@@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
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
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
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 !!!
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" ?
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
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
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.
The Ninja 400 is only $5499 MSRP if you get the green KRT paint. Otherwise, the Ninja 400 w/ ABS is also $5299 which is the same price as the R3 w/ ABS despite the Ninja having more HP, more torque, less weight, bigger brakes, and bigger tires.
In the us this is true, in my country the diference between the two is more than a 1000 us dollars ( converting from BRL to us dollar) its more or less 5 to 6 thousand BRL more. So the r3 makes much more sense here. Still both a good bikes.
I just bought an R3 with ABS and I’m in love with it. It’s really comfortable, it has a very refined engine, an awesome clutch and it has plenty of power for here in Costa Rica. The fuel consumption is very good also.
Being lucky enough to be able to have more than one bike I'm so glad in hindsight that I didn't sell my Ninja 250r and Ninja 300. They are very good at what they do. Having a large cc bike has it's downsides when it comes to mpg, insurance and running costs. People buy motorcycles to ride them, doing less miles due to getting half the mpg sucks
Absolutely, I have a ninja 400 and added a full akropovic header pipe and slip on exhaust system, high flow air filter, Power Commander V with a full tune and she power wheelies in 2nd now where as stock wouldnt even do it in first gear.
@@Marcos0ne Bike from the dealer with 200 miles on it was 4100$ and then all the upgrade parts came to around 700$ total. Probably sitting right around 60hp
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.
@@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.
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 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.
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!
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
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
@@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
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
@@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
@@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 😅
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!
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
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
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.
I really like the in-action, technical exposition, ride along conversational commentary, it really gives much more context and insight into what potential buyers are looking for with these bikes. High value content. I’m more jockey, average-side, so for you two to be different in stature while critiquing is immediately relatable. The rider’s own aspects need to be factored into the bike, certainly their bodily dimensions, to understand how the bike will perform.
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. :)
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.
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
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?
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
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.
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.
@@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?
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
16:21 you can adjust non-adjustable forks by changing fork oil weight for a quick fix ie 5W to 10 W, you won't be able to breeze over speed humps if you do this though. You can also get those fork cartridge emulator that insert inside the fork, if you are keen on keeping the bike rather than getting another bike with adjustable forks.
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...
Clutch.... fixed mine. Did have an issue like mention here in the video. Just tighten it up a bit and you have a better feel of where the bite is. GREAT BEGINNER BIKE!
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
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.
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!
"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.
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
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.
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
My first bike is a 2020 ninja 400 and yeah its amazing to learn on but I'm at about 4000 miles and you crave more power. I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2021 ZX6R. I couldn't imagine riding anything under 400 really. I test road 2020 R3 and felt slow but still fun. Went with the 400 though.
What up! Check out the Honda CB650R, Kawasaki Ninja 400, and DRZ-400 I’m giving away FOR FREE: www.yammienoob.co
premium mediocre huh?
how to join? really wanting sports bike all my life
Why only in us??? How about outside US??😭😭😭
I’m trying to win the 400 the rest of them bikes I could do without.
Only for US.... So long to us colonials
Just remember: it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow!
How about riding fast bike fast?
@@hingholo8027 this dude gets it
It’s all fun till your friends see you !!! Just like dating big girls !!!
Exactly
@@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
They're just fanbois throwing stones at each other lol 😂
pablololo lo ~ it’s funny because Yammie is a Yamaha fanboi but likes the Kawasaki
Just bought a 2019 Yamaha R3. So excited and happy. Safe riding everyone!
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
@@satyabratbiswal9336 better than whatever you got
I never get tired of how amazing the R3 looks
same here, there are not enought videos tho:(
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.
Totally agree, the ninja looks wrong compared to the R3
They look like the same bike lmao
I seriously can't believe people are fawning over the R3. It looks hideous to me.
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
@@davidaustin8424 good argument! i think ima going with r3... can you tell me something about the sound? Btw thanks for your quickly awnser
@@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
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 !!!
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.
Insecure men call them beginer bikes
I will say it is annoying not to have some extra power on tap to pass on American highways without having to wring the bike’s neck
@@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" ?
@Calamity Exactly, Numbers on Paper and Actual Practicality differs!!!
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
what did you end up buying? Are you happy with it?
@@justinlingier5022 i'd say get the new ninja 400, the 2021-2022 model beats out the r3 by a mile, this video was 3 years ago
@@4twennyit doesnt matter if its the older or newer model and also there been no changes made in 2020 to 2021
@@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
That cowling on the ninja also helps protect a lot of shit when it's dropped and skidded and I definitely don't know from experience.
😂 " I definitely don't know from experience"
Ikr it really does. Or at least I‘ve heard that.. somewhere.
Yeah me either 😳
Yall are hilarious 😂😂
Believe me I’ve crashed like 4 times and threw it off a cliff it’s literally running like new lmao
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 👍
Hey mate, just wondering despite it doesnt have USD forks, does it actually make a difference? Been wondering which bike to get!
@@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
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 Plenty of bikes still don’t have a gear indicator. It’s actually very common and typically not needed.
@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.
The Ninja 400 is only $5499 MSRP if you get the green KRT paint. Otherwise, the Ninja 400 w/ ABS is also $5299 which is the same price as the R3 w/ ABS despite the Ninja having more HP, more torque, less weight, bigger brakes, and bigger tires.
In the us this is true, in my country the diference between the two is more than a 1000 us dollars ( converting from BRL to us dollar) its more or less 5 to 6 thousand BRL more. So the r3 makes much more sense here. Still both a good bikes.
Yamaha motor way better !
@@michaelkolbe5963 isn’t it smaller displacement and have less rear wheel torque?
@@Ssweet65 I think the point is that it’s not all about power but reliability and forgiveness
@@zgjfinance2796 isnt the r3 renowned for having horrible braking? doesnt sound forgiving to me
I just bought an R3 with ABS and I’m in love with it. It’s really comfortable, it has a very refined engine, an awesome clutch and it has plenty of power for here in Costa Rica. The fuel consumption is very good also.
What abs
@@hausler5171 antilock braking system
@@lordoftherims436 ok thanks
I think the Ninja 400 wins in the "growing ability" category as well. There is more room to grow with the Ninja 400 for a beginner rider than the R3.
Being lucky enough to be able to have more than one bike I'm so glad in hindsight that I didn't sell my Ninja 250r and Ninja 300. They are very good at what they do. Having a large cc bike has it's downsides when it comes to mpg, insurance and running costs. People buy motorcycles to ride them, doing less miles due to getting half the mpg sucks
Absolutely, I have a ninja 400 and added a full akropovic header pipe and slip on exhaust system, high flow air filter, Power Commander V with a full tune and she power wheelies in 2nd now where as stock wouldnt even do it in first gear.
@@cheezedoodle8356 what was the total cost? I'm interested lol
@@Marcos0ne Bike from the dealer with 200 miles on it was 4100$ and then all the upgrade parts came to around 700$ total. Probably sitting right around 60hp
Ninja 400 has so much addons for commuting. I have a USB socket charger installed on the OEM cutout all plug and play.
Biggest difference between 140 and 150 is there are way less tire options at 140. 150 is often where the sizes of a sport range start.
BINGO!
Yeah, but the R3 can have 150 too. So its an option... Though some shops will refuse to sell / install oversize
This is what made me stop the video. The big dude is clueless. The other one may be not far either. Not subscribing.
Bought my ninja 400 this weekend, thanks for all your videos and comparisons it really helped
How’s it going?
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?
André Gonçalves great! I’ve put over 3000 miles on her so far and have loved every one of them
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.
@@mrsamot4677 really thanks man. Wanna link up on insta? @armaghaanb.nadeem
The r3 has my heart for how it looks but performance wise the 400 takes the win for me personally. Thanks guys I will be buying the 400.
What’s your honest review?
@@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.
@@tech_knowledgy I think I’m going with the 400 I’m going to look maybe this week if not next
@@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.
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 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.
Yeah bro this was the comment I needed to see. I’m getting it.
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!
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 didn't know SwaggerSouls was 6'3'' and is a bike dude
oh my god I have just realized that lmao
@@Fee.1 Popular gamer on YT, makes lots of meme content. Check him out, he's actually really funny.
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
The ninja is NOT $200 more expensive. It costs the same. The only way you get 200 more is if you go KRT paint scheme + ABS
You would think the guy who praises himself on research would know that.
Where I live it’s $1000 more, makes the R3 a no brainer
@@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
And that extra ABS money is for the R3 as well
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.
@@buddy1065 - what do you think of your Corbin seat - and what is your weight?
@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.
@@buddy1065 - thanks - I’m debating whether to get one for mine.
Really good commentgary and also excellent having two different sized riders. Subscribed!
I wish they switched bikes at some point during the ride so we can see their reactions to both in action
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.
I’m 6’1 150lb and I just bought the N400 today. Can’t wait till my bike is delivered in a couple days 😁😁
dream body....
Χορευω Τρανς yes it sits upright and is comfortable for tall riders.
Holy shit you need to eat lmao
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
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!
Which one did you buy
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.
Anybody else surprised that Yammi rode the ninja first before the r3😂trying to remove biases at all costs. I like it
He rode the r3 first.
@@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
Ohhh I was waiting for this one👍🏼 great stuff yam
Greetings from mexico ^^ I looked up your channel when I got my first bike
No way. I've been researching bike all day yesterday and it came down to these two bikes. What a great timing!
Did you get one?
@@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 😅
I got in a motorcycle accident two days ago & you know what ive been doing since??? On a Yammie Noob Marathon haha 😂 keep em up Yam! 🙏🏼
I got accident too bro.
Me too bro.. I broke my foot though... I got three months left of free time to watch yammie lol
Speedy recovery for all
Well guys... You just made the best review about the Ninja 400. After watching it you feel that you've already ridden this bike. Congrats👏👏👏
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!
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
Could u flat foot it? I'm 5'6 lol
5’9 here. Also curious if you could flat foot it or almost?
5 5 and I flat foot both
@@calgary2800 You have long legs
A 250R is sounding less and less appealing as a first bike..
It was never appealing
Taking safety test next month and I would love the Yamaha R3 as first bike.
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.
Which Honda did you go with?
@@technic05nis cbr650r 👍
I love the CBR650R but here in Australia we got ripped off and Honda only sell the learner restricted version of it. No full power version :-(
@@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
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.
Comfortable and easier to handle of the bunch. A good overall everyday bike in my opinion.
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.
R3!
Id take yammaha over kawi any day..just cause i like yammaha.. R6 my favorite..2009
I went on both the Ninja is much better for me in commuting. Its almost just like a naked bike with clip ons.
I really like the in-action, technical exposition, ride along conversational commentary, it really gives much more context and insight into what potential buyers are looking for with these bikes. High value content. I’m more jockey, average-side, so for you two to be different in stature while critiquing is immediately relatable. The rider’s own aspects need to be factored into the bike, certainly their bodily dimensions, to understand how the bike will perform.
I have the R3 for commuting its comfortable and ultra fuel efficient
Love how I’m watching a ninja 400 first ride review and this video pops up. Hats off to ya yammie
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. :)
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.
Agreed! I have a ninja 300, and I wish my DR650 had as nice a clutch.
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'd love to know how you negotiated $1400 off. Asking for a friend 😂😂
I'd like to know too😂
Hard to believe
Price may have been too high to begin with
Imagine needing to negotiate the price of an R3 🤣
Yamaha turning lights is helpful at night. You can see it from really far away.
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?
@@observantmonkey4055 im 5'8 and 110 pounds, and have no problem lifting an mt07, (410 pounds)
@@vcweeb7416 thanks. eliminates a lot of concern lol
@@observantmonkey4055 no problem, just make sure you lift properly.
@@vcweeb7416 my dog is both heavier and taller than you😂
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks
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
Great vid. I'm looking at Ninja 400s. Great winter deals on them at the moment in Canada.
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
pechorin1975 would you say it’s good for the highway? Let’s say a 30-40 minute commute to work or so?
@@mossyfire4993 NINJA 400 YES YES YES!!!!!
I love the Bach Suites in the background. Great music. This is the proper way to do a video.
Still waiting on those Sons of Yammie shirts...
Alex Fesas that would be dope
We *NEED* it
Yeah we need it
Sons of Yammarchy
never been a fan of the new R3 design, the new R125 looks so much better but I prefer it to the 400 design..
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.
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.
This video was perfect guys.. I’m getting the ninja 400 as my second bike either late this year or early next year
Same. I hope around August - October. But I'm told prices drop in the winter so....idk
@@sambeezy007 yea i should be getting a bike at that time too
@@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?
Man I can’t wait till I get a bike. Told myself I gotta get an apartment or house before I get one. Keeping my head down to it’s time.
same here
Love watching over your content bro !! Still havent gotten me a bike yet but hey everything just takes time ...
I’ve still got my 18 ninja KRT abs 400 and it still works great today. Maintenance and that’s a all
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.
Love the video! Amazing job. More in depth like this with other bikes.
I just bought a slightly used 2019 n400 paid cash. I’ve put almost 1000 miles on it in 2 weeks so much fun
How much dose it cost?
For how much dollar does it cost?
@@Dabal_R new or used?
@@nooblet224 used
Tejas dhaliwal a little over $4000. Got it from a used bike dealer with a warranty and it still has the factory warranty too
i was literally thinking of a comparison for these two, thanks
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
My favourite channel for bikes. Love you guys all the way from New Delhi's streets! ❤
16:21 you can adjust non-adjustable forks by changing fork oil weight for a quick fix ie 5W to 10 W, you won't be able to breeze over speed humps if you do this though. You can also get those fork cartridge emulator that insert inside the fork, if you are keen on keeping the bike rather than getting another bike with adjustable forks.
One the coolest Chanel’s ever
no inverted forks in 2019?? really
Looking for my first bike, this helped a lot! Bummer they’re given away already but I appreciate this video a lot!
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...
Clutch.... fixed mine. Did have an issue like mention here in the video. Just tighten it up a bit and you have a better feel of where the bite is.
GREAT BEGINNER BIKE!
Both fanboys appreciating their very own bikes😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
thanks for the video guys
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
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.
Sold on Ninja 400. It’s the better bike despite minor flaws.
The only flaw on my 400 is ME.
Rode for the first time in the street today on my ninja 400. Awesome video
Yammie looks like Idubbz and Steve Terreberry combined. 🤟
I love the content, I wish you would put a little overlay when you switch cams on the road though so we know who’s on what bike at a glance
I love my ninja 400 abs. I changed the exhaust because the stock is heavy and lets be honest isn't loud enough
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!
I kinda like the squishy clutch on the 400 cause my hand is small and weak haha.
"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.
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
The Violin in the background is brilliant!
Yammie tried so hard to make the R3 more appealing but the 400 is just better in almost every category lol.
That sucks cause I own an r3 🤣🤣
@@P.s.a.l.m.23 do you wish you got a 400 instead?
The look is why I want an R3. I have the z400 which performs great. After a few months if riding I was the aesthetics as well as having fun.
That first roll on test reminded me of Lethal Weapon lol “WE ALWAYS GO ON THREE, WE NEVER GO 1,2,3 THEN GO!!” 🤣
i've got the ninja 300 my dad warned me about sports bikes being uncomfortable and i was completely shocked at how comfortable my bike was.
leo is in the house let the man have his moment bro you ain’t always gotta be a dick
Actually just picked up a Ninja400 with abs 👌🏼
How is it so far?
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.
Twist it.
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
My first bike is a 2020 ninja 400 and yeah its amazing to learn on but I'm at about 4000 miles and you crave more power. I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2021 ZX6R. I couldn't imagine riding anything under 400 really. I test road 2020 R3 and felt slow but still fun. Went with the 400 though.
I test road 2021 ZX6R and gave it the same throttle I would on my 400, that power is insane.