Kawasaki rumoured to be working on a ZX-4R based on the ZX-25R

SINCE its launch in Asian and Australian markets last year, the Kawasaki ZX-25R Ninja has been a much-talked-about motorcycle. Making those of a certain age hark back to the hazy days of imported 250cc screamers, the only real problem with the bike though is the lack of official EU and UK imports.

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Now though, rumours are beginning to surface from Japan claiming that a new bike could be in the works from Kawasaki, in the form of a 400cc inline four-cylinder sports bike, based on the screaming ZX-25R.

The whispers are claiming that the ZX-4R has been created by enlarging the bore of the ZX-25R, changing the pistons, and the crank. All of those are fairly simple mechanical changes that can be brought together with updated ECU to make the diminutive engine sing like a demonic quartet.

With no official confirmation of the model, this is pure speculation, although there are a number of motorcycle industry commentators in Japan all singing the same tune. No specs for the model are being confirmed, although it’s easy to assume the potential new model producing more power and torque than the current model.

Could the Kawasaki ZX-4R make its way here?

One of the biggest disappointments of the ZX-25R was the lack of official imports to the UK and Europe, making the only way of getting one over to these shores both costly and time-consuming – thanks COVID-19! With its slightly larger displacement and more road-biased riding dynamics (compared to its smaller sibling), the ZX-4R could be the perfect challenger to bikes like the Aprilia RS660, yet to be confirmed Yamaha R7. With each of those bikes being made available in the UK and European market, could Kawasaki send in the ZX-4R as a left-field option to please the four-cylinder fans?