Powering the Ninja 500 is the new liquid-cooled, 451cc, parallel-twin engine making 45hp at 9,000rpm and 42.6Nm at 6,000rpm and this mill is already found on the Eliminator 500 cruiser as well as Kawasaki’s innovative Ninja 7 hybrid motorcycle. While peak power is the same as the Ninja 400, peak torque has gone up by a substantial 5.6Nm.
At 171kg, the Ninja 500 is a little heavier than the Ninja 400 (168kg) and the Yamaha R3 (169kg) but is still lighter than the Aprilia RS 457 (175kg) and the KTM RC 390 (172kg). The Ninja 500’s cycle parts are very similar to the Ninja 400 and dual-channel ABS is standard here. With a 785mm seat height, the Ninja 500 should be a fairly easy machine for shorter riders to get along with and if you so wish, Kawasaki will also sell you an accessory tall seat that raises the perch by 30mm, to 815mm.
With an asking price of Rs 5.24 lakh, the CBU Kawasaki Ninja 500 is certainly priced head and shoulders above its primary rivals – the Yamaha R3 (Rs 3.65 lakh), Aprilia RS 457 (Rs 4.20 lakh) and the KTM RC 390 (Rs 3.23 lakh).