2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Ride Review and Specs

The all new 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Z500 motorcycles are here! These motorcycles are equipped with Kawasaki’s new twin cylinder engine revving to 14,000rpms! They have the new aggressive styling found on the 636, come equipped with LED headlight and taillight, smartphone connectivity and more! If that wasn’t awesome enough, the SE models come equipped with that and more! Boasting a TFT display, frame sliders, keyless ignition switch, usb-c charger, tank and knee pads, larger windscreen, passenger seat cover and LED turn signals! This will be the new bike to have! Come see for yourself or check them out HERE: bit.ly/Ninja_500

[@justinlloyd9342]

I had 1 of the first gen ninja 500s that thing was reliable as they come. I 2 up toured all over the south East with my wife. What a great bike

[@MJT-DA]

Man i wish this bike was around when I started riding 9 years ago

[@MikeVenom-mini]

Why

[@MJT-DA]

@@MikeVenom-mini started on a 1990-2007 Ninja 250 which barely had any power to go up a steep hill. Made riding dangerous in high speed traffic.

[@xultmatehotdog]

going to put a deposit on one today. Will be my first bike

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Excellent choice! I think you'll love it

[@W3B3Play1ng]

As someone who bought one a few weeks ago, it is a great first bike. It has such a smooth clutch, it's just as light as it seems, and best of all it has a wonderful seat position that keeps that torque in control.

[@nicolewalker8495]

I only just found out about the 500s and I tried getting a 40th Anniversary but missed out as none left in Australia. I'll wait till October and buy a 2025 650 in krt

[@nicolewalker8495]

​@W3B3Play1ng did you buy the normal 500 or did you buy the SE? Cheers

[@rons8463]

Nice Review just gor one yesterday the Throttle Response is too good and the Torque!

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Oh yes! I was quite surprised by it!

[@darkhelmet5180]

I picked up an SE 40th anniversary last weekend

[@DylanFoos]

Solid review. 👏 Just bought mine, first bike!

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Thanks my friend!

[@berttompkins9096]

The SE 40th is really nice . Has bis windscreen and frame sliders and tank protectors .

[@nicolewalker8495]

AND RADIATOR GAURD

[@fluxop3170]

Great video man! I am planning to buy a Ninja 500 as well. If you could give me some insights on one question I had, I’d really appreciate it. Are the handlebars too up and forward to the rider, till the point it feels like a normal commuter motorcycle? I’m just confused that if I’d get a good sporty feel on the bike. Also can the handlebars be adjudted to go up/down?

[@TSYokai]

was looking at one of these for my first actual sport bike im a bigger guy (300+) and ive been cruising around town on a 125cc to get used to riding for the last couple weeks and now that im comfortable on that i want to upgrade would you say it would be a good bike for someone of my size?

[@josh_ari]

Yes, much better than a 125cc. Go try one out at the showroom just to be sure.

[@X11CHASE]

Why not a 600??

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Like Josh mentioned above, the best bet is going to sit on one and see how it feels for yourself. I've learned over the years that what 1 bigger guy may be comfortable on, another will not. It's all about personal preference. This is a fantastic bike for a fantastic price, it has a much more comfortable riders triangle than a 600cc supersport and the average rider doesn't need the additional power contrary to popular belief. I truly believe you'll love it. My next recommendation if you find this uncomfortable would be the Z500, Eliminator since they use the same engine. But, there are a lot of great options out there.

[@samita137]

Is the eliminator roomier? Which one would you chose?

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Personally I like the Eliminator more. It is roomier, has a much more comfortable riding position and feels faster in my opinion. It's also very flick-able and handles great.

[@JayPimen]

Can’t decide between the ninja 500 or a Klx300sm ,I won’t be doing no highway driving and only be driving 45-60 mph trying to figure out which one is going to be more fun ,I’m thinking the klx so I can rev it out and shift more but idk the ninja 500 is more bang for buck

[@joekavalauskas8767]

Great choices!

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

That's a tough choice! The SM will be more comfortable due to having a more upright riding position, but the ninja 500's new engine is fantastic! Redlining at 11k RPMs is fun, makes the bike feel like it has more power than it actually does! but, to be all over the place, I'll mention I've owned 2 supermoto bikes personally and they're a lot of fun around town! I personally felt like the KLX300sm was a tad under powered but the engine is smooth and it's a great ride. I think the best way to determine which bike is better for you will come down to 2 factors. Distance Traveling and comfort. Go sit on both if you haven't and see which one you like more. then think about the distance and what type of roads and terrain you'll be traveling. if your going shorter distances on rougher urban roads the KLX may be solid option but if you're traveling a little farther on straight, smooth roads consider the Ninja. The best of both worlds could the new Kawasaki eliminator though. It has the same engine found in the Ninja 500 with a more upright riding position like the Ninja 500. I was really impressed by the Kawasaki Eliminator as well. Hope this helped some. Ultimately I think you'll be happy with any of the 3 bikes mentioned regardless of which you choose.

[@JayPimen]

@@panamacitycyclesinc thank you so much very helpful, seeing the perspective of somebody have driven both, i’ll look into the eliminator

[@shivendrasharma9938]

Ninja500 vs Yamaha R3? Which one would you choose and why? Is it the case that R3 is having more refined engine...also seat comfort is better compared to ninja500?

[@florme6494]

R3 - more comfortable seat - slightly more committed lean - the main thing you notice between the two is the engine. You feel a lot less torque on the r3. R3 engine feels very silky smooth. Smoother than the ninja, but not better throughout especially when it comes to overtaking at any speed. Having owned both the R3 and ninja 400 (not 500). I personally love everything better on the ninja except for the seat, oh and the mirrors stick out more for filtering. I still own the ninja 400 and I feel it is the most engaging bike out there. I have many other bike too including the ninja 1000sx.

[@f.reyesphoto2495]

You recommend this for someone that’s 5’9” 240lbs? Rode around for a good 3 months years ago and was thinking about a ninja 650 or this 500.

[@Shane661]

I'm only a little taller, but a little heavier. Our 500 just came into the dealer. But the 400's we've had...which are similar ergonomics, were fine for me. Are you going to do 1000-mile days on it, no. But they also offer a taller, more comfortable seat, as an accessory. Fine motorcycles. And I've owned at least 30 over the years, and many larger and much more powerful bikes. I should add, that for the base models, this bike is a great deal. Around the same prices as the 2018 400 I had, but with more features. We got the 40th Anniversary, because I am old and nostalgic. 🙂

[@f.reyesphoto2495]

@@Shane661thank you so much for replying and for the info, I’m still trying to decide on which one to get. If I get my way I’m getting the 650, if not then I can convince the wife on the 500 for sure 😂

[@theunluckycharm9637]

It looks very similar to my 400

[@itspzycho3703]

Almost like it’s a 451cc 😮🤥🤭🥴🤡

[@berttompkins9096]

I'm on the waiting list for the 400RR. But this bike might be just as good and 4000 cheaper

[@the_gr33n_gobl1n]

Sup Jackson... I am also Jackson

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

What's up my friend!

[@dustinleonsky4513]

I think it's a good idea to replace the Ninja 400 with the Ninja 500, especially since Kawasaki started making the ZX4.

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

Agreed! However, The Ninja ZX4R is an entirely different animal than the Ninja 400. It's also much quicker than the Ninja 500 Since it's an In-line 4 cylinder engine. The Ninja 500, although a much better bike than 400, is still a parallel twin engine.

[@rolanddiaz1974]

Top speed paps

[@panamacitycyclesinc]

I am not 100% on the top speed yet as the bike hasn't been released for long, The top speed on the 400 was around 105 if I remember correctly, I assume the TS here will be around 110-125mph

[@nicolewalker8495]

Depending on which country. American is 51 hp Australia 45 hp. I've seen 118mph on 51hp. Mine is still in break in Australia so I'll post when it's ready