2024Kawasaki Ninja 500

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The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 replaced the Ninja 400 with a larger 451cc parallel twin making 51 hp and 43 Nm. It has a six-speed gearbox, a 785 mm seat, a 170 kg wet weight and a 14-litre tank.

Capacity: 451.0 ccm
Engine: Parallel Twin, four-stroke
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 156.0 kg
Seat height: 785 mm
Power: 51.0 HP (38.0 kW) @ 10000 RPM

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years ⚠ Recalls listed (1)

Other years 2024 2025 2026 2027

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail15%

Cornering78%

City riding82%

Daily riding80%

Touring45%

Two-up40%

Track60%

Best for: Best suited for commuting, learning, and spirited weekend rides rather than outright speed or long-distance hauling.
Built for: A friendly, revvy small-capacity sportbike that rewards smooth inputs and encourages confidence-building rather than intimidation.
Not ideal for: Not ideal for riders seeking triple-digit top-speed thrills, heavy touring loads, or off-road capability.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 785mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500, with a cramped knee angle of around 70 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 751-820 mm — Middle Ground →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Safety recalls and owner complaints

Safety recalls

⚠ 1 recall may apply

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)Mar 2025 · 25V146000

Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is recalling certain 2024 Ninja 500 (ABS, KRT Edition, KRT Edition SE ABS, SE ABS, SE 40th Anniversary Edition ABS), Z500 ABS, and Z500 SE ABS motorcycles. The clutch release shaft was not properly welded, which can cause the clutch lever to break apart.

Risk: A broken clutch release lever may not disengage, disabling the motorcycle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the clutch release shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2025. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. KMC's number for this recall is MC25-04.

These recalls cover some 2024 bikes of this model. Whether one applies to a specific bike, and whether the repair has already been done, depends on its VIN — check your VIN with NHTSA, use gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall in the UK, or ask a dealer.

Source: NHTSA. View all Kawasaki recalls →

US owner complaints

1 filed for the 2024 model · 2 across all years

What owners of the 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 reported to the US safety regulator, most often:

Brakes1

1 mentioned a crash · 1 person reported injured

BrakesJul 2025 · 500 miles

The contact owned a 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and making a turn downhill on a mountain, the contact applied the front brakes, but the front brake lever travelled to the grip, and the vehicle failed to…

Source: NHTSA owner complaints (United States). These are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects — a handful is normal for a popular model.