Norton Dominator vs Kawasaki Ninja 400
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Norton Dominator vs Kawasaki Ninja 400. Norton Dominator: 49 hp @ 6,750 rpm (650SS variant; 500cc models approx. 30 hp @ 6,000 rpm) hp, 190 kg (wet/curb weight — approximate, varies by model year) weight, top speed 170 km/h (Model 99 650cc variant; earlier 500cc models approx. 145 km/h), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Kawasaki Ninja 400: 45 hp @ 10,000 rpm hp, 168 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Norton Dominator
Kawasaki Ninja 400
Horsepower (hp)
49 hp
45 hp
Torque (Nm)
51 Nm
38 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
170 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
190 kg
168 kg
Type
Sport
Sport
Horsepower
49 hp @ 6,750 rpm (650SS variant; 500cc models approx. 30 hp @ 6,000 rpm)
45 hp @ 10,000 rpm
Torque
51 Nm @ 5,500 rpm (650cc variant — estimated)
38 Nm @ 8,000 rpm
Top Speed
170 km/h (Model 99 650cc variant; earlier 500cc models approx. 145 km/h)
175 km/h
Weight
190 kg (wet/curb weight — approximate, varies by model year)
168 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
Approx. 5.5 L/100km (18 km/L) — estimated typical real-world average
3.7 L/100km (approx. 27 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
Norton Dominator
7.5/10
"Buy one sorted by a previous owner, not someone else's project."
Pros
+Spine-tingling exhaust note
+Razor-sharp handling chassis
+Head-turning genuine British provenance
Cons
−Early build quality inconsistent
−Electrical issues plague examples
−Parts availability remains frustrating
Kawasaki Ninja 400
8.5/10
"The benchmark small-displacement bike that rewards riders of all experience levels."
Pros
+Genuinely engaging chassis dynamics
+Strong resale value retention
+Excellent real-world power delivery
Cons
−Used prices remain inflated
−Pillion comfort is poor
−Fairing repairs get expensive
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
