2024 Kawasaki Z500 and Ninja 500 First Look

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Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 receives a larger displacement of 451cc over its predecessor. (Kawasaki/)

When Kawasaki introduced the 451cc Eliminator using a heavily uprated derivative of the old 399cc twin used in the Z400 and Ninja 400 it was always a matter of time before those models adopted the same upgraded powertrain. Now that’s happened with the global launch of the Z500 and Ninja 500 at EICMA in Milan.

The Ninja 500 is available in a KRT-inspired livery. (Kawasaki/)

Both models carry over a huge amount of their DNA from the existing Ninja 400 and Z400, including the familiar steel trellis frame and their suspension, as well as major components like the fuel tank, but get revised styling to set them apart from the earlier generation.

The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 also receives a redesigned headlight and front fairing. (Kawasaki/)

The Ninja 500 is, of course, the full-faired model. Its new nose and headlight design are instantly clear compared to the older Ninja 400, but closer inspection reveals that the side panels are also new, as is the lower fairing section and the seat unit.

Kawasaki also fitted the Ninja 500 and Z500 with a color TFT display with smartphone connectivity and a USB-C port. (Kawasaki/)

The same new rear section also appears on the Z500, which adds redesigned ducts on the sides of the tank and a more compact nose cowl with a much smaller headlight unit than the old Z400′s.

Other than the increased engine displacement, revised styling, and the addition of a color TFT display, the chassis of the two models are not expected to change from their predecessors. (Kawasaki/)

Both new bikes were officially unveiled within an hour of their most significant rivals, Honda’s CB500 Hornet and CBR500R, and like those machines the two Kawasaki’s gain color TFT instruments with smartphone connectivity as well as a USB-C power port.

The Z500’s increased displacement is achieved through a larger stroke of 58.6mm while retaining the same bore of 70mm. (Kawasaki/)

Kawasaki hasn’t announced detailed specifications for the bikes yet, but most of their main dimensions aren’t expected to change compared to the Ninja 400 and Z400 they’re based on. The additional engine capacity, achieved via a 58.6mm stroke (up from 51.8mm) while retaining the previous 399cc engine’s 70mm bore, is likely to have a bigger impact on torque and low-down pull than on peak power.

In the European market, the Z500 and Ninja 500 are claimed to be A2-license compliant. (Kawasaki/)

In European markets, the two “500″ models are claimed to be A2-license compliant, which means they can’t make more than 48 hp and also have a limited power-to-weight ratio (restricted to 0.2kW per kilogram, or 0.122 hp per pound). Since the existing Ninja 400 and Z400 make 45 hp and weigh 370 pounds and 368 pounds, respectively, they’re already right on the power-to-weight limit. This means the bigger engine isn’t likely to lead to more horsepower, although the Eliminator’s 451cc mill makes 3.7 more pound-feet of torque.

Full specs and pricing have not been released yet.

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