)

At really slow speed it's twitchy compared to a cruiser. It doesn't take much speed at all to stabilize.

After 10 minutes or so I'm picking up and dropping my feet on the pegs rather than reaching for forward controls that aren't there.

Finding neutral is soooo easy and the display also has two N light confirmations.

I had wondered about that "slipper" clutch. I'm used to throttle blipping to match tranny and engine speed. But that one finger clutch is as light as pulling the cord on the window blinds at home. And gearing down without a throttle blip results in a very smooth transition to the lower gear. It's almost magical and a beginning rider will have no idea the clutch blipping lesson they just got to skip.

I tried old school blip shifts and the Z doesn't complain at those either.

While I'm used to 1200 HD compression braking, this little 400 felt more like my son's Tesla going into intense regenerative braking. It throws you forward. It's more intense than a 1200 V-Twin. Without the slipper clutch or a well trained throttle blip / clutched gear change it would be dangerous or unrideable for a newbie.

Next comes city streets and highways.

 

[Pmack]

First impressions after some practice time today in a large school parking lot and related streets: (Yup, wife's a retired teacher. She walked the dog and watched me ride. I don't know what grade she gave me yet)

At really slow speed it's twitchy compared to a cruiser. It doesn't take much speed at all to stabilize.

After 10 minutes or so I'm picking up and dropping my feet on the pegs rather than reaching for forward controls that aren't there.

Finding neutral is soooo easy and the display also has two N light confirmations.

I had wondered about that "slipper" clutch. I'm used to throttle blipping to match tranny and engine speed. But that one finger clutch is as light as pulling the cord on the window blinds at home. And gearing down without a throttle blip results in a very smooth transition to the lower gear. It's almost magical and a beginning rider will have no idea the clutch blipping lesson they just got to skip.

I tried old school blip shifts and the Z doesn't complain at those either.

While I'm used to 1200 HD compression braking, this little 400 felt more like my son's Tesla going into intense regenerative braking. It throws you forward. It's more intense than a 1200 V-Twin. Without the slipper clutch or a well trained throttle blip / clutched gear change it would be dangerous or unrideable for a newbie.

Next comes city streets and highways.

The Kawi 400 is seductive, right up until it isn't.
Eagar to do everything you want when you want.
You will likely have to take it to the track to find the b*tch switch.

 

[misnblu]

You will likely have to take it to the track to find the b*tch switch.

Best quote ever and so true. 😂👍

 

[Duckman]

First impressions after some practice time today in a large school parking lot and related streets: (Yup, wife's a retired teacher. She walked the dog and watched me ride. I don't know what grade she gave me yet)

At really slow speed it's twitchy compared to a cruiser. It doesn't take much speed at all to stabilize.

After 10 minutes or so I'm picking up and dropping my feet on the pegs rather than reaching for forward controls that aren't there.

Finding neutral is soooo easy and the display also has two N light confirmations.

I had wondered about that "slipper" clutch. I'm used to throttle blipping to match tranny and engine speed. But that one finger clutch is as light as pulling the cord on the window blinds at home. And gearing down without a throttle blip results in a very smooth transition to the lower gear. It's almost magical and a beginning rider will have no idea the clutch blipping lesson they just got to skip.

I tried old school blip shifts and the Z doesn't complain at those either.

While I'm used to 1200 HD compression braking, this little 400 felt more like my son's Tesla going into intense regenerative braking. It throws you forward. It's more intense than a 1200 V-Twin. Without the slipper clutch or a well trained throttle blip / clutched gear change it would be dangerous or unrideable for a newbie.

Next comes city streets and highways.

There's more than two ways to downshift with or without a slipper. Yes, the stock 400 clutch does a decent job of preventing wheel hop downshifting. But if you're already at full throttle there's no blipping available. You just grab the downshift and start braking all at the same time. Smooth as snake ****.

 

[seniorider]

I have no plans for any track days. I'll be happy not having chicken strips on my tires like my last Harley Bobber. As far as riding fast, there is one of my favorite backroads that's posted 45mph and doing 100mph on the deserted straights is perfect.