Great review. As a longtime Kawi owner, your amusement at the color scheme names is understandable. 😊 I ride the previous Ninja 400 version and would like to add a few comments. A lot of us are older and experienced riders who prefer a light, flickable, fun-to-ride bike. So they're not just for noobs. And they have been popular and winning race bikes. The new bikes should be good on the track as well. Thanks for your video!
Tell me about it🤣Every time I go into a corner my knee comes out, then I tell myself to put it back 'cause I'm on the road, and then just end up waving it around everywhere 😂 I think I'm just going to tape sliders on 😊
I've been looking into motorcycles and just got my permit, got bit by the bug after never having any real interest. Something I've always found funny while looking into the 500, is all the more veteran riders tend to have a giggle when they first ride it. Talk about a great first bike. And it looks like a big boy, which is bad ass. It's the kind of bike you get at first then still have in the garage when you finally retire from it all.
Great review and riding style, looks like you had fun and that is why I ride, thanks. Love my Kwakas and these look great. Top work and riding, thanks.
Yo I never heard of Lara before but I just wanna say what great riding and cool to see a female rider on a channel. Awesome video and super inspiring for a rider like myself. I have my eye on the 40th anniversary color way, thankfully that's an easy color to reference lol.
Really appreciate the variety of reviewers on this channel but i feel a bit bad for Lara, how come chris and Chad get all the crazy 200hp goodies. I want to see Laras take on the 1390 super duke too!
Lately with all the fast winding roads in east yorkshire being made 50 and 40mph speed limits im thinking of trading in my fazer 1000 for a smaller cc bike.
My first Street bike was a 1976 Yamaha RD-400 .. when I was 17 years old. They don't have all the laws that force young people to ride underpowered bikes. Granted, I had been riding dirt bikes for a couple of years.
@@BikeWorldTVshow It would be nice to still have the RD-400.. I should sell my 1971 Yamaha R-5 .. I still have a 1984 Yamaha RZ-350 in great condition. I just saw an RZ-350 sell for $21,000.00 USA Dollars a couple of weeks ago at an auction. To tell you the Truth I would sell my RZ-350 if I could get that much for it .
Would look great in the college bike park or for as you cover very well, those that don’t want 8 zillion bhp. Be ideal for many people and it’ll sell well.
These bikes look like good little packages! Also I'm well impressed by Lara's commitment to hanging off the side of the bikes - looks like she's having great fun :D
I got the Matte White/Gray Ninja 500, and it’s siiiick. The color varies so much in different lighting, from looking plain white in one setting to Nardo grey in other lighting!
Cool vid.. I just don't get it. Where's the upgrade here compared to the 400?? That was also 44HP! I understand that it has to fit into the A2 licensing requirements and all the Euro5 BS but still disappointing. Just the fancy dash and the key less go doesn't do it for me. And this sewing machine sound is the cherry on top😂 I'd much rather buy the 400RR! That's a better pocket rocket..
As much as it sucks for people who don't have to deal with the A1 and A2 licenses these bikes are still built for it and they simply have a maximum power limit. Only reason for the displacement increase is emissions regulations which is quite ironic
@@robinv2758 yeah I get that. However if I was Kawasaki I'd have bored it out to 499cc.. Give it 60 HP to offer a real step from 400 and also give a strong competition to the other brands especially the Chinese. And at the same time offer it with a restriction kit as well for A2 license holders with 44hp.. That would have been cool. They could have still met emissions, as they did with the 400RR which revs to the moon but still legal..
@@laz1go286 it would be pretty nice to see them give the bikes genuine power upgrades. Only issue then becomes that they're gonna start competing with themselves, they already have the Ninja 650 in the 60-70hp A2 restrictable sports bikes and the ZX4RR a slight step above that. Seeing a less restricted 50-60 hp 500 for international markets would be cool so the rest of the world doesn't have to be stuck with the A2 rules
I’m shopping for my first bike, and I pre-ordered a Ninja 500 ABS. 457’s are $7,800 OTD near me (dealer markup), vs the Ninja 500 being $6,000 OTD. Plus I’m not trying to play Rossi, and the Ninja 500’s mostly-upright position seemed more livable for the city commuting that I do… But the 457’s looks are killer!
@@dhess34Oh you made an awesome choice for a first bike no doubt. Quite possible the best choice. I had slightly different needs as I was shopping for a dedicated track bike. Been riding for a long time and using my MT-10 as a track bike. Time to get back to basics and focus on my lines and body vs just hammering the throttle everywhere LOL
comically weird. Hanging off the bike with your knees out at 40mph....On public straight road...really bad fake off-putting unrealistic esp beginner target vid...
Suspension looks way too soft for her and if I had to guess she's roughly 130lb +/- without the gear. I'm surprised they don't have USD forks but I guess that just reflects the price point, after all the 300 and 400 was also not USD.
A2 is definitely the crux of the issue. You have to reckon the manufactures start by saying "Ok, we want to make a bike for the A2 market. What is the best experience we can provide within those constraints?" More torque sooner is the only way they can cram in more performance. Hence the creep in displacement to 450cc even though they could easily make A2 power with 350cc. Also means the motor is less stressed and lower compression, equaling more reliability, durability, and 87 octane fuel instead of 91.
TBH I couldn't help but look out for that through the video, she does move about very weird on the bike, unnecessarily so too. even on a big bike you don't need to be jumping about on it to turn anyway.
Thank you for having a laugh at the color schemes. I saw these online, and thought the same. It's a $5,000 bike, exclusivity is out the window. Sure dress it up a bit, but a 12 name color scheme, come on, nobody wants that...
@@_TrueDesire_ Or, one guy with a laptop can ride it away in around a minute. Just because something is easy to steal doesn't mean we should be comfortable with it becoming even easier.
@krazed0451 keyless cars in Europe overall isn't an issue, it's old tech. It doesn't bother me, Suzuki had it a while too. All I can do on a bike is chain it down and put on the alarm lock, if it's keyless or not doesn't stop thieves.
@@krazed0451It literally doesn't make a difference. In similar circumstances, a 90s bike will be swooped off the street as easily as a bike equipped with keyless ignition
Why do you care, does it really matter? If you’re interested in the bikes then watch the review. If you could do any better then please start posting videos, we’re eagerly waiting your first review Edward. BTW, we’ll “forgive you this once”! 😂
We get that, you are right Chris, would of destroyed this bike. Have you seen our Kawasaki 650 vid though? Sorry if I jumped down your throat. @@mariokolenko4322
Wow not seen Lara on Bike World for ages welcome back👍
Happy to be back! Thank you 🙏
Great review. As a longtime Kawi owner, your amusement at the color scheme names is understandable. 😊 I ride the previous Ninja 400 version and would like to add a few comments. A lot of us are older and experienced riders who prefer a light, flickable, fun-to-ride bike. So they're not just for noobs. And they have been popular and winning race bikes. The new bikes should be good on the track as well. Thanks for your video!
We appreciate you watching and that’s really helpful feedback 😊
Oh my god that pure white helmet looks so good, I want one so bad. Z500 isn't bad either
"Trying to ride like a new rider!" - the proceeds to stick her knee out in the corners... :))) Once a track rider, always a track rider!
Tell me about it🤣Every time I go into a corner my knee comes out, then I tell myself to put it back 'cause I'm on the road, and then just end up waving it around everywhere 😂 I think I'm just going to tape sliders on 😊
@@Laramoto I know how it is...
Excellent review, honestly. Addressed both the experienced track junky and the new rider perspective. Thrashed those little bikes proper, well done!
Appreciate that lots, thank you!
Frankly I love my ninja 300 it’s brilliant on the local back roads - and you’re brilliant at explaining this bike - excellent job!
Thank you for watching our channel! ❤
Great review!
Wow, thanks!
This is mega, so kind!
Wow, both bikes are super sweet... I dream about a Baby Ninja since the 250R days back in 2008, I guess now's the time to buy the 500!
have had the Z500 SE for 24hr, put 150 miles on it so far, first bike...loving it!
Really nice review and I appreciate the effort to place the bike in the right context.
I've been looking into motorcycles and just got my permit, got bit by the bug after never having any real interest.
Something I've always found funny while looking into the 500, is all the more veteran riders tend to have a giggle when they first ride it. Talk about a great first bike. And it looks like a big boy, which is bad ass. It's the kind of bike you get at first then still have in the garage when you finally retire from it all.
Great review and riding style, looks like you had fun and that is why I ride, thanks. Love my Kwakas and these look great. Top work and riding, thanks.
Thank you for watching, we appreciate it!
Great comparison, it will help many riders like myself who are trying to decide Ninja 500 or Z500 (and even still looking at the Ninja 400 and Z400).
Another great review by Lara! keep them coming !
Thank you for watching!
She can really ride! Nice review. I like the latest bike world member. Adds a nice balance and is a great addition to the team 👍
Thank you lots 😀
Was the z500 more nimble?
Brilliant review 🟩!
Thank you - its all in the editing 😝
At 10:35 this is what the police should do, the new "drunk/sober test" 😂
Ahahahah so true!
Great video Lara, but could you repeat the colours available again please, I didn’t get them all. 😂
Where in Spain is this road?
Yo I never heard of Lara before but I just wanna say what great riding and cool to see a female rider on a channel. Awesome video and super inspiring for a rider like myself. I have my eye on the 40th anniversary color way, thankfully that's an easy color to reference lol.
Good review putting yourself in a new riders mindset 👌
Thank you for watching!
Really appreciate the variety of reviewers on this channel but i feel a bit bad for Lara, how come chris and Chad get all the crazy 200hp goodies. I want to see Laras take on the 1390 super duke too!
Hi, she will be but she’s only just recovered from an injury.
Soon 🤭
Sweet! I'm looking forward to it and keep the great content coming!
Dear Kawasaki, stick this motor into a dirt capable mid weight adv bike. Keep it under 400 pounds, sell it by the boatload!
Yep, time to bump up the Versys X line.
It's like they don't wanna win.
Your so funny. I'd like to see more of you.
Lately with all the fast winding roads in east yorkshire being made 50 and 40mph speed limits im thinking of trading in my fazer 1000 for a smaller cc bike.
Kawasaki 500z or Honda CB 500f? 🤔
Nice review. Some smartly edited pictures of the differently coloured bike would have been a great bonus!
My first Street bike was a 1976 Yamaha RD-400 .. when I was 17 years old. They don't have all the laws that force young people to ride underpowered bikes. Granted, I had been riding dirt bikes for a couple of years.
Bet you wish you'd kept it Mike?
@@BikeWorldTVshow It would be nice to still have the RD-400.. I should sell my 1971 Yamaha R-5 .. I still have a 1984 Yamaha RZ-350 in great condition. I just saw an RZ-350 sell for $21,000.00 USA Dollars a couple of weeks ago at an auction. To tell you the Truth I would sell my RZ-350 if I could get that much for it .
Would look great in the college bike park or for as you cover very well, those that don’t want 8 zillion bhp. Be ideal for many people and it’ll sell well.
I just bought one as a first bike! Sooo excited to pick it up when it’s delivered in a couple weeks!
Exactly - thank you for watching!
Good bikes
Still fun, on anything with ✌️ wheels ! 🤣
Not quite a 30 year old CB500 though is it😂
Hehe 🤣I used to race the 1995 models ;)
Good review👍🏼
Thank you for watching!
These bikes look like good little packages! Also I'm well impressed by Lara's commitment to hanging off the side of the bikes - looks like she's having great fun :D
I am having lots of fun 🤩 thanks for watching!
Top review
, yoke assembly!!!
Yanks and their triple trees🤣
The tail light is like ˊ * ˋ
I see that now 😄
Shifting is just more fun but that’s just me I guess
No skids and Wheelies huh?
Kawasaki tried so hard to make then choices of “black, red, or green sound exciting 😆!
I got the Matte White/Gray Ninja 500, and it’s siiiick. The color varies so much in different lighting, from looking plain white in one setting to Nardo grey in other lighting!
Green is the only acceptable color
What is the need for a 500 when you already Have the 250 and 650?
Might have something to do with different markets around the world.
It used to be 400 cc, but now the 500 cc are replacing the 400cc models for the A2 licence. The 400 was perfect really
How much top speed?
I wish I could answer, easily over any legal limit 😅
You’re fun to watch 😅
Ninja 500
Cool vid..
I just don't get it.
Where's the upgrade here compared to the 400??
That was also 44HP!
I understand that it has to fit into the A2 licensing requirements and all the Euro5 BS but still disappointing.
Just the fancy dash and the key less go doesn't do it for me.
And this sewing machine sound is the cherry on top😂
I'd much rather buy the 400RR!
That's a better pocket rocket..
As much as it sucks for people who don't have to deal with the A1 and A2 licenses these bikes are still built for it and they simply have a maximum power limit. Only reason for the displacement increase is emissions regulations which is quite ironic
@@robinv2758 yeah I get that.
However if I was Kawasaki I'd have bored it out to 499cc..
Give it 60 HP to offer a real step from 400 and also give a strong competition to the other brands especially the Chinese.
And at the same time offer it with a restriction kit as well for A2 license holders with 44hp..
That would have been cool.
They could have still met emissions, as they did with the 400RR which revs to the moon but still legal..
@@laz1go286 it would be pretty nice to see them give the bikes genuine power upgrades. Only issue then becomes that they're gonna start competing with themselves, they already have the Ninja 650 in the 60-70hp A2 restrictable sports bikes and the ZX4RR a slight step above that. Seeing a less restricted 50-60 hp 500 for international markets would be cool so the rest of the world doesn't have to be stuck with the A2 rules
It’s a longer stroke for a (hypothetically) broader torque curve. I haven’t seen a dyno chart comparison yet, though.
@@laz1go286 A1 and A2 licenses
I found the new kawis very underwhelming and choose to preorder the Aprilia rs457 instead.
I’m shopping for my first bike, and I pre-ordered a Ninja 500 ABS. 457’s are $7,800 OTD near me (dealer markup), vs the Ninja 500 being $6,000 OTD. Plus I’m not trying to play Rossi, and the Ninja 500’s mostly-upright position seemed more livable for the city commuting that I do…
But the 457’s looks are killer!
@@dhess34Oh you made an awesome choice for a first bike no doubt. Quite possible the best choice.
I had slightly different needs as I was shopping for a dedicated track bike.
Been riding for a long time and using my MT-10 as a track bike.
Time to get back to basics and focus on my lines and body vs just hammering the throttle everywhere LOL
@@dhess34 Great choice
Shame they dont do a z500rs
Cool
Wth I did not even know they made 500s ?
It's a 450 cc marketed as a 500, calling it a Ninja 450 would be more appropriate.
The Ninja 500 looks great in black though 👌🏻
comically weird. Hanging off the bike with your knees out at 40mph....On public straight road...really bad fake off-putting unrealistic esp beginner target vid...
Next, Kawasaki 550..🤷♂️
my first bike was a 1999 Ninja 500R
300, then 400, now 451cc. They'll have to design a new engine block if they want more displacement.
They sure changed since my '72 H1-B Orange One.
Suspension looks way too soft for her and if I had to guess she's roughly 130lb +/- without the gear. I'm surprised they don't have USD forks but I guess that just reflects the price point, after all the 300 and 400 was also not USD.
I think the Kawasaki suspension team have tried to find something right for everyone, at the right price - and I'm 154lbs with no gear ;)
❤ you lol
To me, it looks like you wish the person in front of you was going faster SMH 😂
Prfer naked bike Z 500
2003 GPZ500s 60bhp 2024 Ninja 500 44bhp. Just saying.
Old bikes are better, and cheaper to buy and run 😎
Not a2 license compatible though
@@johna6968 it is with a restricter fitted.
A2 is definitely the crux of the issue. You have to reckon the manufactures start by saying "Ok, we want to make a bike for the A2 market. What is the best experience we can provide within those constraints?" More torque sooner is the only way they can cram in more performance. Hence the creep in displacement to 450cc even though they could easily make A2 power with 350cc. Also means the motor is less stressed and lower compression, equaling more reliability, durability, and 87 octane fuel instead of 91.
@kleinbottled79 the 400 is no longer Euro5/5+ compliant. It happened to the 300 as well.
What the heck kind of riding style is that?
Her’s, works for her.
@@BikeWorldTVshow Awwwww. Still comically weird. Hanging off the bike with your knees out at 40mph. Look at the rider just in front.
TBH I couldn't help but look out for that through the video, she does move about very weird on the bike, unnecessarily so too. even on a big bike you don't need to be jumping about on it to turn anyway.
@@HalfdeadRider it’s just how she rides, done her OK up until now with a decent race history.
@@BikeWorldTVshow no need to get defensive it's just an observation, nobody said she was shit 😎
It's a beginner bike... what did she expect? And this is why so many new riders just pick up a used 600cc.
Used 600’s aren’t going to be around for ever though.
She reviewed it from the pov of a beginner, seems her expectations were in line with the bike.
@@BikeWorldTVshow There's just been 2 new 600s released this year so they'll be around for at least as long as these 500s.
Where Versys 500? 😂
300...400..500 wtf
Thank you for having a laugh at the color schemes. I saw these online, and thought the same. It's a $5,000 bike, exclusivity is out the window. Sure dress it up a bit, but a 12 name color scheme, come on, nobody wants that...
It was bad enough reading it all out, never mind remembering it!
Nooooo, Keyless 😞
Keyless stuff is even easier to steal than chipped key security.
It's a bike, two dudes can lift it into a van under 30 seconds.
@@_TrueDesire_ Or, one guy with a laptop can ride it away in around a minute. Just because something is easy to steal doesn't mean we should be comfortable with it becoming even easier.
@krazed0451 keyless cars in Europe overall isn't an issue, it's old tech. It doesn't bother me, Suzuki had it a while too. All I can do on a bike is chain it down and put on the alarm lock, if it's keyless or not doesn't stop thieves.
@@_TrueDesire_ I'm glad it doesn't bother you, but I'd prefer one less avenue of easy theft.
@@krazed0451It literally doesn't make a difference. In similar circumstances, a 90s bike will be swooped off the street as easily as a bike equipped with keyless ignition
Like life in general these days even motorbikes have become gay and powerless
If you want a powerful motorcycle, go for 700cc above not a 450cc 🙄
Just look at 400RR if you're looking for power. It's totally available lol
Please realise how ridiculous it looks (on or off camera) pretending to get your knee down when you are riding on the road. To me it just looks naïve.
Why do you care, does it really matter? If you’re interested in the bikes then watch the review. If you could do any better then please start posting videos, we’re eagerly waiting your first review Edward. BTW, we’ll “forgive you this once”! 😂
Sorry I know you are from another country but damm girl I don't understand your English sorry
Average 'Murican limitations
Where is Chris or Chad? No disrespect to you.
That’s is disrespecting though isn’t it?
No man-woman thing, Chris destroy the bike, and its just funny to watch. You are not funny, just that.@@BikeWorldTVshow
Chris and Chad are both on other launches.
We get that, you are right Chris, would of destroyed this bike. Have you seen our Kawasaki 650 vid though? Sorry if I jumped down your throat. @@mariokolenko4322
@@BikeWorldTVshowyeah normally when someone says “ no disrespect to you “ or “ no offence “ they definitely do mean to disrespect or to offend
The bikes are way more capable than she is 😂