TESTED: Kawasaki Z500 and Ninja 500

Tim Neave rides Kawasaki’s new 500s. Right here’s what Tim advised MoreBikes:

I get so used to driving large bikes that it’s typically all too straightforward to miss the smaller-capacity bikes – and similar to myself, good issues are available in small packages. With the European midrange markets trying as wholesome as ever, that is precisely the place Kawasaki must be with thrilling new equipment, so with out additional ado, enable me to introduce the brand new Kawasaki Z500 and Ninja 500. 

I don’t spend a lot time within the saddle of twins anymore, but it surely’s not that a few years in the past since I began out on my very personal Tarmac journey with twin-cylinder bikes and may vividly keep in mind how enjoyable and quick they felt – and driving Kawasaki’s new Z and Ninja prompted a stunning journey down reminiscence lane. 

For the eagle-eyed Kawasaki followers on the market, you’d be proper in pondering this new 500 is mainly similar to the outgoing 2023 Z and Ninja 400s, which have been round for some time; it’s nonetheless a twin-cylinder A2 machine, however with a slighter greater ‘500’ engine – particularly, an extended stroke with the identical dimension bore, which takes it as much as 451cc somewhat that 399cc. With the revised engine, Kawasaki has dramatically closed the hole to rival the competitors from different producers, and despite the fact that it falls barely brief on cc and horsepower in comparison with the Honda CB500, for instance, it wins by 10 per cent with regards to power-to-weight ratio, which is a large benefit. In racing, this benefit will most likely exit the window when all bikes are stripped of their road-going clobber, but it surely’s nonetheless a bloody good stat for the Kawasaki rider.

This revised motor pops out 45.4hp at 9000rpm and 42.6Nm of torque at 6500rpm, and for you spec nerds on the market, whereas the height horsepower reveals little enchancment to the outdated 400, the torque figures skyrocket within the midrange, which is the place you’ll really feel the actual features with this machine – an enormous step ahead once you examine it to the figures from the earlier 400. Alongside the larger stroke, this has been achieved by improved airflow to the cylinders and bigger 32mm round throttle valves, leading to improved throttle response, acceleration, and gas economic system, which is all the time a bit of sweetener.

So far as the chassis is anxious, there actually isn’t something new about it once you examine it to the outdated 400 machine, and searching even additional again, it’s mainly an evolution of the 250 body, making for a slim and light-weight design. It contains a tubular metal trellis cradling the engine, and the swingarm is sq. part, which brings some rigidity to the package deal. Adjustable 41mm Showa forks and a backside hyperlink uni-trak Showa shock is fitted to take in the bumps and offer you all of the assist to ring its neck. Apparently sufficient, the fork spring is barely stiffer within the Ninja (to deal with the anticipated sportier driving type) than within the Z500, a pleasant little element from Kawasaki so we get probably the most from the package deal. 

They’re very completely different to have a look at, and I don’t must spell it out: they’re interesting to 2 fully completely different kinds of rider. The Z leans in the direction of the commuter who would possibly trip of their casuals, whereas the Ninja is for the race fan sporting a leather-based go well with. It goes with out saying that I’m of the latter persuasion, and I’m actually digging the sporty type and KRT colors on the Ninja. Nonetheless, from a sensible driving viewpoint, the Z was extra beneficial when it comes to rider positioning, and that might be because of the straight handlebars which naturally places the burden of the rider extra over the entrance of the bike and, for me, gave a significantly better sense of reference to the Tarmac; I felt extra assured to push the entrance. 

The most important downfall with the Ninja, for my part, is the swept-back, race-style handlebars, that are fastened in a far too slim place. Nearly as good as that is for a tuck place, who truly rides in such a place on the highway? The Ninja fairing additionally extends approach out in entrance of the clocks, which made the bike really feel lengthy and boat-like with a distant entrance finish, however I feel driving each fashions back-to-back actually introduced this distinction to the forefront. It’s one thing I’d quickly dismiss if driving solely this bike, because the geometries are essentially the identical, so it actually can’t be too completely different when it comes to weight distribution. 

Aside from its look, the one different perk of the Ninja could be its firmer suspension arrange, which offered extra assist whereas braking and accelerating, and made the bike really feel extra reactive and exact. Aside from that, each bikes carried out very equally and share the identical dimensions and DNA, so it truly is all the way down to most well-liked aesthetic with regards to selecting between these two, I’d say.

So far as tech goes, these bikes are very primitive, with no quickshifter, blipper or rider modes, however the reality of the matter is that these bikes actually don’t want any of that. It saves cash and is one much less factor to go unsuitable. That stated, would I need some tech on my sporty little Ninja? After all I’d! A quickshifter wouldn’t have gone amiss since it’s a racy little quantity, however we didn’t have that luxurious, and nor did I after I was racing mini-twins a couple of years in the past, so I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. 

The facility supply is so clean and linear, and for need of a greater phrase, numb, so traction management and anti-wheelie can also be on the not-necessary checklist. ABS is a staple, nonetheless, and could be very a lot a bonus in the event you’re a brand new rider searching for that further confidence increase with regards to braking. Though I might really feel the ABS working, with a slight pumping sensation via the brake lever after I actually anchored up, it wasn’t releasing the brakes and giving me that heart-skipping scare like some bikes do, in order that was an excellent level.

The slip-assist clutch labored fantastically whereas pushing into corners and again shifting via the gearbox extra occasions than I care to recollect as I meandered my approach across the technical, mountainous roads. Not as soon as did it chatter or lock the rear wheel, which is fairly good going for a motorbike on skinny wheels.

After we returned to base after an unbelievable day of driving, I couldn’t assist however snort as I attempted to recollect the final time I had a lot enjoyable out on the roads, thrashing a motorbike via its whole rev vary and chucking it round from one knee to the opposite. That’s the fantastic thing about these little bikes, which you don’t get with the massive bikes: you may actually pin the throttle again with out worrying if it’s going to spit you off or whether or not you’re going to get completed for dashing.