[srt4evah]

Kinda makes you wonder if they'll sell the 250 and 400 side by side with the 650?

250 for $5k
400 for $6.5k
650 for $8k

 

[srt4evah]

They might in Japan.

They're selling Yamaha R25 and R3

Honda sells a 300, 500, and 650 here, so this new 400 could be the direct competitor to that 500.

Ninja 250 vs CBR300 = $5k
Ninja 400 vs CBR500R = $6.5k
Ninja 650 vs CBR650F = $8k

 

[srt4evah]

It gets a bit complicated.

Honda CBR500R is CBR400R in Japan, they're identical except the 400R is sleeved down 500R
Ninja 650 is Ninja 400 in Japan, they're identical except the Ninja 400 is sleeved down Ninja 650.

Now they have Ninja 400 in USA/Canada
If they sell 2018 Ninja 400 in Japan, things will get complicated because they already have Ninja 400 (sleeved down Ninja 650)

Not as complicated as you think. The old 400R will simply be replaced with the new 400. There's no reason to continue producing the sleeved down 650, that was only done to meet license requirements and the new Ninja 400 meets them as it sits.

That doesn't mean there's any certainty they'll bring the Ninja 250 stateside, it's just a suggestion as it would seem to make sense and allow them to bump the price of the new Ninja 400 up to $6k.

The new 250 makes as much power as the old 300, so it could be a new lower priced entry level bike at $4-4.5k, but there's no suggestion from Kawi that that is going to happen here.

 

[srt4evah]

In Canada, they used to sell both Ninja 650 and 400.
Believe or not, almost nobody bought the Ninja 400. It was virtually identical to the Ninja 650 except the cylinder was sleeved down to 400cc. The engine block was identical from outside as well.

Needless to say, Kawasaki no longer sell Ninja 400 in Canada.

So I don't think Kawasaki would bother selling both Ninja 400 and 250 in the USA.

Yeah of course nobody bought the 400, because it was just a sleeved down 650. Same bike as the 650 with less power. The new 400 is a different bike, not a crippled 650, so it has advantages over the 650 that the old 400 did not.

Not saying they will sell the 400 and 250 in the USA for sure, but Honda sells the 300 and 500 along with the 650 in the USA.