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RIDE REVIEW I 2024 KAWASAKI NINJA 500
Despite the updated body styling of
the Ninja 500, the ergonomics and
accessibility remain consistent with
the Ninja 400, most importantly its low
and inviting 30.9-inch seat height. The
motorcycle's manageable wet curb
weight of 379 pounds results in easy
handling during stationary or low-speed
maneuvers. And none of this is lost as
speeds tick up and the real fun kicks
into overdrive. Anyone who has ridden
the Ninja 400 already knows this.
Swinging a leg over the bike for
the first time, you'll notice all the rider
controls are right where they should
be. While lacking adjustability, both
the clutch and brake levers are conve
-
niently accessible and require minimal
effort to operate. It is noteworthy
that the rider triangle of the Ninja 500
remains unchanged from the comfy
Ninja 400, which has already pleased
a diverse range of riders for years,
including me and my 6'1" frame.
The Ninja 500 now features a high-
contrast full-LCD panel with smart
-
phone connectivity to Kawasaki's
Rideology app. Our test ride in Malibu,
however, focused on the Ninja 500 KRT
(green coloring) SE ABS editions, which
offer enhancements over the base
models like a full-color TFT instrumen
-
tation, KIPASS key fob ignition, LED
turn indicators, extended windscreen,
T
H
E
NEW
N
I
N
J
A
(Above) Kawasaki
didn't skimp when
it came to the
SE's TFT display.
(Below) With the
new Ninja 500,
Kawasaki retained
all the things we
liked about the
Ninja 400 and gave
it more power and
some cool bling.
Life is good.
