Pretty much every Kawasaki Ninja sportbike has had a naked motorcycle based on them, and it appears like the heavily rumored Ninja ZX-4R will be no different.

According to the Japanese magazine Young Machine, the H2-maker is working on introducing a 400cc, four-cylinder naked motorcycle based on the Ninja ZX-4R platform which will sit under the Z650RS. The publication, even went on to prepare a render for the same, which safe to say, looks rather promising.

Kawasaki Z400RS Render

The render, dubbed the Z400RS, is based on Kawasaki’s iconic inline-four naked the Zephyr 400 sold in the 90s. So the motorcycle dons an all-red livery topped by chrome alloys and a chrome exhaust system, just like the Zephyr.

Meanwhile, all the bodywork and aesthetic elements are in line with the Kawasaki Z-RS retro naked lineup, currently comprising the Z650RS and the Z900RS. Interestingly, though, the render has been made more premium than the bigger Z650RS, by employing USD forks compared to the latter’s telescopic units.

At the heart of it all lies a 399cc, four-cylinder engine that’s expected to put out nearly 60 horsepower, the same as envisioned for the ZX-4R. To jog your memory, this engine is expected to be an up-specced iteration of the ZX-25R’s 250cc, four-cylinder engine.

Why Does The Kawasaki Z400RS Make Sense?

Now that you have an idea about the bike, let us tell you why the Z400RS’ introduction makes sense.

First, the research and development costs to create a 400cc, inline-four engine, which meets modern emission norms and still makes decent-ish power, are quite high and it only makes sense to create a lineup of motorcycles based on it instead of just one.

Next, with Honda pulling the plug on the inline-four CB400SF, there’s a small but potential market to exploit in Asia. Not to mention if Kawasaki somehow makes the engine meet Euro 5 norms, the brand could also extend its arms into European and American markets.

Lastly, the introduction of a lineup of entry-level four-cylinder motorcycles would give the company much-needed bragging rights amongst its competitors, most of which are tirelessly working on EVs.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the idea of the Z400RS seems pretty justifiable, but it’s a little too soon to get our hopes up. So until official confirmation, all we can do is enjoy these renders and let our imagination take over.