Kawasaki Ninja 400 18-23 Yoyodyne Slipper Clutch Install | Sportbike Track Gear

Slipper clutch with upgraded design suitable for Moto America levels of horsepower.

This clutch uses an additional spring, and an additional pair of friction and steel plates. The plates have different thickness that original, and we suggest using Yoyodyne's clutch kits for spares.

[Rexuar]

Mr. Brian Vans, as a ninja 400 owner, i wish you never stop making these videos.

[Jodyrides]

I just bought a Kawasaki Z 400/2019 with 1500 miles on it from the original beginner owner. He was 6 foot 44 years old and realized after learning how to shift and hold the bike up that it was too small for him
I have 700, 000+ miles just on the street since 1968. Trials bikes, trail bikes, motocross bikes, road racing eight years, commuting 240, 000+ miles, right now I have a GL 1800 Goldwing, and I wanted a little fun bike like my old RZ 350.
I am pleasantly surprised at how much power and torque the Z 400 has, it shares the same engine with the ninja 400. It’s fun..
At first, I did notice clutch slippage, It was when I was shifting up through the gears that I noticed the clutch wasn’t biting instantly. I watched some videos, one of them was that the 2020 ninja has updated parts, clutch pressure plate bearing, clutch pull rod, The bearing is 1 mm narrower, and the pull rod is 1 mm shorter.
i’ve only been riding the bike for about 300 miles sorting things out adding tank bag, ordering a 15 tooth countershaft sprocket, going over the whole bike tightening screws/bolts, adding wiring for my electric vest, adding a tire repair kit/pump, gutting beneath the passenger seat to make room for cargo net, straps, my electric tire pump. there’s a lot of storage room under that passenger seat once you Remove that useless little tray they have in there.
so being made aware of clutch slippage problems, I took my machine out for 140 mile ride, and because I was aware of the clutch issue, I altered my clutch release method, and it did not slip at all that for that entire ride. It’s a matter of knowing.
if the clutch goes bad, it will be the first time I ever burned out a clutch on a motorcycle. Even on my RD 250 road race machine that had almost 200 full throttle Merciless, second gear launches, and taller than stock gearing, i never had a clutch issue with that machine.
I can understand why they made the clutch pull light, for a beginner. The guy at the beginning of this video hit the nail on the head. Depending on your rideing style, you may never have an issue with the clutch slippage.
I have always treated my transmission/shifts as though the transmission was a fragile eggshell. Now I include the clutch in that category, and I’m not gonna worry about it...Although I will baby the clutch on the shifts, I am still going to ring the bikes neck, Which is why I bought it. You can ring its neck without sticking yours out too far.. It’s a fun little bike that you can actually use all of the power. it has been decades since I have had a motorcycle that I can actually use all of the power. That’s fun... it really doesn’t make sense to pay double the price for a motorcycle that has double the horsepower, and never be able to use that power often.
Thanks for the great informative video.

[saltyprocrastinator]

As always, thank you for the detailed overview. Can't wait for Max's impressions and race results as well.

[MadStylee]

I just purchased the yoyodyne yesterday, I was tired of purchasing clutch plates. Hopefully it fixes all issues I have.

[CLeeSTeR]

damm i wish i had van near me to be able to order and mount some nice pieces up on my 400! local dealer gots me at 480 to mount the brake line kit alone. Van does nice work.

[alainguinot]

Very knowledgeable and very well explained

[loganseyfert]

Sweet upgrade max good job as always brian

[aeror]

Cool video and a nice bike!
We are thinking of buying a ninja 400 too
Just for some fun in some 400cc racing cup’s over here.
Enjoy the bike life and have a good one

[SGKTV]

Mr. Van I Emailed you about buying a couple of the 2020 ninja Fairings.

[techvigator]

Hi Brian, I'm very glad to join your channel. Very nice videos. Could you kindly tell me which is the brand of the T wrench with the blue handle you usually use in your videos? Many thanks

[eric.r]

Hey Brian, I’m interested in installing this clutch when I get my ninja 400 but I got some questions. When you said “we do not reuse the the factory nut here” at 14:20. I noticed that you did reuse the factory nut that you took off. Just wondering if the clutch kits comes with a new nut? Also what type of ball bearing will I need to get for the clutch that you mentioned at 17:54. I’ll be purchasing the clutch from your site as I did with the ninja 400 akrapovic full system exhaust recently. Love your videos

[Fee.]

What effect does the slipper clutch have on making him faster? I don’t entirely understand despite having heard how they work million times.

[MadStylee]

Is it mandatory to change the Nut? Or can I use the OEM?

[marlonbustamante]

Hello. How much stiffer would you say the lever pull is now with the Yoyodyne kit? I only commute with my Ninja 400, but at 15, 000 miles, the clutch is slipping on the second set of plates I installed. I used Barnett plates and the heavy duty springs. After 5, 000 miles I am back to clutch slippage. I here good things about to Yoyodyne kit so I plan on possibly installing it this summer. Thanks.

[linusandersson]

Do you know how much torque in NM you should screw the other part of the clutch(the one with the springs, maybe called pressure plate?) original? Whete it’s only 3 bolts.
Thanks from sweden for answer and sorry for bad english😂

[SportbikerNZ]

Thanks for the excellent video. You mention you temporarily used EBC 600RR clutch springs for a while. Could you let me know what year 600RR clutch springs fits the Ninja 400?

I'm frustrated with the Ninja 400 clutch. At 25, 500km's I'm on my second set of frictions and steels. I've been using the updated pull rod and Barnett springs since 1000km. Annoyingly both my old and current clutch packs are well within thickness spec, and steels are perfectly flat. But frustratingly it still slips when hot after 30min of riding. It's fine when it's cold.
I'm wondering if it's that pull rod tolerance you mentioned - looser tolerance allows more oiling of the clutch. My pull rod seems to have a snug fit and I've noticed the clutch seems dry every time I remove it.

I've found the Barnett clutch springs are a waste of time. Maybe they're worn from the 24, 500km of use I've given them, but after testing them with weights, they are looking identical strength to the stock springs.

Thanks for your excellent vids.

[DanielBrain]

As far as getting the clutch holder nut on goes, is there any risk of threading the bolt using an impact wrench to put it back on? Anything I'd need to think about doing it? Will be doing a similar mod once I'm due for an oil change and that's the part I'm unsure about.

Thanks heaps for the videos. Getting into amateur Ninja 400 racing, and they're all really useful.

[y.kapocalyptic]

Is it difficult to replace outermost portion of basket? Mine has noticeable ware from fiber plates. Is outer portion offered by Yoyodyne?
Thanks

[replica]

Hello Brian, do you have the part number for that 2020 actuator rod? I would think others may find that quite useful when ordering that yoyodyne thru you guys :)

[jackruby]

Can you tell Yoyodyne to make a Z900 kit, They have no Contact on their site.