Kawasaki Z500

An evolution of the previously available Z400, the new Kawasaki Z500 is a sharper and more aggressive-looking motorcycle in comparison to the former. The different changes and sharper-looking bodywork of the Z500 make it one of the edgiest sub-500cc naked roadsters in the current times.

The aggressive-looking fascia of the Kawasaki Z500 has the latest design Z-face, comprising of a slimmer all-LED dual headlamp setup that gets a sporty-looing chin at the front and a tinted cowl above it that has clear lens turn indicators to its sides. The front fender and the extensions of the fuel tank of the Z500 further accentuate its sharp and aggressive-looking persona.

Inspired by the bigger Z series of naked roadsters from Kawasaki, the Z500 also has a muscular-looking fuel tank and a pointy and raised tail section with a split seat arrangement. Here, the Z500 gets minimal graphics on the tail section and the pointy fuel tank extensions.

The engine, five-spoke alloy wheels and the big exhaust pipe get a blacked-out theme, with the exhaust pipe also getting contrast silver accents. At the rear, the Kawasaki Z500 has a tiny LED tail lamp at the centre of the raised tail section, with the rear fender attached to it also having clear lens turn indicators mounted on its sides.

The Kawasaki Z500 shares its 4.2-inch full-TFT instrument console with the Ninja 500 and other Z series of motorcycles like the Z650 and Z900. This comprehensive display unit has a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters, real-time MID, clock and gear indicator. Overall quality levels of the Z500 are in the league of other, more premium Kawasaki motorcycles. 

Along with the engine, the Kawasaki Z500 also shares its high-tensile trellis steel frame with the Ninja 500 and Eliminator but gets an entirely different riding triangle and ergonomic setup. This naked roadster has a 41mm telescopic fork setup at the front, while for the rear wheel, it has a gas-charged mono-shock with preload adjustability. 

The stiffer setup of suspension setup of the Kawasaki Z500 contributes to the agility and makes this naked roadster a fun-to-ride machine around corners. The 17-inch alloy wheels of the Z500 have a 110/70-R17 tyre at the front and a 150/60-R17 tyre at the rear, both of which offer incredible grip levels and match the cornering ability of the rest of the motorcycle. Even the 310mm front disc and 220mm rear disc brakes have good bite, which doesn’t feel too aggressive – just like the rest of the performance. 

Shared with the Ninja 500 and Eliminator, the Kawasaki Z500 is powered by a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, 451cc engine. Paired with a 6-speed transmission, this engine churns out a maximum power output of 52 bhp and a maximum torque output of 42.6 Nm – the same as those claimed by the motorcycles with which it shares the engine. This engine delivers impressive refinement levels and peak performance at higher RPMs, which is perfectly suitable for a naked roadster like the Z500. 

While the Kawasaki Z500 misses out on riding modes and many other sophisticated electronic riding aids, it does get a dual-channel ABS and slip-and-assist clutch, which makes it a nicely controllable motorcycle for both low and high-speed riding. 

Compared to its predecessor, the Z400, the new Kawasaki Z500 has improved on all the parameters. The overall styling has gone sharp, while the performance has also gone up with the tweaks carried out to the engine. Even the riding dynamics of the motorcycle have become sharper and are closer to the standards of the higher-spec Z650 and Z900.