I'm loving my new little Z400. I had a Z300 a year ago, replaced it with a Versys 650 that turned out to be too big and heavy for me (loved the power though!), now onto the 400 - just about the perfect power/weight/size baalance for me.

I've had the Z for a month, and so far have added:
- a Leo Vince slip on (sounds gorgeous when revving high, but a quiet burble at tickover)
- front and rear spools
- radiator guard
- tank pad and knee grips (mounted low for my 29" mini legs...)
- green wheel rim tape
- scooped some foam from the rear half of the seat to make it more level and stop it pushing my balls into the tank! Such a stupid default shape; I believe it is exactly the same as the Ninja, where it makes much more sense.
- added 1" risers to improve the ergonomics and get the weight off my wrists more easily

I also have plans to very soon:
- add sliders (on order now)
- electrical: install a phone mount, USB charger, auxiliary front lights, and a louder horn (all in-hand and will be done very soon)
- add a fender extender at the front to keep my feet dry and the bike cleaner (in-hand)

I have also removed every manufacturer safety sticker from the bike (such ugly things), and have removed the "400" stickers from the rear cowls - I hate numbers on any bike; they will be replaced with "Z" stickers from Kawasaki (I just ordered a pair of the green "Z"s, as on the top of the tank). I think that will look great.

I'm also torn about adding a tail-tidy (I have the one off the Z300 and could easily modify to fit). The problem is that I actually quite like the look of the tail end as it is, AND, I am coming into the rainy season here in Thailand so would need to add a hugger too, and they just aren't that sexy imho...

What have you been doing to yours? What do you think about my mods? :surprise:

Beauty!

I think a lower belly pan (chin fairing) would look great on that bike. Not sure if they even make one, but if not someone needs to...

 

Yes, you can get one. It is standard fitment on the Special Edition - it's on my maybe list... I kind of like the raw naked look, but that lower cowling (as Kawasaki call it) does look good. I just didn't like the red or blue wheels and the longer screen on the SE bikes, hence buying the standard model. Tempted by the lower cowlings though... $50 each here in Thailand - not too bad!

You can see them on a blue bike here: http://www.kawasaki.co.th/uploads/products/z400/z400-perlgray-black-02.jpg

 

I would suggest having your ecu flash with a set of velocity stacks.I had mine done by Dano's Performance and let me tell you what a big improvement!! Here is a link to their site: Specials

 

How about a windscreen?

https://www.kawasaki.com/accessories/item/meter-cover/999941128
Kinda makes it look like a Alien Queens head, lol.

 

That comes as standard on the Special Edition. Each to their own, but I think it looks butt ugly!

 

JimShortz, I really like your tire tape. I'm debating which company to get it from and get my red!

Your exhaust is great, I'm leaning towards a Hindle EVO Megaphone once I get more experience and take it out a bit further from home.

 

Lol, functionality overcomes aesthetics in my opinion. If its ugly and works, well Ill be happy, lol.

That being said, I just bought some rim tape on amazon "Taylor33 Lime Green 17". I also peeled all of the stickers of except the Z on the tank. Makes the bike look meaner, lol.

Jim, if you could edit your post to provide brands and item numbers or links, it would help out a lot! Im interested in some of your mods and would like a direction to proven after market parts.

 

thegame101, can you post pics of your beast sans stickers? Or just list your bike in your "garage" with all your additions and subtractions?

 

Sold my jeep tonight. Ill get some pics on more nekkid for you then. Tape is a few days out. Here is the before and after with stickers removed from one side.






Ill also post anything else I do, including saddlebags and other luggage. Ill need them for commute.
I had a magnetic tank bag on my last bike. Scratched the tank all to **** fast. So I dont recommend tank bags unless they are strap based.


Not going to do a lot of mods. But Ill take the thread as a enhancement thread as well.

 

I forgot what it looked like with out the extended meter cover lol.

 

So my "weighing the odds" is over. I am getting the Coffman Shorty Exhaust in Red. The Hindle EXO Megaphone exhaust in chrome is out of stock everywhere. The carbon fiber end cap isn't with the extra money for that in-stock version. Sooooo many glorious posts from the Ninja cousins have the Coffman shorty videos in the forum. Sounds great; I'm sold!

 

I dont think Im going to mess with the exhaust. I like the low growl off the factory. The only reason Id replace it is if I could get the same HP or higher at the same or lower decibels. Not a fan of coffee can buzz on low powered vehicles trying to make them sound tough. LMAO every time a Civic or Subaru goes by with after market exhausts and angled tires only to get out run by a stock Doge Dart. BUT! to each their own...


One thing Im looking at is getting the exposed frame portions, engine and plastic tubes and wires of the Z400 painted or manufactured Kawa lime green. You have the front and rear plastic that is bold lime green, but the rest of the bike is pretty much black. Id like to highlight more lime green throughout the engine and skeletal structure. Like tendons or blood veins, lol. Imagine a clear coolant tube that shows the green fluid flowing through the radiant process, or Kawa green bones..


Years ago, A friend had a Harley, and he did the same, but with brass engine components he made himself to accent the chrome and green of his bike.

 

I dont think Im going to mess with the exhaust. I like the low growl off the factory.

Each to their own, but I don't think the Euro standards compliant pipe fitted as standard really growls in any way!

I also don't like stupidly loud exhausts, but mine isn't really loud at all and yet has a beautiful howl at high revs - I love it... I found the bike quite boring to ride hard with the standard exhaust, now it pleads with me to go a little! The sound of the bike really shouldn't make that much difference, but it does to me...

 

So, here's an update on where I am at with upgrades/mods so far...

Sliders now added, along with 6 LED Oval driving lights. The additional front lights are really needed for safety here in Thailand, so that drivers treat you like a big bike and give you a little space, rather than ignoring you as a scooter "flea". The sliders proved to be a perfect location for mounting the lights, and imho fit in well together.

Whilst doing the electrics I also added a simple 2A USB charging port on the handlebars and also a second "low tone" horn to add some punch to my horn sound - again, essential in Thailand! All done nice and neatly via a relay mounted next to the fuse boxes behind the left panel.

Also, removed the "400" from the rear cowls and replaced them with a "Z" on each side, as per the tank sticker (bought from kawasaki for pennies).

For those interested in where I bought things from (bearing in mind I am in Thailand!) here are a few links, variously from Lazada (Amazon of Asia!), eBay, and Aliexpress :

The additional horn. Cost a whole $4 and makes a massive difference.

The engine guards Cheap protection is my thoughts ($30).

The radiator protector. I know it says Ninja, but very hard to see in situ - and it cost a whole $10. Anyway... it is my naked Ninja ;-)

The frame sliders. Again, cheap protection on a bike I ride for sporty fun in the Northern Thai twisties ($40).

Tiny sliders fitted to the front wheel ($4)

Surprisingly decent gel tank pad for one dollar, lol.

Fluorescent green rim tape ($3)

Front fender extender. Not yet installed, but I installed the exact same one on my Z300 and it really kept the front of the engine (and my feet!) much cleaner and drier - going on the bike very soon; highly recommended.

6LED driving lights. Not too big and work really well on this bike.

Relay used to add additional electrical devices.

Tank pads that are not for the Z400 but are cheap and look great on it (after a little trimming by me to make them fit perfectly). Note that the position on the tank (see photo above) is perfect for me, with 29" inseam - ymmv!

Replacement rear brake reservoir to replace the nasty thing that comes with the bike. This looks way better than that opaque plastic piece of ugliness!

Rear spools to allow me to get the bike up on a paddock stand

Err... that's all for now! I'd love to hear what you other folks have been doing? Share the love

 

So, here's an update on where I am at with upgrades/mods so far...

6 LED Oval driving lights. The additional front lights are really needed for safety here in Thailand, so that drivers treat you like a big bike and give you a little space, rather than ignoring you as a scooter "flea". The sliders proved to be a perfect location for mounting the lights, and imho fit in well together.

Whilst doing the electrics I also added a simple 2A USB charging port on the handlebars and also a second "low tone" horn to add some punch to my horn sound - again, essential in Thailand! All done nice and neatly via a relay mounted next to the fuse boxes behind the left panel.


The frame sliders. Again, cheap protection on a bike I ride for sporty fun in the Northern Thai twisties ($40).
6LED driving lights. Not too big and work really well on this bike.
Relay used to add additional electrical devices.

Err... that's all for now! I'd love to hear what you other folks have been doing? Share the love

Jim, can you give a quick and dirty on how to wire the lights to the fuse box?
I plan on following your model with mounting on the sliders. The sliders, lights and relay are in route. This being said, Im a commercial truck driver, not a dentist!

 

Ohh!
Thanks a lot for the parts links!
Very interested in the extra driving lights. Drivers in WA State are idiots. Any leg up on them is welcome. Plus, Ive read that the stock headlights arent that great at night.

You didnt list the handlebar risers. Rode my longest cruse to date, 37mi. and the only thing that hurt was my wrists. Im hoping a riser will help. And you are tried and tested!



Now, your youtube vids on how to install all this stuff!, lol!!!!


Good deal JS!

 

I didn't list the risers because they were bought from a local shop (8 dollars). They are just standard black 1" risers that you can buy anywhere. I fitted mine within an hour of having the bike. Coming from a Z300 (that I put risers on), and having sat on the Z400 in the showroom, I had them sat at home ready to install as soon as I got back from the dealership. It sure did feel weird spannering on a brand new bike though!
Just 1" risers make a massive difference and allow me to get the weight off my wrists without ruining the look of the bike. I highly recommend them for anyone who feels the need. ?

 

I didn't list the risers because they were bought from a local shop (8 dollars). They are just standard black 1" risers that you can buy anywhere. I fitted mine within an hour of having the bike. Coming from a Z300 (that I put risers on), and having sat on the Z400 in the showroom, I had them sat at home ready to install as soon as I got back from the dealership. It sure did feel weird spannering on a brand new bike though!
Just 1" risers make a massive difference and allow me to get the weight off my wrists without ruining the look of the bike. I highly recommend them for anyone who feels the need. ��

Im assuming you used the flat plate style? Ive found them in a multi height kit that goes from 1" - 1.5" in four steps.

Ive also found risers that are 2", 3"and 4" fixed size, in the L type. Do you feel you may need to higher than 1" in the future?

How tall are you?
At 5' 11", I feel like Im leaning over a bit more than I should.

Also, how thick are the handlebars?

Thx!


Ive purchased the sliders (kawa green), the LED lights, the relay, and the extended windshield (meter cover).

I also bought a few Apace Vision reflective safety harnesses. My riding jacket isnt all that reflective or bright. I can use them at work too.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QIJFI86/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


How do you guys feel about the rear fender eliminator and a sequential programmable break light?
https://www.amazon.com/2018-2019-KA...3?keywords=2019+kawasaki+Z400+fender+eliminator&qid=1563234817&s=gateway&sr=8-3


https://www.amazon.com/Kawasaki-Nin...2c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=6CA4GDYVWEYJ15241H8X&psc=1&refRID=6CA4GDYVWEYJ15241H8X

 

Yeah, my luck Ill buy some risers and they wont fit, lol. I dont have a lot of tools. Im more of a drive it and pay someone else to fix it guy, lol.
Being said, I guess I can take it to the dealer and have them measure then order.


At the 1", you didnt have to reroute the cables at all?

 

Yeah, my luck Ill buy some risers and they wont fit, lol. At the 1", you didnt have to reroute the cables at all?

Dear Mr no tools... :wink: I have just measured the bars and they are 22mm diameter (7/8" in ancient units), and, yes, no re-routing at all for 1" risers and everything nice and free.

My risers:

 

Thx Jim.
With that info I tried to look up that particular brand of riser and had no luck so I went with these, just in case I need to go higher.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068FV596/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Next up, Im thinking about bar end mirrors.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...F8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=tremonte0b-20&linkId=08e8c099d5258c43856b5def27566283
I dont plan on doing any lane splicing, and the factory mirrors are pretty useless..

 

That riser kit looks like a great idea. I had no idea that such a thing existed; I'd be interested to know how it works out.

Personally, I am less convinced by bar end mirrors. Won't that involve the removal of the bar end weights that are there to dampen vibrations from the engine?

A lot of folk dislike the existing mirrors, but I don't find them useless. Sure, your shoulders take up part of the view (normal, unless you have much wider mirrors) and they do vibrate on their rubber mountings, but I still find them useful and they do let me track traffic behind me - they aren't great, but for me at least they perform their function. However... if anyone can tell me how to eliminate their vibration I am all ears!

 

...Personally, I am less convinced by bar end mirrors. Won't that involve the removal of the bar end weights that are there to dampen vibrations from the engine?

True but the mirrors act as a vibration dampner too. My bar end mirrors dont vibrate as much as the fairing mounted ones did.
I didnt have the OEM mirrors on for long but I think from memory they had better vision than lot of others I'd had on previous bikes.

 

Jim.
The difference is this...
You have to bring in your elbows and lean to see whats behind you and still take your eyes off the road, or you can look down for a sec and see whats behind you without any extra motion..


IMO, the more I use, and see the options for the stock mirrors, such as extenders and risers, Im thinking another option. The mirrors suck. The options for getting extension for the mirrors suck. Being said, Im looking at other options before I take them off, lol.

 

Not really a mod, but I added a rear bag.
Cortech Super 2.0

 

nice bag! I have been looking at one but I'm worried it about how easy it would be to take it off when I get to work. I like the Saddleman tunnel bag too.

 

Doh!
I think I bought the wrong relay! Ive got a 5pin..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12-24V-...9722066?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=571906475013&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

No, you are good. Most relays are 5 pin, just ignore the centre pin (87a).

 

LED lights came in today. Just waiting on the relay.



I had also bought some vinyl in metallic lime green, but then had to cancel the order after I found out how difficult it was going to be to apply. Still looking for candy lime trim tape.

 

EvoTech Kawasaki Z400 Mirror Extension Brackets 2019+

I received my evotech extension brackets a few days ago and havent been able to put them on because all of my tools were in my semi.
But they went on today!
I went with these so I wouldnt have to remove my bar weights, or mess with the locktight that keeps them in place.

"this will give you an extra 50mm width adjustment, plus 30mm extra height."
https://evotech-performance.com/products/ep-kawasaki-z400-mirror-extension-brackets-2019


What it did was basically put the rear view area to my upper bicep and increase the viewable area from 1/8 of the viewable mirror area to 3/4th without having to bring my elbows in or lean to see behind me.


To install, slide the rubber cover up, unscrew the dampener cylinder from the handlebar mount. Screw the extender into the handlebar mount, and screw the dampener into the extender.
Its not really that easy as there are reverse threads on the dampener cylinder, so when you try and tighten a nut, the others will loosen up on you.


Anyway, Itll take some fine tuning to get it all right and tightened. However, its already drastically improved what I can see behind me. Goes well with the taller meter cover.

 

Once again, not really a mod..
Cortech 2.0 expandable 36L saddlebags to go with the tail bag.


I like to ride with my crotch on the gas tank, and the bag combo sits just enough over the seat to help keep me there by giving me a soft back rest.
Its large enough to stuff my riding jacket in if it gets too hot.

 

Hello,

How's the right side on the exhaust side when the panniers are attached? Do you have any clearance issues?

 

That bag looks nice, but I'd need to limber up for 10 minutes before I could swing a leg that high to get on.

 

Nekked Ninja! Whaaa!



Cmon man, Ill be 50 in a few months, lol...


Ive also got a few vinyl stickers coming. Methinks you guys will like!

 

i put the ninja400 ventura evo rack on mine, since its main use is as a commuter.
I also put oxford heated grips. I pulled power in much the same was as elsewhere in this thread, except I pulled the switched trigger power from the numberplate light wire since it was easy to get to without pulling too much of the bike apart.

definitely considering the taller factory meter cover. i'm 6'2 and getting a bit sick of the buffeting on my helmet. havent bothered with bar risers though, I find the ergos pretty comfortable.

I do want to get bar end mirrors, but I also dont want to make the bike any wider, so I really need to find just the right ones.
the next major upgrade will be braided brake lines (probably whenever I need new pads next). the rear brakes are woeful, and the fronts could do with a touch more feel.

i've got nearly 4k km on mine now, and its such a great commuter bike.

 

i've got nearly 4k km on mine now, and its such a great commuter bike.

:smile_bigid you take any photos of your mods?