Last seen at EICMA 2023, the Ninja 500 has now been teased on Kawasaki India’s social media handle, and its launch is imminent.
- Only SE variant likely to come to India
- Features a 5-inch TFT display, keyless ignition
- Lower 785mm seat height; 171kg kerb weight
Kawasaki Ninja 500 engine, features, rivals
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 451cc, parallel twin engine that produces 45.4hp at 9,000rpm and 42.6Nm at 6,000rpm. This engine is based on the Ninja 400’s mill but has a longer stroke, and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch.
Much like the Ninja 400, the Ninja 500’s trellis frame is suspended by a telescopic fork and a preload adjustable monoshock. Its lower 785mm seat height makes it a more approachable option for shorter riders than the Aprilia RS 457 (800mm) and the KTM RC 390 (835mm). With its 14-litre tank fully brimmed, the Ninja 500 weighs 171kg, which is lighter than the RS 457 (175kg) and the RC 390 (172kg).
The bike in the teaser seems to be the Ninja 500 SE, a clear giveaway due to the bright KRT colours. The SE variant gets a 5-inch TFT dash and will offer Bluetooth connected services, turn-by-turn navigation and even keyless ignition, which is a novel feature in the entry-level sportbike class. The twin-LED headlamp design at the front and an LED tail-lamp integrated into its swept-up tail section are similar to the 2024 ZX-6R. What’s to note is that the Eliminator 500 and the Ninja 500 are priced on par in the UK, so it remains to be seen if Kawasaki India goes down the same route. It will rival the Aprilia RS 457 (Rs 4.10 lakh), Yamaha R3 (Rs 4.65 lakh), KTM RC 390 (Rs 3.18 lakh) and BMW G 310 RR (Rs 3.05 lakh).
Rishaad Mody
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
