2026 Yamaha MT-03 vs 2026 Kawasaki Z400 - Spec Comparison
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2026 Yamaha MT-03
The 2026 Yamaha MT-03 is an accessible 321cc naked bike designed for new and intermediate riders seeking an agile, confidence-inspiring platform. Its parallel-twin engine delivers smooth, manageable power with a lightweight frame, making it ideal for urban commuting and spirited weekend riding. Known for its approachable performance and affordability, the MT-03 excels at teaching proper riding fundamentals.
2026 Kawasaki Z400
The 2026 Kawasaki Z400 is a lightweight naked bike for newer riders and those moving up from a 125. Its liquid-cooled 399cc parallel twin makes 45 hp and 38 Nm through a six-speed gearbox. A low 785 mm seat, 165 kg wet weight and standard ABS make it easy to manage, and the economical riding indicator helps stretch the 14-litre tank.
2026 Yamaha MT-03 vs 2026 Kawasaki Z400: the key differences
Both are naked bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 Kawasaki Z400 makes 3 hp more (42 vs 45 hp).
- The 2026 Kawasaki Z400 has 8.4 Nm more torque (29.6 vs 38 Nm).
2026 Yamaha MT-03: It's designed primarily for commuting, city riding, and learning the fundamentals of naked-sportbike handling and light cornering.
2026 Kawasaki Z400: A lightweight middleweight naked built for commuting, city hopping and spirited weekend backroad rides, with enough legs for occasional short highway trips.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Kawasaki Z400 if you want more power and more torque. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Yamaha MT-03 | 2026 Kawasaki Z400 |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Naked | Naked |
| Color Options | Team Yamaha Blue, Ice Storm, Matte Stealth Black | Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Gray/Metallic Spark Black, Pearl Robotic White/Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Gray |
| Comments | LCD meter provides easy-to-absorb information. | Economical Riding Indicator. |
| Warranty | - | 12 |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 321.0 ccm (19.59 cubic inches) | 399.0 ccm (24.35 cubic inches) |
| Engine Type | Parallel Twin, four-stroke | Parallel Twin, four-stroke |
| Fuel Consumption | 4.20 litres/100 km (23.8 km/l or 56.00 mpg) | - |
| Bore x Stroke | 68.0 x 44.1 mm (2.7 x 1.7 inches) | 70.0 x 51.8 mm (2.8 x 2.0 inches) |
| Compression | 11.2:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | TCI | TCBI with digital advance |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Lubrication System | Wet sump | - |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 42.0 HP (30.7 kW) @ 10750 RPM | ✓45.0 HP (32.8 kW) @ 10000 RPM |
| Torque | 29.6 Nm (3.0 kgf-m or 21.8 ft.lbs) @ 9000 RPM | ✓38.0 Nm (3.9 kgf-m or 28.0 ft.lbs) @ 8000 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.2482 HP/kg (wet) | 0.2727 HP/kg (wet) |
| 0-60 mph | 5.00 seconds | - |
| 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) | 5.40 seconds | - |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Diamond Tubular | Trellis, high-tensile steel |
| Front Suspension | KYB inverted forks, Ø37.0 mm inner tube | Telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension | Single shock; 7-step preload adjustable | Uni-Trak® swingarm |
| Front Wheel Travel | 130 mm (5.1 inches) | 119 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 125 mm (4.9 inches) | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 25.0° | 24.5° |
| Trail | 95 mm (3.7 inches) | 91 mm (3.6 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 160 mm (6.3 inches) | 145 mm (5.7 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Chain |
| Clutch | Multiplate wet | Assist and slipper Clutch |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Single disc. ABS | Single disc. ABS |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 298 mm (11.7 inches) | 310 mm (12.2 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS | Single disc. ABS |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Front Tyre | 110/70-R17 | 110/70-17M |
| Rear Tyre | 140/70-R17 | 150/60-17M |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1380 mm (54.3 inches) | 1369 mm (53.9 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2090 mm (82.3 inches) | 1989 mm (78.3 inches) |
| Overall Width | 754 mm (29.7 inches) | 800 mm (31.5 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1069 mm (42.1 inches) | 1054 mm (41.5 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓780 mm (30.7 inches) | 785 mm (30.9 inches) |
| Wet Weight | 169.2 kg (373.0 pounds) | ✓165.0 kg (363.8 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | ✓14.00 litres (3.70 US gallons) | ✓14.00 litres (3.70 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 2.40 litres (2.54 US quarts) | 2.00 litres (2.11 US quarts) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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About this comparison tool
This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
How to use it
Pick a make, model and year for each bike; the model and year lists update to match what you've selected. Two bikes are enough - use "Add another bike" for a third or fourth. Comparisons work across model years too, so you can compare a bike against its own earlier generation. Once you're happy with the lineup, use "Copy share link" to send it to someone else.
What gets compared
Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
How the highlighting works, and its limits
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare bikes from different categories, like a scooter against a superbike?
Yes - the tool doesn't restrict what you compare, though a highlighted spec means less when the two bikes aren't really doing the same job.
What happens if a spec is missing for one of the bikes?
It shows as "-" and is never highlighted as a winner - a missing figure never beats one that's actually reported, and never blocks the rest of the row.
Are older model years included?
Yes - each bike's year list covers every model year in the database, so you can compare this year's bike against an earlier generation of the same model.
How do I share a comparison?
Every comparison has its own stable URL - use "Copy share link", or just copy the address bar. The same bikes in the same order always produce the same link.