The birth of a new model from a Japanese auto major indicates the potential of the Indian market. In recent times, we have witnessed a slew of compelling launches in the 400-500cc category. Moreover, the re-launch of the Yamaha R3 and an entirely new build by Aprilia as RS457 have given enthusiasts a twin-cylinder flavour. Now today, Kawasaki has launched an all-new Ninja 500 for Rs 5.24 lakhs. It's speculated that the Ninja 500 will replace the Ninja 400, as the model is priced the same as that of the Ninja 400.
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 has a 451cc parallel-twin engine that produces 45bhp of peak power at 9000rpm and 42.6Nm of peak torque at 6000rpm. The engine comes mated to a six-speed gearbox that benefits from slip and assist function.
In India, currently, Kawasaki has launched the 500 in base variant only. Hence, we got a simple LCD unit with Bluetooth connectivity. It will be available only in black. This is quite on the downside, as rivals like Aprilia and KTM do come with TFT units.
In terms of hardware, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 gets telescopic forks up front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at the rear. Braking duties are being handled by a 310mm disc at the front and 220mm at the rear. The bike weighs 171 kg and has a 785mm seat height.
The bookings are now open at Kawasaki dealerships in India, and deliveries are expected to commence by the end of this month.
