KAWASAKI Ninja 500R (2009-Present) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Ninja 500R, also known as the GPZ500S, was initially named EX500. It was a sports bike part of the Ninja series in Kawasaki's range that debuted in 1987 and continued production until 2009, when it was replaced by the Ninja 650R.

Although the bike presented a sporty appearance, it actually delivered a more upright riding position with great comfort and versatility. The motorcycle offered good performance and low-cost maintenance, which made it famous among beginner riders and more experienced ones searching for a budget bike.

The 2009 Ninja 500R had standard features, such as a single headlight, a medium-sized windscreen, a lower fairing, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and three-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

The bike was built on a high-tensile steel perimeter frame with a 38 mm telescopic fork on the front that offered 130 mm wheel travel and an adjustable shock absorber on the rear that offered 100 mm wheel travel, providing optimum suspension performance and handling.

In the braking department, the motorcycle packed a 270 mm disc coupled to a dual-piston caliper on the front wheel and a single disc tied to a hydraulic caliper on the rear wheel, delivering optimum stopping performance.

As for the power figures, the 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 500R had its soul brought to life by a 498cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine managed by two Keihin carburetors, delivering 60 hp at 9,800 rpm and 46 Nm (34 lb-ft) torque at 8,500 rpm.