The Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 joins its Z500 sibling in beefing up the outgoing 400 line-up. A learner legal offering, it marks the entry point for the brand’s sports bike range. Tipping the scales at just 171kg, it’s light and nimble.
A perfect companion for beginning your rider journey, it combines easily manageable weight with a seat height of just 785mm, ensuring the Ninja is accessible to to folks across a variety of heights and sizes.
There’s even a special SE KRT edition which scores exclusive Kawasaki Racing Team colours & graphics, a better TFT dash, KIPASS (Kawasaki’s Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System), a USB-C outlet, a larger windshield and a pillion seat cover.
It also gets LED turn signals, frame sliders, a tank pad, knee grip pads, and a radiator screen, it does cost $1,300 more than the standard version though, which will set you back just over $9,000 ride away.
But back to the task at hand, and the standard offering. Throwing a discerning eye over the 2024 Ninja 500, it appears to be a very well built bike for the price. It has modern aggressive styling, paired with some subtle practical features.
It’s fairly basic though, with non-adjustable levers and front suspension, along with nothing other than pre-load on the rear. The electronics package is fairly simplified too. What it does offer is excellent ergonomics.
Because the Ninja 500’s handlebars are set higher than a normal sports bike, you’ll find yourself sitting in a more upright and relaxed riding position, which is particularly handy if you are a learner rider.
The LED display is functional and simple, showing all the information required, without any unnecessary clutter or interference from more complex rider aids. The Ninja 500 comes fitted standard with ABS brakes.
Its 451cc parallel twin produces 33.4kW of power and 42.6Nm of torque. Straight out of the box, it does sound a little muted. An aftermarket exhaust would amplify the note from the pipe once you’re on a full licence.
The sweet spot for the Ninja 500 in the rev range sits between 4,330rpm and the high 7,000rpm mark, with this zone offering optimum performance. We did take the opportunity to wind it out to the redline a few times, but found it better in the middle.
Don’t be fooled about its entry level status though, as while the Ninja 500 might be a learner bike, it will happily tackle the freeway comfortably, and exceed the speed limit should you need to (not that we’d condone that).
Due to it’s nimble nature, the Ninja 500 is perfect for lane filtering for those on a full ticket, particularly during a busy city commute. That said, you’ll need to be a little careful due to the position of the rear view mirrors.
Fuel economy is impressive too, with the Kawasaki up for a casual 300km from a single 14-litre tank. Its 6-speed gearbox works well and the slipper clutch is not only super lightweight but adds positively to the riding experience.
Braking is also up to par, with the Ninja fitted with a single 310mm wave rotor up front, with a twin-piston Nissin calliper. On the rear, Kawasaki have chosen to fit a 220mm rotor and twin-piston calliper, with a conventional master-cylinder.
The combination does the job well, giving ample feel and power. On the road, the Ninja 500 is a whole heap of fun down a twisty back road. Sure it doesn’t have the mind blowing performance of a larger sports bike, but it’s agile enough to change directions quickly.
Available in Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Raw Greystone or Metallic Matte Whitish Silver/Metallic Moondust Grey, it comes with a 2-year unlimited kilometre warranty. It’s a great learner bike, able to handle the commute or be a hoot on weekends.
To find out more about the 2024 Ninja 500, you can visit the Kawasaki Australia website or talk to your local dealership.
Our test bike was supplied by Kawasaki Australia for independent review purposes. Images courtesy of bikereview.com.au.
