Honda’s Newest CBR Is The Perfect Nemesis Of The Kawasaki Ninja 500

Summary

• Honda’s latest CBR400R has been updated for 2024.
• It has a 399cc, twin-cylinder engine, which is a re-tuned version of the CBR500’s mill.
• Despite its sleek design and impressive specs, the CBR400R is unlikely to hit American shores, focusing on Japanese market needs.

It’s a new day, it’s a new motorcycle. Meet the updated Honda CBR400R, an entry-level sports bike that goes head-on against the likes of the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and the KTM RC 390. The motorcycle has had one of the biggest facelifts of its life for 2024, which makes it a perfect replacement for the Grandpa CBR300R sold in America. But Honda being Honda has other plans. Oh, and to address the elephant in the room, this is heavily based on the 2024 CBR500R.

Engine Performance For City Use With A Touch Of Thrill

Max Power Output: 45.37 HP @ 9,000 RPM

The Honda CBR400R sits in the sweet spot of performance and daily usability, especially for beginner riders. Honda claims the parallel-twin engine produces a smooth power delivery that’s perky in the mid-range and powerful at the top. In the 2024 model, the fuel injection system has been optimized to produce a more linear throttle response.

Despite being an urban sports bike, the CBR400R produces peak power higher in the rev range compared to the CBR500R. In case you’re wondering, the engines are mostly the same between the two bikes. The key difference is the smaller capacity to comply with Japanese license norms.

Performance Specifications: Honda CBR400R vs CBR500R

(Specs sourced from Honda)

The diamond frame is lightweight, rigid, and moderately flexible. According to Honda, this gives the bike responsive and flexible handling that can handle a variety of riding conditions, from congested city streets to canyon roads. This frame suspends on Showa SFF-BP inverted forks at the front and a separate pressurized monoshock at the rear. The bike also gets a triple-disc setup with radial calipers at the front (the Ninja 500 and the RC 390 only come with single discs at each end). As for tech gizmos, the bike features Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), H.I.S.S. (immobilizer), a five-inch TFT, Honda RoadSync connectivity, and an emergency stop signal.

Chassis And Dimensions Specifications

(Specs sourced from Honda)

Designed To Look Fast And Sleek

The Honda CBR400R may be one of the prettiest sub-400cc motorcycles currently on sale post its update. We’re looking at you, 2024 KTM RC 390! The evolved styling emphasizes the wedge shape that’s inspired by the bigger CBR models, while the compact front cowl and wide side fairings improve the rectification effect. The side fairings also feature new ducts with winglets that Honda claims improve stability. But it seems like a hollow claim since the bike is unlikely to go fast enough for winglets to produce any noticeable effect.

The design also trickles down to function, making the motorcycle more accessible, manageable, and fun to ride. For instance, despite the wide fairings, the riding space is pretty narrow, allowing shorter riders to reach the ground easily. Still, the bike does not compromise on sporty riding, as the clip-ons are sufficiently low and promise a decently aggressive posture for canyon carving.

2024 Honda CBR400R: Pricing, Availability, And Competition

Starting MSRP: $5,745 (¥863,500)

The 2024 Honda CBR400R has been launched in Japan at around $5,745. If it were to come here at this price, it’d give the Ninja 500 and RC 390 a decent fight. Will it blow your mind with performance? No, there’s the Ninja 500 for that. It won’t even blow your mind with features; the KTM RC 390 takes the cake there. But in true Honda fashion, the CBR400R is a more sedate approach to the segment that was sorely missing for some time. Plus, we wouldn’t be surprised if this bike outlasts its rivals in terms of reliability.

But will you see it on American shores? That’s not likely. The CBR400R has been a Japan-only motorcycle for a few years now, made primarily to meet Japanese license norms and attract new riders. America will get the updated CBR500R, and, as always, the only sub-500cc sport bike in its portfolio would be the aged CBR300R. Can we not have this instead, Honda?

Source: Honda Japan