Model Comparison

Left: The Ninjas front bikini fairing hasnt

changed in many years, and looks dated, but
it is reasonably effective, giving the rider protection to about mid-chest. Indeed, the GT
flavor of the little windshield matches the
bikes character well.

2004 Kawasaki Ninja 500

SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE DATA

Right: The Ninjas seat is quite narrow at the

front, making it an easier reach to the ground
for shorter riders. Further back, it is well
shaped for both rider and passenger comfort.
Note that the seat/tank junction is very narrow
also, for a relatively racy profile, but the pegs
are a bit too far forward for our tastes.
Left: The Ninjas instruments are
large and easy to read at a glance, but
with an odometer on both the speedo
and tach, making you wonder where
they came from. Both levers are reach
adjustablevery nice, but the mirrors
are not very wide and dont offer as
good a rear view as the GS 500s.

Below: The Ninjas 500cc twin was originally

half the potent Ninja 1000 motor. It is still a
marvelous engine, very smooth, and very
powerful with 4-valves per cylinder worked by
dual overhead cams. Its nicely finished, too,
with glossy black paint and polished fins.

ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Type: ..............4-stroke, liquid-cooled,

parallel twin
Valvetrain: ....DOHC, shim over bucket
..........................4 valves per cylinder
Size: ..........................................498cc
Bore/stroke:..........74.0mm x 58.0mm
Comp. ratio: ............................10.8:1
Carburetion: ............Keihin CVK34 x 2
Exhaust:........................................22

Measured top speed ......109.7 mph

01/4 mile ..................13.09 sec.
@ 97.5 mph
060 mph ....................4.49 sec.
0100 mph ....................n/a sec.
600 mph ........................130.3'
Power to Weight Ratio ..........1:8.8
Speed @ 65 mph indicated ....59.8
M/C RATING SYSTEM

DRIVE TRAIN

EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR

Transmission: ......................6-speed
Final drive: ................................chain
RPM @ 65 mph/redline ..5100/11500

ERGONOMICS TEMPLATE

DIMENSIONS

Front:................37mm telescopic fork

oil damped
5.1 travel
Rear: ..UNI-TRAK system monoshock
preload adjustable
3.9 travel

Knowing that the 500 Ninja has long been a favorite of club racers, Id always imagined that the reason was its low initial price
and the large numbers available on the used market. But now I
understandthis is a surprisingly competent motorcycle.
The engine gives the lightweight bike plenty of performance
and runs very smoothly, especially for a twin. Also, its chassis and
suspension are much better than I would have guessed, with
excellent stability and pavement-hugging low-velocity damping
control that you usually dont get on simple damper rod forks or
a shock without multi-adjustable damping. I felt very secure
charging our favorite canyon roads. Also, the skinny gastank
allows a rider to tuck in tight and feel like a part of the bike, and
it steers easily despite its relatively narrow handlebars.
The Ninjas detailing is also much better than the Suzukis, and
overall, it looks more expensive despite costing less.
Yes, the styling is dated, but after you get to know it, you can
comment that a lot of great bikes have endured a long time without significant visual changesjust like this one. Dave Searle

Front: ............single 300mm disc with

two-piston, single-action caliper
Rear: ............single 260mm disc with
single-piston caliper
TIRES & WHEELS
Front:..............120/70-17 Bridgestone
..............Exedra on 3.00" x 17" wheel
Rear: ..............130/70-17 Bridgestone
Exedra on 3.50" x 17" wheel

FUEL
Tank capacity: ........................4.8 gal.
High/low/avg. mpg: ..............69/58/64

28.0"

B: front of bike to
center of handgrip.

30.5"

50.5"

13.0"

38.0"

C: front of bike to
center of footpeg.
D: ground to center
of handgrip.
E: ground to center
of footpeg.
F: ground to lowest
point of seat.

E F

MISCELLANEOUS
Instruments: ..................Speedo, tach
odometer, tripmeter
temp. gauge
Indicators: .......... Turn signal, neutral
high beam, oil pressure
MSRP: ....................................$4799
Routine service interval:........6000 mi.
Valve adj. interval:..............12,000 mi.
Warranty:......12 mo., unlimited miles.
Colors: ................Galaxy Silver/Ebony

ELECTRICS
Battery: ..............................12V, 14AH
Ignition: ......TCBI with digital advance
Headlight: ..............................60/55W

63.4"

OVERALL RATING

DYNAMOMETER DATA
Low end
Mid-range
Top end

The Ninjas engine is

smooth, quick-revving
and responsive. Top end
is surprisingly strong,
with the bike capable of
accelerating to pass from
70 mph without downshifting. Pretty impressive for an aging, 500cc
powerplant.

TEST NOTES
PICKS
498cc engine is smooth and stronger than youd think
Handling and suspension are surprisingly good
A lot of bike for the money
PANS
Would be even better if fitted with radial tires
Both brakes have a feel wooden
Dated styling

70

70

60

60

49.9 hp

50

50

40

40

30.9 lb. ft.

30

30

20

20

10

10

0
1

10

11

SAE CORRECTED REAR-WHEEL TORQUE, LB. FT.

I have to admit, this mini-Ninja surprised the heck out of me.

With a decade-old engine, bias-ply tires and styling that takes me
back about 15 years, I really didnt expect much in the way of performance. And I couldnt have been more wrong.
First and foremost, Ive got to give Kawasaki kudos for that
beautiful motor. Its smooth, quiet, starts easily, warms up rapidly,
revs quickly and puts out a lot of punch for its size. I found it
hard to believe that even when cruising the interstate at 70 mph,
when I needed a shot of power to pass a truck, I didnt even have
to downshift. Pretty impressive.
And despite the bias-ply tires, the handling is fairly sharp
sharp enough to have a good time wailing through some twisty
canyon roads like I was aboard one of the newer 600 sportbikes.
Dave says since the wheels are identically-sized to the Suzuki, he
sees no reason you couldnt switch the Kawasaki over to the GS
radials, too, which would probably make it even better.
Entry-level? Sure, but I wouldnt mind owning one of these just
Fred Rau
for commuting and playing around now and then.

SUSPENSION

BRAKES

TESTERS LOG

Middleweight Sport

Engine

Transmission

Suspension

Brakes

Handling

Styling

Riding Impression

Instruments/Controls

Attention to Detail

Value

A: front of bike
to rear most
seating position.

SAE CORRECTED REAR-WHEEL HORSEPOWER

Right: The Ninjas suspension is surprisingly

good for what must certainly be cost-conscious
equipment, but then the whole bike would be
built more cheaply if it had been designed
todaya long production run can have real
advantages. However, the front brake has quite
a wooden feel and does not use a semi-floating
rotor design like the Suzuki. Still, maximum
stopping distances appeared to be tire limited,
and the tires are simple bias ply rubber (the
GSs radial Bridgestone should retrofit without
problems). The Ninjas front axle is also much
larger for a better handling feel.

Wheelbase: ................................56.5"
Rake/trail................................27/3.6"
Ground clearance: ......................4.75"
Seat height :................................30.5"
GVWR: ..................................829 lbs.
Wet weight: ..........................438 lbs.
Carrying capacity: ..................391 lbs.

12

RPM, THOUSANDS

STANDARD MAINTENANCE
Item
Time
Parts
Labor
Oil & Filter ................0.5 ..........$13 + $12 ....$30.00
Air Filter....................0.1 ..........$34 ................$6.00
Valve Adjust..............2.0 ..........$48 ............$120.00
Battery Access ..........0.3 ............MF ..............$18.00
Final Drive ................0.5 ................................$30.00
R/R Rear Whl. ..........0.7 ................................$42.00
Change Plugs............1.0 ............$6 ..............$60.00
Carb adj. ..................1.5 ................................$90.00
Totals
6.60
$113.00
$396.00
Note: MCN Labor rate changed to $60/hr. from $54/hr. in May 2002

14

JULY 2004

MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS

MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS

JULY 2004

15