Fifteen years after the launch of the very first Ninja 250 R, Kawasaki has upgraded its little Supersport for the A2 license to the Ninja 500, which has been launched in two editions: Ninja 500 and Ninja 500 SE. Only the latter will be available from us in the Benelux.
When Kawasaki launched the Ninja 250 R in 2008, it was still quite the odd one out. A 250 cc twin? Wasn’t that a bit too little? Wasn’t that a small version of a ‘real’ motorcycle, as if they had been washed a bit too hot, so to speak? What on earth were you supposed to do with it?
However, Team Green had foresight. Five years later, the new driving license directive was introduced in Europe with three new driving license classes: A1, A2 and A, where A1 was intended for 125 cc motorcycles and A2 replaced the 25 kW restriction that previously applied to novice motorcyclists. meant who was younger than 24 years old.
Kawasaki had already upgraded the Ninja 250 R to the Ninja 3000, which not only had the looks of a real Ninja, but also had steering characteristics that were more than worthy of the name Ninja and now had a 39 hp 298cc parallel twin, good for a top speed of 183 km/h on the German Autobahn.
Six years later, the little Ninja for the A2 driver’s license received its third update for the 2018 model year, with the engine capacity being increased again and the name changed to Ninja 400. However, the Ninja 400 was more than a ‘300-with-a-little-more’, but a completely new bike from the ground up, with a considerably refreshed design (again in line with the ZX-10R), a much stronger block that was now good for 45 hp and was included as a load-bearing part in the half-timbered tubular frame, better suspension and better brakes.
The Ninja 400 was a great success, both on the circuit where it became the bike to beat in the Supersport 300 World Championship – so dominant that Dorna, against all rules, adjusted the requirements halfway through the season to give other brands a better chance – and in the showroom of the Kawasaki dealer, where the little Ninja sold like hot cakes.
Once again six years after the launch of the Ninja 400, Kawasaki has completely renewed its little Ninja for the A2 driving license for the fourth time for model year 2024 and has now upgraded it to the Ninja 500 and at the same time added a Ninja 500 SE. Or as they say themselves: “Kawasaki has added pepper to the 500cc class in 2024.”
That pepper is mainly in the new engine block, which has obtained its larger cylinder capacity of now 451 cc through a larger stroke of now 58.6 mm, which must have given the block more pulling power from below. Which is also evident from the figures. The top power of 45 hp is the same as that of the Ninja 400, but is now delivered 1,000 revolutions earlier at 9,000 rpm.
At least as interesting, however, is the greatly increased torque of now 42.6 Nm at 6,000 rpm, which is no less than 12% more than the 38 Nm of the Ninja 400, which was only available at a much higher speed of 8,000 rpm. And those are just the maximum values, at the bottom the differences will undoubtedly be much greater, making the motorcycle much easier to ride on the street.
In terms of looks, Kawasaki has not only aligned the design with the ZX-10R, but has also applied multi-layer technology to the fairing for the first time, which has resulted in aerodynamic scoops in the nose, which will give the bike more downforce and thus a better feeling at the front and more stability under braking.
In addition to new looks, Kawasaki also says it has adjusted the saddle, which should have resulted in a more comfortable seat. Not that we ever had anything to complain about there. The seat height is 785 mm the same as its predecessor and, as before, a 30 mm thicker ERGO saddle is available.
The chassis is the same as that of the Ninja 400, but adapted to the larger cylinder capacity. The truss tubular frame (developed with the same software used to design the first truss frame of the Ninja H2) with a block as a load-bearing part is equipped with a 41 mm telescope at the front and the Bottom-Link Uni-Trak monoshock at the rear, the spring preload of which can be customized.
The 5-spoke wheels with star motif are similar to those of the Ninja 650 and have contributed to the low weight, according to Kawasaki, while the optimized lateral stiffness should have improved the steering characteristics thanks to better cornering stability. Kawasaki says the wheels are a product of technology developed in MotoGP.
As for the brakes, Kawasaki sticks with the single disc in the front wheel, with a 310mm disc and Nissin 2-piston caliper. The rear wheel has a 220 mm disc with a 2-piston brake caliper. The ABS unit is also sourced from Nissin. Some more figures: the Ninja 500 has a curb weight of 172 kilos, that is with a full 14 liter petrol tank, and a nice short wheelbase of 1,375 mm.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.