@@hingholo8027 true, riding a fast bike fast is amazing but you learn a lot of skills on something like a Ninja 300 that you can take to a faster bike. Pushing people onto a fast bike too soon isn't always the best route to being a better rider. I have a FJR1300 but still ride smaller cc bikes, each to their own
One of the best designs in years. I can't get over how great the R3 looks. If they made a 650, 700 or 900 version with the same ergos, it would have record sales.
After doing much thinking and research, I finally went with the R3. Reasons: 1. Actually sitting on both, I realized instantly that I did NOT like the extra fairing on the ninja. It felt fat, clunky, and too much for me personally. Despite it looking really good, I wasn’t a fan of the POV when I actually sat on it. 2. The R3 seems to be preferred by people who actually have a lot of experience riding motorcycles. I’m willing to give up just a little bit of power for an overall better engine/seating/experience 3. The looks of the R3 grew on me tremendously. The Ninja looks great don’t get me wrong, and it was the bike I was originally gonna get, but after months of looking at them, I realized just how good the R3 looks. 4. I’m only 185lbs. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. I don’t think I’m going to stress too much about 70 CC’s. 5. The R3 dash looks better imo 6. I found a helluva deal (1200 miles on a 2019 Yamaha Blue) for $3,900. Verdict: I would have been very happy with either, but ultimately, I’m very glad I went with the R3 😊 let me know you guys opinions!
Im in the same position as you… I find Pros and cons for both, so idk what i should get. But your comment helped me a bit out and thanks for detailed Information.
@@xotwod7520 appreciate it! I know a guy who has a ninja 400, so once I get a decent amount of experience I really want to try and ride his! A couple other things that pushed me to the R3 was the inverted fork, the windscreen, and the rev happy nature of the engine
@@xotwod7520 I would say that if you’re truly 100% torn between the two and can’t make up your mind, then check insurance rates. The R3 for me fully insured is $45/mo. The ninja was going to be $130 for the same coverage. It might be different in your area, but it’s worth checking out
@@xotwod7520 I don’t have much experience with the sound of other bikes. From what I’ve heard, the R3 seems to have the best sound of the class (at least with the slip on). I would sit on both though if I were you, just so you can see the different POV’s
How much do you like it you are three I’m about to buy one next week and the strengths and weaknesses you can tell me this will be my first bike that I’m riding on the road legally
Being lucky enough to be able to have more than one bike I'm so glad in hindsight that I didn't sell my Ninja 250r and Ninja 300. They are very good at what they do. Having a large cc bike has it's downsides when it comes to mpg, insurance and running costs. People buy motorcycles to ride them, doing less miles due to getting half the mpg sucks
Absolutely, I have a ninja 400 and added a full akropovic header pipe and slip on exhaust system, high flow air filter, Power Commander V with a full tune and she power wheelies in 2nd now where as stock wouldnt even do it in first gear.
@@Marcos0ne Bike from the dealer with 200 miles on it was 4100$ and then all the upgrade parts came to around 700$ total. Probably sitting right around 60hp
I hate how in the states we call these bikes "begginer bike" these bikes can also be used for cheap commuting by experienced people. It is like saying if you are an experienced driver you should not drive a honda civic but a ferrari ! A 400 is probably faster than 90% of the vehicles on the road and capable of going over 120 mph. How much more bike do you need? Honestly when I am riding my 1350 concours i feel like i am wasing 90% of the bike most of the time
You have to remember that these people are paid to do what they do. They are being paid to promote the more expensive bikes. Manufacturers don't want to to stick with their "entry level" bikes. Instead, they want you to move up to more expensive bikes. I agree with you, though. I ride a Yamaha V-Star 250, and I love it. It fits me like a glove, as I'm a very small person. I can go all out, like a bat out of hell, and yet I'm only going the speed limit. It's lots of fun. Compare that with a supersport that can go highway speeds in first or second gear. A supersport is basically an automatic, unless you are breaking the law.
@@mkevin88 bullshit, US has lower speed limits than most of Europe, ninja 400 0-60 (in retard units) is 4.9 so much quicker than average cars and you still pretend "struggle to overtake someone" ?
I'm in love with my Ninja 400, I'm crazy enough to have taken it on a 1600 mile round trip this past summer. 800 miles in one day haha, not a single complaint from the bike, and I honestly felt fine despite it being a 10+ hour day of riding. Clutch springs do fix the softness of the clutch, can confirm. Other than that, the bike is a peach to own.
Nice...takes me back to my college days where my only transportation was a CB400F. Road it twice for two weeks camping and staying in youth hostels around upstate NY and the New England states. Also a few trips down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Much older now and have taken more expensive vacations, but not better vacations. That 800 mile day...did one near that one time trying to outrun bad weather coming our way.
@@David-rx2to I can only imagine trying to outrun mother nature, thankfully my trip had fantastic weather the whole way throughout apart from a very short drizzle 👍
@@petersonchuangymajestic2905 they work perfectly fine for a first bike! Even a lot of dedicated track builds leave the oem suspension until they really start chasing tenths. The ninja 400 is still arguably the best beginner bike in current market imo
As someone looking into a beginner bike, this helped a lot to see both bikes at work and inform me about things I couldn’t find out without testing them on open roads. You definitely got me more hooked on the R3
@@maxx8640 yes it does matter, thats the point of making new motorcycles models, to be fair there has been minimal changes to the ninja400 and i agree on that, it just goes to show how strong of a competitor the ninja400 is. Also the front brakes of those ninja400 will amazes you how good it is.
not sure what ya went with but i got a ninja 400 for my first and it was the best decision ever. some people don’t like the light clutch but when you’re learning it’s actually really nice bc you’re not focusing on your clutch so much and it’s a lot easier to not dump your clutch on the 400 in my opinion
R3 is a great starter bike, now I have a 19’ GSX 600R. I’m so glad I started small, learned how to ride, and made mistakes on this forgiving bike. Great ride !!!
The Ninja 400 is only $5499 MSRP if you get the green KRT paint. Otherwise, the Ninja 400 w/ ABS is also $5299 which is the same price as the R3 w/ ABS despite the Ninja having more HP, more torque, less weight, bigger brakes, and bigger tires.
In the us this is true, in my country the diference between the two is more than a 1000 us dollars ( converting from BRL to us dollar) its more or less 5 to 6 thousand BRL more. So the r3 makes much more sense here. Still both a good bikes.
Crazy how far “beginner” bikes have come in the last half decade. They now nearly all have gear shift indicators, I remember when that was a crazy feature on a 250-400. The value for money in the segment is out of this world
@No_Name Zoomer moment. Gear indicator is really not helpful or necessary. I think it makes you a better rider not having one and just learning your bike.
I just bought an R3 with ABS and I’m in love with it. It’s really comfortable, it has a very refined engine, an awesome clutch and it has plenty of power for here in Costa Rica. The fuel consumption is very good also.
@@carlos-cj2862 I bought the R3. Its a great first bike and wouldn't trade it for any other. It has the looks but lacks the speed but has good enough push for a first bike. Its a great first bike and easy to ride would recommend to anyone buying their first bike.
In saying that it lacks speed its still pulls well on motorway I ride 110km easy and get ahead of cars. Its got everything a first rider needs not to fast not to slow just right.
@@carlos-cj2862 I've never ridden the 400 but I've seen them on the road and the r3 looks way better but I think performance wise 400 would be better. I like the r3 for the look not specs and being a new rider I dont need too much. I'd upgrade to an r6, r7 or an r1 in the future.
@@jacquesduplessis6175 It's a bit more here in Belgium too, but that's with the KRT scheme (pricing only only shows KRT options lately) But you get a bit more bike, remove the KRT colors and .. well I think the Ninja 400 will be a pretty good 'lil bike =)
Jacques du Plessis I think the 2019 R3 retails at $7799 AUD and the ninja 400 is 7299 something like that. But Yamaha dealer was selling 2018 R3 at 5999 AUD as some kind of clearance bike, that's why I went with the 2018 R3
Is it worth getting a ninja 400 as a first sports bike in Ontario Canada. I do have 2 years of experience driving up to 125 CCs in Pakistan to be specific. Also, if I'm fine with second-hand bikes, which one is cheaper?
Fallen Azrael yeah it’s a great bike. It may be 400cc but the power is very controllable. Perfect for a first sport bike. And yeah I bought mine second hand.
I have the little R3 and it's fun. It likes to be pushed into higher RPM's I say abused and I'm glad I bought it. Well worth it. Fast in the twisties and you might get beat by bigger bikes but if you use it for commuting you're good. Upright seating feels comfy even on 300 mile rides, super light. Just get it.
The 1968 Honda CB750cc was considered a muscle bike back in 1968. It had 68 horsepower, and weighed a hell of a lot more than Ninja 400. They were probably very similar in acceleration. We are spoiled today. Don't buy a Ninja 400 with the plan on selling it, just because it's not a 600. Plan on buying it, upgrading it, and making it comfortable. You don't need more power to have a good daily driver.
Love my Yamaha R3, regardless of all the specs and comparisons, this thing is exactly what I envisioned as my first bike and performs exactly what I need it to do.
I have various bikes but kept my Ninja 250r and Ninja 300. They've survived every time I "cull the herd". For around town or hooning around a small displacement bike is a hoot without drawing too much attention from the Police.
23:17 hit the nail on the head regarding the drag racing performance - one rider is easily 60lbs heavier. That’s huge. The fact that the Ninja can overcome that is telling. Lots more grunt.
I’ve noticed most dealers are willing to drop their pants and grab their ankles on Kawi pricing, but when selling a Yamaha they’ll barely show ass crack.. negotiate and get a smokin deal on the 400, I got $1400 off, extra year of warranty, and a free Ogio-Kawi backpack. Most the same shop would do on R3 was $300 off
I bought a KRT 400 when they first started coming out in early 2018. I still own the bike today with 13k miles on it. There is so much to love in this bike and it’s crazy lightweight and easy to lean on. I highly recommend this bike. Top speed is 122mph btw (full tuck, light wind speed, and maybe going down hill a little bit), I want to try and hit 123mph
I started with a brand new Ninja 250 and almost instantly wanted more power especially for two up riding. Ended up selling it for a Ninja 650 and was 100% satisfied with my decision. The truth is beginner bikes are great efficient commuters but overall pretty slow for a motorcycle. You will likely want more power soon after getting comfortable on one of these two bikes. Don’t make a decision on a bike based on the look of the rear fender/license plate housing/turn signals or the sound/look of the stock exhaust as those are usually the first two modifications riders make to their bikes.
Absolutely amazing review! I really liked how both of your views kept each other in check and the review didn't become a "pro yamaha" or "pro Kawasaki" biased video like some of the other reviews I've watched have felt. I am now finally getting my license in a month and making this exact bike decision in 2024. I am a bigger guy myself and so the Ninja seems like a better option for me. I'll have to do some research into the clutch feel and hopefully that can be solved with an adjustable lever or something else easy!
The Ninja 400 clutch issue can be sorted out by changing the clutch springs. The standard ones are far to light and the clutch can slip quite a lot at high RPM and when trying to wheelie
@@chrisbevan1121 Hey! It's a little late but I just wanted to let you know that you're wrong and shouldn't attempt to correct people when you're wrong :D
Damn, I was gonna buy an R3 at some point but your ergonomics check makes me rethink this. When I compare 8:15 to 10:40 the difference between the two bikes becomes apparent. Ninja 400 really does look like a bigger bike, especially up front. Plus a more comfortable riding position, wider seat, bigger rear tire, more power down low, integrated turn signals and so on.
What he said about the 400 seat being harder is true though. I ordered a Corbin for my 2020 KRT and hope to be totally satisfied with an otherwise great bike. The Corbin worked wonders for my 1995 Triumph Trident.
@Jagshemasher I weigh 206 lbs at 5'11" The seat is more comfy although I still slide toward the tank at times. Bought some Woodcraft clip ons for a more forward riding position giving more room. The seat and clip ons work well for me.
Went too the dealership to check out the ninja 400 Personally I didn’t like it, I think it’s way to big for me, only 5’7 and I felt tiny on it and checked out an R3 and loved it, perfect for my height, weight was nice and felt comfortable riding it
wow.... this is my absolute favorite video on the entire channel by far! I've been binge watching a ton of videos on bikes over the past week &&.... I think i know which bike will be my first purchase! These had been my top 2 for sportbikes... thnx Yammie!
@@Words-of-encouragement.-. Still I cannot afford even to get the license. Life came in the way and now I am on an exchange programme with uni that takes up the money I had saved up 😅
haha same as me when i had my old 400, first thing i did was adjust that clutch lever to have instant bite, but deffinately is a better bike than that R3, happy honda owner now though :)
Yeah, the Ninja 400 takes gas instantly and the clutch is so super soft, that you already pull it by just touching it unless you adjust it (any you should adjust it). I also like its black levers from the factory. Actually you dont have to change them. Things to change one the 400 are the huge exhaust, license plate holder and indicators when you are already changing things anyway. I think the mirrors are fine on both bikes.
@@aussiesoldier0177 we did not get ripped off, we got the cheapest version avaible ? Also the de-restrict is only 600$ we literly got it 2k cheaper than the USA did
I love the subtle “I meant to clear my turn signal” when in reality he just didn’t want to stare at those obnoxious turn signals that we left on, on the r3 lol
The white on black LCD on the 400 wasn't easy to read during daytime. I personally preferred the pre update version of the R3 compared to the current one, had a better riding position for everyday use, and analogue tacho.
Regarding the difference between full floating and semi floating brake discs: in ancient times, when I was young, motorbikes had discs made from a single piece of steel or iron bolted to the wheel hub. At some stage - 80s-90s on road bikes, manufacturers started making the discs, or rotors, out of two pieces, with the inner part being aluminum/aluminum alloy to reduce weight (reduced weight good; reduced unsprung weight very good). Aluminum and steel expand at different rates, so the two parts are joined by “buttons” which allow them to expand and contract independently to avoid/reduce warping. On a semi floating disc, these buttons allow this to happen, but do not allow the rotor to move laterally (side-to-side) independent of the carrier. Full floaters allow the lateral movement, too, enabling the disc to self-center in the caliper. :)
My old ‘85 Ninja 900 had the same size rear tire as the 400. With a stage III K&N carb kit, timing advancer, Yoshimura 4-1, and gear reduction, that tire would spin at will in first and second!
I have an r3 with the full Akrapovic Exhaust system, and it sounds amazing. Pop bangs, haven't seen fire yet :(. I'm 6ft & 108kg and I love this machine. Maybe if I was lighter it would be a bit better suited for me but either way this bike is such a good fun ride
If you're considering a Ninja 400 and don't care about the fairing, be sure to try the Z400. Slightly less firm suspension, a few hundred cheaper, higher/wider bars, same basic goodness.
I haven't rode the z400 but I thoroughly enjoyed the 2019 z650, also rode the 19 ninja 650 and zx6r. I really wasnt a fan of how soft the z650 was as opposed to the ninja 650 which felt perfect for the street/track and was very comfortable
My first bike was a 2015 R3, I upgraded to a 2018 R6 (which sadly was totaled through no fault of my own and I would still be riding it if not for the accident) and now I ride a 2016 S1000RR, which is also great. The bikes in this video are both great for what they are but splitting hairs about how fast they are is kind of silly because they aren't fast bikes relative to other sport bikes. I would go with the R3 though because the fit and finish feels very premium. Yamaha really took their time with the styling and ample use of aluminum parts vs. plastics. Just my two cents. Both bikes are great though.
The clutch lever on the N400 does not feel bad. Its light, super light, shifts up like nothing. That means while you're riding in the city or track for longer periods, it doesnt take so much effort. Try shifting up and down a hundred or so times within in hour. The N400 eliminates the exhaust on your hand.
I feel the same way with my 2020 KRT. Clutch is a non issue unless you are used to the feel of other bikes. The Ninja 400 is a big relief from my Trident 900.
Just about everyone I have seen review the 400 actually listed that light, early clutch as a big plus lol. And with the suspension, I set it down one level and it helped me a ton since I'm such light weight.
i reall ywould like to get into bikes. one thing ive thought about thugh is lifting it up if i needed. im a small dude 5 3, and im light. i dont think im weak but outside of fedex years back i dont really lift shit like that now. are these "little" bikes an issue to lift?
@@celiabarajas5100 I'm getting it now haha. Can't wait and I take the class within 3 weeks. I'm going to just get a loan through the bank then pay it off around October. I found out because of the virus they aren't gonna budge on the prices so why wait?
I love the r3 I have been rideing for 7 years had anywhere from 600 to 1200 ccs I just bought a r3 a few months ago ya the power diference can suck at times but it's also so mutch fun being able to go all out and not be in as mutch trouble. I'm 6.6 330 ibs and I love it no complaints
Im glad you mentioned it. People dont understand, sometimes, about power-to-weight ratio in that 50HP is not the same unless the riders are within the same weight bracket. a 250lb person v a 150lb person on the same bike are gonna do vastly different performance-wise.
I was thinking the 400 but now I'm leaning to the R3 for a first time women (5'-3" tall) beginner bike due to the lower seat and lower fuel tank design. My first bike was a ZX-7R and I did track it.
A 400cc 2 cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder, on a lightweight motorcycle, is NOT a beginner bike. In most parts of the world, a 400cc, 50 horsepower motorcycle, is considered a full size, luxury motorcycle. For power to weight ratio, the Ninja 400 is probably higher than many Harley motorcycles made in the last 30 years. And many people have driven Harley motorcycles across the USA.
I have owned a Ninja 400 for almost a whole year now it was my go to bike when I crashed my old one anyways getting to the point The ninja is an amazing bike I agree the foot peg and the exhaust are almost the only 2 downsides of the ninja however a new exhaust can fix that
I swapped my Ninja 400 for the new R3, and so far I have done 4000 Kms on it, and I could not have been much happier. Your review is completely opposite of what I experienced having lived with both the bikes. One thing I agree with you is that the R3 motor loves to be revved, you can do it all day, and she wont break a sweat, combine that with the sweet clutch and gearbox, and you dont need anything else. You ride her hard whole day, and the refinement is still there. The brakes on the R3 have better bite and the ABS does not come in early - compared that to the 400, any extra pressure on the lever and the ABS makes its presence felt. The compact ergonomics of the R3 some how feels like one with the rider, she handles extremely well, and you get a lot of feedback from both the front and the rear. NInja 400 feels like you are gliding through the corner, there is no feel at all. Anyways, I am not subscribing to the channel, and I definitely dont agree with the content.
Really Great video on the two bikes you guys have given here. I really like the Ninja 400 bike, it would be my first choice...been wanting one for a year now. I'll just have to get a loan and buy one and be done with it...thanks for the ride and let us know about new site to watch more about cycles...later...great job...
I tried the R3 and for my height and weight it is very fun to ride. Stop riding in 2007, for my son and family reason... but now ... I am back baby This R3 is fun in the city, rev that baby up and next year on the track would great learning
Regarding the clutch lever, it's the same on the 300. You get used to it, in fact you barely need to actuate the clutch to shift once you have some time on the bike. It was the 300's clutch that taught me to shift clutchless as getting used to the tiny lever movement at speed meant not using it at all was a small step.
He was talking about the clutch bite on the ninja 400. When i first bought mine the bike was in the middle. After the first service it was way far out like my grom. I had to adjust the clutch so it was in the middle again.
You can fix how far the throw of the clutch is. Takes about 10-20 minutes depending how particular you are about where you want the clutch to engage/disengage
Thanks for the video, enjoyed watching it and learning. I went with the Ninja 400. Waiting for spring just around the corner to start riding my Ninja. Cheers!
You guys were on a bluetooth phone call + recording the audio through a mic? Hahaa just wondered about that. The ninja 400 seems pretty good after watching this
"It also has that nice little peg to catch with your heel, this doesn't, this is a stick". My first thoughts on the Ninja I recently bought after being an avid Honda rider.
Overall, I agree the Ninja is the better of the two, but the one thing that made me trade in my 2018 Ninja 400 was the seat angle. It's angled down toward the tank, which always resulted in my nuts getting crushed. I was constantly trying to scoot back in the seat. Whenever I hit a bump in the road, I'd slam into that tank. Not comfy on the man parts. I guess Kawasaki designed it that way for the track or something.
I've just got my r3. Its fun but it is a bit slow. Power doesn't kick in until 4th gear. I love it but I can already see myself wanting to upgrade to an r7 in the near future but I love my bike. Its beautiful.
@@animepersonthing that’s awesome! I’m planning on getting a Ninja 400 Abs version when I turn 17 in two year. I’ve been telling my dad I’m gonna get a motorcycle whenever I turn 16 for the last 8 years and he would always say “no” and recently he finally agreed that when I Turin 17 we’ll both get one but it won’t be a “daily driver” only on weekends for longer trips. But I’m completely fine with that. 😂 I’m extremely excited and I’m still 2 years away from getting it.
I like the part that they are discussing the bikes while indoor. It is much more engaging because the environment is quiet. I really hate the part that the reviewer is talking while riding. Not only this video but for all reviewers while riding with first person view.