2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Preview

Kawasaki introduced two new motorcycles inside its entry-level twin streetbike class at EICMA this week, with both the Z500 naked bike and Ninja 500 sportbike stepping out in their global debut. They share the same steel-trellis frame and suspension of the 400cc predecessors but get a fairly major boost in displacement, now packing the same 451cc parallel twin we saw in the Eliminator cruiser earlier this year. Let’s jump into the details of the 2024 Ninja 500.

Kawasaki may be calling the Ninja 500 all-new, but it carries plenty of similarities to its 400cc forebear, with the big news focused on more displacement and power from the 52cc larger engine. That engine is derived from the old 399cc twin used in the Z400 and Ninja 400, with additional capacity achieved via a 58.6mm stroke (up from 51.8mm) while retaining the previous 399cc engine’s 70mm bore. That’s likely to have a bigger impact on torque and low-down pull than on peak power, and indeed, Kawasaki claims 44.7 hp at 9,000 rpm and 34.1 lb.-ft. of torque from the new mill, which is virtually unchanged from the older bike. Bear in mind though that these are figures for European models, and bikes coming to the US may differ in performance claims.

Beyond that, other major changes on the new Ninja come to the bodywork. The new full-fairing bodywork is sharper, with a more aggressive face where two new restyled headlights with spoilers below take center stage. Below that you’ll see side panels with larger openings to manage heat, and even a slim seat that is distinctly changed from the older bike. The lower fairing section is revised as well.

For Europe, Kawasaki will offer two trim levels, the standard model and the SE. The standard bikes get a full LCD instrument panel, while the SE models have a color TFT display offering smartphone connectivity as well as a USB-C power port. No word on pricing, availability, or when the bikes will come to us in North America.