The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Is The Goldilocks Of The Sub-500 Sportbike Segment (2024)

According to market research firm Precision Reports, increased global demand for smaller, more efficient motorcycles will continue to grow. Manufacturers are responding with new models and, following the trend to standardize styling across each range, the sub-500cc sportbike class has never looked so good. Squint at the new Kawasaki Ninja 500, and you could be looking at a ZX-10R. Styling aside, updates to the entry-level Ninja include a new engine, LED lights, improved instrumentation, and a revised seat design.

Kawasaki’s in-house study found that lightweight sportbike consumers prioritize aesthetics, closely followed by performance and cost. Thanks to its big-bike styling, class-leading power, and economical pricing, the Ninja 500 excels at all three. Four models comprise the Ninja 500 lineup:

1. The Ninja 500 base model, finished in metallic black and matt gray, has an MSRP of $5,299 and a lime green KRT Edition is $5,499.
2. The Ninja 500 ABS is available in three color schemes; the $5,699 metallic black and matt gray and, for a $200 premium, silver and grey or black and red.
3. The Ninja 500 SE ABS features premium equipment and is available in metallic black and red or KRT lime green, with an MSRP of $6,399.
4. The Ninja 500 SE 40th Anniversary Edition ABS ($6,599) marks four decades since Kawasaki released the first Ninja, finished in its classic lime green, white, and blue racing livery.

I spent a day riding the latest Ninja on the twisting canyon roads of Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains to see how it stacks up to its excellent predecessor, the Ninja 400, and its numerous competitors in 2024.

2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500

9/ 10

The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 stands out in the sub-500cc sportbike class for its powerful performance, lightweight build, affordability, and comfort. The Ninja 500, styled similarly to the ZX-10R, features a new 51 horsepower engine, LED lights, improved instrumentation, and a revised seat design. The Ninja 500's 451cc engine offers superior throttle response and efficiency. Despite its compact, lightweight design, the Ninja 500 provides a comfortable ride even for taller riders, thanks to its relaxed upper body ergonomics. Its handling is agile and responsive, making it a joy to ride on backroads. The SE model includes advanced features like a TFT display, wireless smartphone connectivity, and keyless start. The Ninja 500 offers a balanced blend of performance, handling, and comfort, making it an appealing option for riders of all experience levels.

Model

Ninja 500

Engine

451cc, parallel-twin

Transmission

6-Speed w. Assist/Slipper Clutch

Horsepower

51 HP

Torque

31.7 LB-FT

Driveline

O-Ring Chain

Range

229 miles (est.)

MSRP (As Tested)

$6,399

Fuel Economy

74 MPG (claimed)

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0-60 MPH

4.8 seconds

Bore

70 mm

Stroke

58.6 mm

Pros

• Most Powerful In Sub-500cc Class
• Lightest In Class
• Surprisingly Comfortable
• Exceptionally Agile

Cons

• Buzzy at Highway Speeds
• Surely It's a 450?
• Exhuast Heatshield Still Too Close to Right Footpeg

2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 First Impressions

Distinguished by its Kawasaki Racing Team lime green color scheme with black and red accents, our KRT Edition SE ABS test model includes a color TFT display with wireless smartphone connectivity, keyless start, LED turn signals, a taller windshield, and a radiator screen. It also gets a pillion seat cowling, which hides a USB-C charging port, and tank and knee pads. All-around ABS offers added security, and factory-fitted frame sliders protect the engine cowling.

The Ninja 500 takes its sportbike styling cues from the ZX-10R and 650 models. At first glance, only the skinnier tires betray its diminutive size. The finishing is excellent throughout, and subtle changes to the bodywork enhance its sporting appeal. A new aggressive LED head and taillight design enhance the Ninja 500’s premium appearance. Billet foot pegs promise a connected feel and a factory-fitted helmet lock adds practicality.

Engine and Performance

The all-new 451cc engine debuted on the Eliminator cruiser before partnering up with an electric motor on the Ninja 7 HEV. It is now the powerplant of choice for the Z 500 and Ninja 500 models. The latest generation of Kawasaki’s small-capacity parallel-twin benefits from a newly designed airbox and asymmetrical intake funneling, offering superior engine response across the rev range. Positioning the fuel injectors closer to the combustion chamber improves efficiency and performance, while a new balancing shaft promises less vibration. A racing-derived open-deck engine design allows more coolant to circulate, reducing heat, and precision forging techniques allow for sleeveless plated cylinders.

European A2 licensing regulations, which require new riders to spend two years riding motorcycles limited to 46.9 horsepower (35 kW), tend to dictate power output in the under 500cc class. However, although restricted to 46 in Europe, the NAS Ninja 500 produces a peak horsepower of 51 at 10,000 RPM and a maximum torque of 32 pound-feet at 7,500, improving on the performance offered by the Aprilia RS 457 and the Honda CBR500R. The relatively large bore and short stroke employed by its parallel twin make for a revvy engine. Nevertheless, the improvements over the Ninja 400 are most noticeable in the lower rev range, where increased torque adds to the bike’s lively character.

A six-speed transmission mated to an upgraded assist and slipper clutch offers smooth gear changes and an exceptionally light lever action while limiting wheel chatter, which can often accompany overzealous downshifts. Kawasaki’s pocket sportbike has plenty of power to hit the highways, but at speeds over 70 MPH, the handlebar becomes a little buzzy. Nevertheless, the Ninja 500’s rightful home is on the backroads, where its readily accessible performance envelope and agile handling provide endless entertainment.

Engine And Performance Specifications

Ride And Handling

Despite its larger capacity, the new twin-engine has similar dimensions to its predecessor, and the Ninja 500 inherits the steel trellis frame and box-section swingarm from the outgoing 400 model. The chassis uses the engine as a stressed member, reducing overall weight, which, at 366 pounds fuelled and ready to ride, makes the Ninja 500 the lightest in class. It even manages to undercut the revamped KTM RC 390 by 15 pounds. A sporty 24.5-degree rake and 3.6-inch trail combine with a 54.1-inch wheelbase to provide the characteristically responsive steering expected from a Ninja, and although eminently flickable, the wee 500 feels planted and assured.

In addition to its easy clutch, low weight, and light handling, the Ninja’s short 30.9-inch seat height makes it an ideal option for new and shorter riders. However, with the Ninja 500, Kawasaki has pulled off an ergonomic miracle. At six feet two inches tall, I generally find small sportbikes uncomfortable to ride for more than an hour or so. But, thanks to its flatter seat, heavy braking didn’t induce sliding forward in the saddle, and although the clip-on bars add to its sporting credentials, my upper body position was more upright than expected, allowing me to keep my weight off the grips and maintain a comfortable upper body position.

Providing the suspension, a 41mm Showa fork and preload-adjustable KYB monoshock impart an agreeable compromise between feel and comfort. The Ninja’s brakes utilize a single dual-piston Nissin caliper, clamping a 310mm disc at the front wheel, and at the rear, a smaller dual-piston caliper clamps a 220mm disc. On such a light machine, the single disc at the front wheel provides plenty of stopping power. The Ninja’s alloy five-spoke 17-inch wheels and Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 tires, which provided plenty of grip in the corners, were also inherited from the 400.

Chassis Specifications

Riding Style

Technology And Equipment

The LCD instrumentation fitted to the base model is much improved, offering sharper contrast and an updated display format, including a bar-style tachometer over a digital speedometer. Our SE test model gets a full-color TFT display with a customizable light or dark background and a USB-C charging port located in the tail section. The SE offers wireless smartphone connectivity via Kawasaki’s RIDEOLOGY app and keyless start. All trim levels offer LED headlights and a newly designed taillight, but only the SE models benefit from LED turn signals.

Standard Equipment (SE ABS Model)

• Color TFT Instrumentation
• ABS Brakes
• All-Around LED Lights
• Wireless Smartphone Connectivity
• Frame Sliders
• USB-C Power Socket
• Keyless Ignition

The Ninja 500 Vs. Its Competitors

The Ninja 500 joins a competitive segment, going up against established benchmarks like the Honda CBR500R, Suzuki GSX250R, and the Yamaha YZF-R3. It also goes head to head with newer European entries, including the KTM RC 390 and Aprilia RS 457. All are great bikes in their own right, offering refined sportbike styling, accessible performance, and, with the exception of the Aprilia, low seat heights. While some offer more advanced electronics and premium components, others focus on price and approachability.

The 250 Gixxer with an MSRP of $5,099 is the most affordable but is not a bike to grow into or likely to thrill experienced riders. Yamaha’s R3 offers similar specifications but costs $200 more than the base Ninja, despite making less power and carrying more weight. The $6,899 Aprilia RS 457 with its aluminum frame, dual front brakes, and 34-inch seat height is more of a track weapon than a daily runabout, suiting the narrow niche of young riders harboring racing aspirations. For everyone else, the Honda and the KTM are the Ninja’s closest in-class rivals.

How The Ninja 500 Compares To The Honda CBR500R

• 	2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500	2024 Honda CBR500R
  Engine	451cc, parallel-twin	471cc, parallel-twin
  Transmission	6-Speed w. Assist/Slipper Clutch	6-speed
  Horsepower	51 HP	47 horsepower
  Torque	31.7 LB-FT	31.7 pound-feet
  Fuel Economy	74 MPG (claimed)	67.5 MPG

With an MSRP of $7,399, the Honda CBR500R lies at the premium end of the market, offering a 41mm Showa big-piston, separate-function, invented fork, dual front brakes with four-pot calipers, and back-lit switchgear. Like the Ninja, the smallest CBR replicates the thoroughbred styling of its Fireblade cousin and sports a relatively fat 160 rear tire, bestowing big-bike appeal. Its parallel twin is renowned for its excellent torque band, and the Honda’s peak performance comes earlier in the rev range. Nevertheless, it costs $800 more than the Ninja 500 SE ABS we tested and is over 50 pounds heavier, making it the heaviest in class.

How The Ninja 500 Compares To The KTM RC 390

• 	2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500	2024 KTM RC 390
  Engine	451cc, parallel-twin	373cc Liquid-Cooled Single
  Transmission	6-Speed w. Assist/Slipper Clutch	6-Speed w. Slipper/Assist Clutch
  Horsepower	51 HP	43 HP @ 9,000 RPM
  Torque	31.7 LB-FT	27 HP @ 7,000 RPM
  Model	Ninja 500	RC 390
  Driveline	O-Ring Chain	Chain
  Bore	70 mm	89 mm
  Stroke	58.6 mm	60 mm

Although the KTM’s single-cylinder, 373cc engine is significantly smaller than the Ninja’s twin, it still manages to produce a commendable 42 horsepower. The RC 390 also benefits from ride-by-wire fuelling, WP Apex suspension, and excellent handling characteristics. Surprisingly, it still weighs more than the Ninja 500 but competes well on price, with an MSRP of $5,899. The KTM’s 32.4-inch seat height will put some new and shorter riders off, but like the Ninja, it's a machine designed to offer a thrilling riding experience to new and veteran riders alike.

Should You Buy The Ninja 500?

I was genuinely surprised by how much fun I had riding the Ninja 500 for a day. Despite my lofty stature, it wasn’t the endurance test I had expected, and thanks to its tight frame and revvy parallel twin, the baby Ninja is an absolute joy to carve up a winding canyon road. Its segment offers better-specced machines, but the Ninja’s relatively rudimentary suspension and brakes do an excellent job, providing an assured and rewarding experience. In a class of impressive machines, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a standout option. Its various trim levels appeal to a wide range of budgets, its performance and handling characteristics are accessible yet thrilling enough for riders of all experience levels, and its ergonomics are sporty enough for the track but comfortable enough for the commute.