Alright guys, buckle up! Today I’m spilling the beans on my 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400. Been putting her through her paces and I gotta say, it’s been a ride!
First off, let’s talk about when I actually got her. Picked her up brand new back in April. Had been eyeing the Ninja 400 for ages, wanted something sporty but still manageable for city riding and weekend blasts. Finally pulled the trigger and man, that feeling of riding her home for the first time? Unbeatable.
The first thing I did, and I mean immediately after getting home, was ditch those stock mirrors. Seriously, who designs those things? They were awful. Replaced them with some aftermarket bar-end mirrors. Instantly looked a million times better and the visibility is way better too.
Next up was the exhaust. The stock exhaust sounded…well, like a lawnmower. So I slapped on a slip-on exhaust. Nothing too crazy, just something to give it a bit more rumble. Made a huge difference in the sound, now she actually sounds like a proper sportbike. The installation was pretty straightforward, just unbolted the old one and bolted the new one on. Took maybe an hour or so.
Then I started messing with the levers. The stock levers felt kinda cheap and weren’t adjustable. Got some adjustable levers, much better feel and I could dial them in to fit my hands perfectly. This made a surprising difference in comfort and control. Simple swap, just unscrew the old ones and screw in the new ones.
After that, I decided to protect the fairings a little bit. I installed frame sliders. Hopefully, I’ll never have to use them, but better safe than sorry, right? Drilling the fairings was the most nerve-wracking part, but I took my time and measured everything carefully. They look pretty good and should provide some decent protection in case of a spill.
For comfort, I added a tank pad. Not only does it look cool, but it also protects the tank from scratches and gives me a bit more grip when I’m leaning into corners. It’s just a sticker, so application was dead simple.
Riding wise? I’ve been commuting to work almost every day. The Ninja 400 is surprisingly comfortable for a sportbike, even in traffic. The engine is smooth and predictable, making it easy to navigate crowded streets. Weekend rides have been a blast too. The bike handles great in the twisties, and the engine has enough power to keep things interesting.
Maintenance is key! I’ve already done the first service, which was basically an oil change and a checkup. I plan to do all the maintenance myself, so I bought a service manual and some basic tools. It’s a good way to save money and get to know the bike better. Watched a ton of YouTube videos before even touching anything.
Overall, I’m really happy with my Ninja 400. It’s a fun, capable, and affordable sportbike that’s perfect for both commuting and weekend rides. There are still a few things I want to do to it, like maybe upgrade the suspension and add some aftermarket footpegs, but for now, I’m just enjoying the ride.
Any questions, drop them in the comments! And stay tuned for more updates as I continue to tinker with my Ninja 400.
