By Kawasaki officially launched Ninja 500 in India at the starting price of Rs. 5.24 Lakh (Ex-Showroom). This launch comes at a strategic juncture, coinciding with the current offering of the Ninja 400 at the same price point, albeit with a tempting Rs 40,000 discount, hinting at a potential replacement strategy.
The Ninja 500 is powered by liquid-cooled, 451cc, parallel-twin engine, churning out 45hp at 9,000rpm and 42.6Nm at 6,000rpm. Noteworthy is the increase in peak torque by 5.6Nm compared to its predecessor, the Ninja 400. Weighing in at 171kg, it sits slightly heavier than the Ninja 400 and Yamaha R3 but maintains an edge over competitors like the Aprilia RS 457 and KTM RC 390.
Ergonomically designed with a 785 mm seat height, the Ninja 500 offers accessibility to riders of varying statures. For those seeking additional height, an optional tall seat raising the perch by 30 mm to 815mm is available.In terms of aesthetics, the Ninja 500 sports a revamped facade reminiscent of Kawasaki’s modern sport bikes, notably resembling the ZX-6R and Ninja 7 Hybrid. The standard model features a negative LCD dash with Bluetooth connectivity and an all-black color scheme, foregoing keyless ignition present in the SE variant.
