What price should the new ER-4f be in the UK?

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Kawasaki have announced that the new Ninja 400R (or ER-4f in English) will be sold in Canada at $7499 (£4800), but have not confirmed whether it will be coming to the UK.

The bike ­ a sleeved down version of the twin-cylinder ER-6f ­ is seen by many as an important way to ease beginners up the motorcycling stepladder towards bigger machines in the same way that 400cc sports bikes did in the early 90s.

This bike could be the missing link between 125s and 600s ­ a gap only currently bridged by the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, assorted dirt bikes and a few scooters.

But to tempt buyers, the price must be right ­ it would be hard to justify buying a 400cc if the 650 version only costs a few quid more and is only marginally cheaper to insure.

So, using your skill and judgement, how would you price the 400 if you were Kawasaki UK? And would anyone you know actually buy it?

Here are a few
comparisons:
 
Honda CBF125 – £2075
Kawasaki Ninja 250R – £3429
Yamaha YZF-R125 – £3999
Suzuki Bandit 650 – £5370
Kawasaki ER-6f – £5611
BMW F650GS – £5680

John Westlake

By John Westlake