ZXR 400

1999 Kawasaki ZXR 400 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1999 Kawasaki ZXR 400 sport motorcycle, Kawasaki relies on a 398 cc (24.3 cu in) liquid-cooled in-line four, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 65 HP (47.4 kW) at 13,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 36.6 Nm (27 lb-ft) at 12,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 163.3 HP per liter and a 1,000 rpm working window between peak torque (12,000 rpm) and peak power (13,000 rpm), the engine character is placing it firmly in high-revving supersport territory where top-end breathing dominates.

On the scales, the ZXR 400 measures 188.5 kg (416 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.34 HP/kg (2.9 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 780 mm (30.7 in) seat height — offering a neutral standover height that accommodates most average-inseam riders without sacrificing cornering clearance, combined with a 1,385 mm (54.5 in) wheelbase engineered for quick, flickable steering geometry. The 16-liter (4.2 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 6.5 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 246 km (153 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 202 km/h (126 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Kawasaki archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1991 to 2003, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.