Kawasaki Ninja 500 – First Look

Redefining lightweight sportbike riding the Kawasaki Ninja 500 blossoms with advanced tech, agile handling, and spirited performance.

The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a game-changer in the exhilarating world of sport motorcycles. It follows in the footsteps of its celebrated predecessors, the Ninja 250, 300, and 400, and is set to dominate the lightweight sport segment. This latest iteration continues Kawasaki’s legacy of delivering heart-pounding performance and sleek designs. The Ninja 500 is a revolutionary approach to riding, melding power with agility in a lightweight package.

At the core of the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a robust 451cc parallel-twin engine that offers a thrilling acceleration experience. The engine’s 70.0mm x 58.6mm bore and stroke and downdraft intake system ensure peak performance, especially at high RPMs. The sizable 5.8-liter airbox and precisely placed fuel injectors accentuate the engine’s efficiency and power. The Ninja 500 is meticulously designed for seamless performance and approachability, thanks to features like the Assist & Slipper clutch, a lightweight flywheel, and Denso stick-type ignition coils.

The chassis of the Kawasaki Ninja 500 exemplifies Kawasaki’s engineering prowess. Its trellis frame is a masterpiece of lightweight design, providing agility and stability in equal measure. The bike’s narrow profile aids in easy handling and rider comfort. The swingarm pivot position, drawn from supersport bikes, enhances handling, while the bike’s overall low curb weight of 377 pounds ensures maneuverability.

Equally impressive is the suspension of the Kawasaki Ninja 500. The 41mm telescopic front fork and bottom-link Uni-Trak rear suspension, with adjustable preload, work harmoniously to provide a smooth and responsive ride. Braking is no less remarkable, with a large diameter 310mm front disc brake and a 220mm rear disc, ensuring reliable stopping power.

Its sharp and aggressive Ninja styling, new LED headlight and taillight, high-contrast full LCD instrumentation, and a more relaxed, sporty riding position mark it as a standout in the sportbike category. The Ninja 500 SE adds even more flair with features like a high-grade full-color TFT display, KIPASS, and a USB-C outlet.

The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is available in different colors and models, ranging from $5,299 to $6,599. The Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Raw Graystone model costs $5,299, while the Lime Green/Ebony model, known as the Ninja 500 KRT Edition, costs $5,499. The Ninja 500 ABS is available in different options, including Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Raw Graystone, White Silver/Metallic Moondust Gray, and Passion Red/Metallic Flat Spark Black/Metallic Matte Dark Gray. The price of this model ranges from $5,699 to $5,899. If you’re after the Ninja 500 SE ABS, you can get it in Passion Red/Metallic Flat Spark Black/Metallic Matte Dark Gray for $6,399. The same color is available for the Ninja 500 KRT Edition SE ABS at the same price. Finally, there’s the Ninja 500 SE 40th Anniversary Edition ABS, which comes in Lime Green/Pearl Crystal White/Blue and is priced at $6,599.

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