Entry-level bikes are supposed to be friendly, else they’ll scare away potential riders with a steep learning curve. This is easy when it is a cruiser, because they are, in concept, easygoing products. Even naked bikes can make a case for being docile and easy to ride, since they can be purchased for just commuting purposes.
However, this is not an avenue open to a sports bike, even an entry-level one.
A sports bike, by definition, needs to offer great performance to its owner, irrespective of where in the hierarchy of motorcycles it sits. That makes the job of the beginner sports bike quite impossible – they need to be approachable and docile, while still delivering the promise of adrenaline that the full fairing promises. We believe there are quite a few beginner sports bikes that manage this, but few manage it as well as the one we’re talking about today. This is the most powerful entry-level sports bike for first-time buyers.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources such as Kawasaki USA.
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 Is The Most Powerful Entry-Level Sports Bike
Output: 51 Horsepower
The baby Ninja series has been around for a very long time, and has had a very strong following. The new entry-level model for the series is now the Ninja 500, the most affordable Ninja at $5,299. If you spec it with the optional ABS, it goes up to $5,699. Just because it is affordable doesn’t make it cheap; it builds on the goodwill of all the small Ninjas that came before it, including the Ninja 250, Ninja 300, and Ninja 400.
It features the same type of frame and engine as these as well, and hasn’t opted for flash like exotic materials or components just for the sake of it. This is unabashedly a beginner sports bike, and sticks to that brief. Still, it generates over 50 horsepower, and makes it pretty high up in the rev range. That means at low revs it remains docile and friendly to beginners. And the choice of components follows a similar path; they aren’t flash, but are good enough for the job, while offering a low cost of ownership.
Why We Picked The Kawasaki Ninja 500
- Has the most horsepower among the beginner sports bikes
- Lighter than even the Aprilia RS 457
- An old but fun platform
31.7 Pound-Feet Of Torque To Complement The 51 Horses
Most Powerful In The Segment
The Ninja 500 builds on the smaller Ninjas that came before it, with a parallel twin engine. This is a short stroke engine with an old-school 180-degree firing order, so it generates its peak power and torque a little higher in the rev range compared to the more modern 270-degree parallel twins. Still, this is a flexible engine, with the torque and power peaks separated by 2,500 RPM. This engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch, and a chain drives the rear wheel. There are no ride modes or traction control, but Kawasaki does provide the Ninja 500 with an ‘Eco riding’ indicator on the dash that lights up when you’re riding economically. There is no quickshifter available even as an option, which is something we’d like to see in the future.
Kawasaki Ninja 500 Engine Specifications
|
Engine Configuration |
180-degree parallel-twin, liquid cooling, DOHC, four valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
451 cc |
|
Bore x Stroke |
70 x 58.6 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
11.3:1 |
|
Power |
51 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Fuel System |
Electronic Fuel Injection |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed manual transmission, assist and slipper clutch |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
The Ninja 500’s Chassis Is Surprisingly Light
The Ninja 500’s chassis is also not space-age, and like the engine, just refines what it has been doing over the years. It is a steel trellis frame, and unlike some of the older small Ninjas, doesn’t have a link-type rear shock. The Ninja 500 has a horizontal back-link rear suspension, conventional telescopic front forks, and only the rear has preload adjustment. The brakes consist of single discs both front and rear, and the front caliper is an axially mounted two-piston caliper. ABS is a $400 optional extra, and is not switchable.
Kawasaki Ninja 500 Chassis Specs And Dimensions
|
Chassis |
Steel trellis frame |
|
Front Suspension |
41 mm front forks; 4.7 inches travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
Horizontal back-link single shock, adjustable preload; 5.1 inches travel |
|
Front Tire And Wheel |
110/70 17 |
|
Rear Tire And Wheel |
150/60 17 |
|
Front Brakes |
310 mm semi-floating disc with two-piston floating caliper |
|
Rear Brakes |
220 mm disc with single piston caliper |
|
Fuel Tank Capacity |
3.7 Gallons |
|
Length/Width/Height |
78.5/28.7/44.1 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
54.1 inches |
|
Rake |
24.5 degrees |
|
Trail |
3.6 inches |
|
Seat Height |
30.9 inches |
|
Ground Clearance |
5.7 inches |
|
Curb Weight |
375 LBs (wet) |
At the price, there isn’t much to complain about – the Ninja 500 is even lighter than competition like the Aprilia RS 457 that has an aluminum twin spar frame, but there still are a few places where it can improve, like providing a better front brake caliper and maybe a switch to disable the rear ABS for better control in low-grip situations. However, we keep coming back to the price; the Ninja 500 is one of the most cost-effective options in its segment, and adding features would means an increase in price.
Not A Very Feature-Loaded Bike
Just The Basics
The Ninja 500 is available in a few different variants. The base model is available with an LCD. Kawasaki has used colors intelligently on this reverse LCD unit to make it look more than monochromatic, and it is clear and legible. This base variant is available in three colors: a silver that is available with or without ABS is one. A black with red accents, or a black with blue accents is available if you opt for the ABS – these aren’t available without ABS.
These are also the only two color options if you opt for the $6,399 Ninja 500 SE ABS, which offers more features like a TFT color display, keyless ignition, USB charging port, LED indicators, larger windshield, pillion seat cover, radiator guard, frame sliders, tank pad, and knee grips on the sides of the tank. That’s a lot of additional kit for an additional $700!
Kawasaki Ninja 500 Notable Features
- LCD instrument cluster
- Smartphone connectivity
- TFT color display
- Adjustable handlebar and footpegs
- Three different color choices
It Goes Up Against The Likes Of Aprilia, CFMoto, And KTM
Some Very Good Options
For the purposes of being fair, we’ll consider the ABS version of the Ninja 500 for the comparison – all the other more modern competition offer it as standard. The CFMoto 450SS is the nearest competition here, with its combination of horsepower and features. In fact, it makes the same amount of horsepower as the Ninja 500, but less torque despite being a 270-degree parallel twin.
Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs. Rivals
|
Kawasaki Ninja 500 ABS |
Aprilia RS 457 |
CFMoto 450SS |
KTM RC390 |
|
|
Price |
$5,699 |
$6,899 |
$5,699 |
$5,899 |
|
Engine |
180-degree parallel twin |
270-degree parallel twin |
270-degree parallel twin |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
451 cc |
457 cc |
449 cc |
373 cc |
|
Power |
51 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
47 HP @ 9,400 RPM |
51 HP @ 9,500 RPM |
43 HP @ 9,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM |
32 LB-FT @ 6,700 RPM |
28.8 LB-FT @ 7,600 RPM |
27.2 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (Wet) |
348 LBs |
385 LBs |
370 LBs |
342 LBs |
We also have to consider the Aprilia RS 457, which has the most features in the segment by far, including adjustable suspension and configurable electronics. The KTM RC390 is also a product that needs to be considered when we’re talking about power; it manages to extract 43 horsepower from a single cylinder, so its performance won’t be less than the others here.