The Ninja 400 will soon be replaced in many markets, including India, by the new Ninja 500, which was unveiled at EICMA 2023 last November.
Just a few days after teasing the bike, Kawasaki Bikes has now officially launched the Ninja 500 in India, with a starting price of Rs 5.24 lakh (ex-showroom). Other markets receive an additional SE variation in addition to the single standard version for the Indian-specific vehicle.
The Japanese middleweight is introduced in a single metallic flash black color scheme. It has received the large displacement of the 2024 Eliminator.
Kawasaki Ninja 500: Design
The ZX-6R and ZX-10R, the Ninja 500’s older siblings. Served as inspiration for its dynamic and recognizable appearance. It is emphasized by the muscular fascia and distinctive split headlight arrangement. It also features split seating, a clip-on handlebar, a raised tail section, a small windscreen, and sharply carved front fenders and fairing.
Kawasaki Ninja 500: Engine and Hardware
The Ninja 500 has a more powerful engine than the Ninja 400. But it still has the same steel trellis frame and fuel tank. With a broader stroke than the Ninja 400, the liquid-cooled 451cc parallel-twin engine produces 42.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm and 44.38 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. With a stroke of 58.6 mm and a bore of 70 mm, the engine is matched to a 6-speed gearbox.
The mechanical configuration of the full-faired sports bike includes a gas-charged mono-shock at the rear with 130 mm of wheel travel and a 41 mm telescopic front fork with 121 mm of travel. Disc brakes measuring 220 mm at the rear and 310 mm at the front help in braking power. The bike has a 14-liter fuel tank, which measures 1995 mm in length, 730 mm in width, and 1120 mm in height. It weighs 171 kg and has a wheelbase of 1375 mm and a seat height of 785 mm.
Kawasaki Ninja 500: Features
The Ninja 500 features an LCD instrument dashboard that connects to smartphones to provide riders with community features, riding logs, and notifications. Additional features include:
- A Type-C charging outlet.
- Dual-channel ABS.
- An assist and slipper clutch.
- A Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start system.
Kawasaki Ninja 500: Price and Rivals
The starting price of the Kawasaki Ninja 500 Standard variant is Rs 5,25,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The new Kawasaki Ninja 500 joins the competitive sub-500cc class, taking on the Aprilia RS 457, Yamaha YZF-R3, and the KTM RC 390, respectively.
