After the success of the retro Z900RS, Kawasaki introduced the Z650RS. Now, is the Japanese manufacturer about to launch a Z400RS?

Kawasaki to launch a baby retro model?

In 2017, Kawasaki joined in the retro craze and gave us the Z1-inspired Z900RS, based on the modern Z900 naked platform. It has been a runaway success and prompted Kawasaki to bring out the Z650RS a month or so ago.

Now, it seems that the Japanese manufacturer is planning on releasing a smaller engined retro bike based on the popular Z400 platform. It doesn't take a degree in science to assume that it could be called the Z400RS.

The news first broke on the cover of Japanese motorcycling magazine Young Machine, which featured an image of the bike. Whether the new model will make it out of Japan or Asia is another matter.

Despite Kawasaki's commitment to alternative fuels leading up to 2035, when there will be no fossil-fuel-engined bikes in the range, the company's continued development programme of conventional-engined models shows that the bosses in Japan understand that a wholesale and sudden switch to alternative fuels is not a viable prospect just yet.

There has been talk recently about the Asia-only four-cylinder ZX-25R coming to Europe and America as the ZX-4R but still using the 250cc, four-cylinder engine. The illustration on the cover of Young Machine has definitely got the parallel twin engine from the current Z400. Could Kawasaki be planning to bring both models into the '400' range?

Kawasaki is fully embracing the retro movement at the moment and why not? it has been a lucrative cash cow for many manufacturers and is only going to get bigger as a category.

For now, a Z400RS retro model is only conjecture, although Young Machine is known for the accuracy of its reporting on all things concerning the Japanese motorcycle industry.