The Best Deal from 400cc | Four Recommended Japanese Mid-Twin Sports

The price of new motorcycles continues to rise in response to the repeated tightening of emission regulations and soaring component procurement costs. It has become the norm that if you want to purchase a motorcycle with a certain level of performance, the price of the motorcycle itself will soon exceed a million yen, but even in such times, there are models that offer good value for money. That is the middle twin sport!

Even in the 400cc class, the era of Million Yen exceeded

There is talk of a slight motorcycle boom in Japan, but while sales of new motorcycles are brisk, the rise in motorcycle prices seems as if it is unlikely to slow down. High prices are a problem all over the world, and the same is true in the world of motorcycles. Given the current situation in which the cost of materials such as metals and resins, the cost of logistics, and the cost of electricity and other fuels required for production have all skyrocketed, it is quite difficult for manufacturers to keep motorcycle sales prices low. In addition, the cost of complying with the ever-increasing regulations on motorcycles, including emission regulations, is also necessary.

In the current lineup of Japan's four domestic manufacturers, the 400cc class is particularly expensive. Honda's CB400 Super Four, which will be discontinued in October 2022, is priced at just under (approx.) 6410 USD, while the CB400 Super Boldor is priced at over 1 million yen (7125 USD). But these two models have four-cylinder engines, and the CBR400R with a parallel two-cylinder engine is priced at (approx.) 5995 USD.
It is a price that veteran riders who know the old days would find hard to believe.

Nice Global Model in the 600cc class!

Middle twin road sports made by the Japan manufacturer (current model as of October 2022)

Graphs were prepared by the editorial department based on manufacturer information as of November 2022. Vehicle names in red are the vehicles featured in this issue.

As many riders are probably aware, the 400cc class has a history of developing independently in response to the Japanese license system. In the 1980s, during the motorcycle boom period, but considering the current domestic sales volume, it is quite unfavorable to develop and produce motorcycles mainly targeting the domestic market, considering the size of the market. It is understandable that prices in the 400cc class tend to soar.

Therefore, rather than choosing the 400cc class, which seems rather expensive, we recommend that you obtain a large motorcycle license and look for a motorcycle in a slightly larger displacement range. There are many sports models in the 600-700cc class that is also sold in overseas markets. Many twin-engine on-road sports models, which are the same or cheaper than the 400cc class, are also available in Japan.

I have selected four of these models in the (approx.) 5700 USD range, keeping in mind the prices of the CB400SF and CBR400R. The fact that they are comparable in price but have more horsepower and almost the same motorcycle weight is also attractive when compared to 400cc models. The Honda NC750X is excluded from the list this time because it belongs to the crossover category and its price is in the (approx.) 6415 USD range. The Honda Rebel 500, which also has a parallel twin engine and costs (approx.) 5700 USD, is omitted because it is a cruiser.

Incidentally, Kawasaki also has Ninja 400 and Z400 models, which are global models that are also lined up in Europe and the U.S. The Ninja 400, the more expensive of the two models, costs (approx.) 5410 USD, which is more reasonable than Honda's 400cc model. This is also recommended for riders with a standard motorcycle license.

Reasonable No. 1 SUZUKI SV650 [approx. 5720 USD].

Liquid-cooled V-twin engine but inexpensive

This sports naked model mounts a 645cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine, which has been used for more than 20 years while being matured, on a steel truss frame since 1999's SV650/S, which adopted an aluminum frame.

The 160-size rear tire, steel swingarm, and other cost-saving design features have been incorporated throughout, while the perfect balance has been achieved for friendly maneuverability that is easy for even entry-level riders to handle.

In general, reasonably priced two-cylinder models tend to use a parallel twin-cylinder layout, but this one is a liquid-cooled V-twin that provides a more pulsating feel. Using a matured engine that has been used for many years in a variety of models also reduces costs.

Reasonable No. 2 YAMAHA MT-07 [approx. 5800 USD]

Platformization also enables price reductions.

The MT-07 also serves as a platform motorcycle that can be used as a development base for various models. The chassis and engine have been used for the XSR700 and YZF-R7, and the engine has been used as the development base for the Ténéré 700, and by diverting it to many models, development costs per model are reduced.

Nevertheless, the MT-07 is also a fun-to-ride motorcycle, and the 688cc liquid-cooled, the parallel twin-cylinder engine produces a linear and powerful torque characteristic that creates a sporty taste that should not be underestimated.

It underwent minor changes for the 2021 model year, giving it a more intrepid look, but it is still priced at (approx.) 5805 USD, which suggests that the price increase was kept to a minimum, considering that the ABS version of the initial model introduced in 2014 was priced at (approx.) 5345. The MT-03 with a 320cc liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine costs (approx.) 4670 USD. The maximum output increases by 31 horsepower for a difference of about (approx.) 1145 USD.

Reasonable No. 3 SUZUKI SV650X [approx. 6045 USD].

Inexpensive even in popular cafe racer style.

The SV650X is a handlebar naked model SV650 converted to clip-on handlebars, fitted with a headlight cowl and a special retro-style seat.

With a slightly tighter forward lean, this road sports model has a slightly spartan feel that differs from the friendly base model. It is (approx.) 315 USD more than the SV650 but still priced in the mid-(approx.) 5705 USD range, making it a good value.

Of course, the engine here, like the SV650, is an aged 645cc liquid-cooled V-twin. It also features a different pulse feel from the parallel twin. It is also more reasonably priced than the Yamaha and Kawasaki café racer models in the same displacement range.

Reasonable No. 4 KAWASAKI Z650 [approx. 6120 USD].

Also features a full-color display

The 649cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine is mounted on a steel frame. It shares the same basic bodywork and engine as the Ninja 650, a supersport design with a full cowl, and is even less expensive than the Ninja 650.

It is reasonably priced but has a 4.3-inch full-color meter with Bluetooth smartphone integration. In this respect, it is one step ahead of its rivals.

Despite its aggressive looks, it is designed with entry-level riders in mind, and its ride quality is focused on ease of use.
At the same time, it is a sports naked model that is also fun to ride, with a more lively engine in the high-rpm range.