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| [[Image:Kawasaki GPZ 500 S 1994 red.jpg|thumb|250px|An image of the European version of '''Ninja 500''', the Kawasaki '''GPZ 500 S''', which has a double front disk brake. This bike is from 1994 (thus an after-update model), and the windshield is non-original]][[Image:Kawasaki GPZ 500.jpg|thumb|250px|Another image of the post-update version.]]
| | #Redirect [[Kawasaki EX500D]] |
| The '''[[Kawasaki Ninja]] 500R''' (which was originally named, and is still referred to as the '''EX500''') is a 498 cc [[motorcycle]] manufactured by [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] from 1987 to present. The 2006 model has a [[Suggested retail price|MSRP]] of $5,049 USD. It has a liquid cooled parallel-twin engine with a six-speed [[manual transmission]] and has a chain driven [[drive train]] setup. This motorcycle is considered an "entry level" sport bike, but has considerable performance. The EX500's parallel-twin configuration provides a combination of power and light weight that has made it popular as an entry level race bike.
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| For touring the EX500 has an 18 litre tank, reserve included. Without tapping into the reserve the range is over 240 km.
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| The design was updated in 1994; it has remained essentially unchanged since then.
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| Its marketing name was also changed in 1994 from EX500 to '''Ninja 500'''; the R suffix was added in 1998.
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| ==Features (1994+)==
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| *Twin-cylinder 498 cc engine
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| *Compact parallel-twin design
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| *[[Liquid cooling]]
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| *Four valves per cylinder
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| *34 mm CVK semi-flat slide carburetors
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| *Digital ignition - microprocessor-controlled timing
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| *Six-speed transmission
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| *Positive neutral finder
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| *Standard half fairing
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| *Dual trip meters
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| *Double-cradle steel box-section frame
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| *[[Centerstand]]
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| *37 mm front fork
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| *Large-diameter fork tubes with thin walls for light weight and exceptional rigidity
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| *Front [[disc brake]] with dual-piston caliper drilled for better cooling and reduced [[unsprung weight]]
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| *Rear disc brake - single-piston caliper
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| *Bottom-link UNI-TRAK® Rear Suspension
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| *Lightweight aluminum components provide quick suspension response
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| *17-inch wheels
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| ==Specifications==
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| ===Engine:===
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| *type: liquid-cooled four, counter-balanced, 8-valve, dual chin-driven overhead camshaft 180° parallel twin
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| *displacement: 498 cc (19.6 in³)
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| *bore x stroke: 74.0 x 58.0 mm (2.913 x 2.283 in.)
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| *compression ratio: 10.8:1
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| *redline: 11,000 rpm
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| *power: 52 bhp @ 9500 rpm (103 hp/L)
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| *torque: 30.86 lb. ft. @ 8000 rpm
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| *starting: electric
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| *carburetion: Keihin CVK34 x 2
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| *exhaust: 2-into-2
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| *ignition: transistorized, battery-powered, inductive, magnetically triggered (1987-1993), TCBI with digital advance (1994+)
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| *oil capacity: 3.6 qts. (3.4 L)
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| *fuel: unleaded or low-lead minimum octane 91 RON (~87 R+M/2)
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| ===Transmission:===
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| *six-speed
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| *constant mesh
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| *wet-clutch
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| *primary drive: 23/61, 2.662
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| *final drive: 42/16 sprockets (2.625 ratio), #520 chain
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| *gear ratios (transmission) (1) 36/14, 2.571 (2) 32/18, 1.78 (3) 29/21, 1.38 (4) 27/24, 1.12 (5) 25/26, 0.96 (6) 23/27, 0.85
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| *gear ratios (overall) (1) 17.87 (2) 12.37 (3) 9.60 (4) 7.83 (5) 6.88 (6) 5.92
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| *maximum speed in gears @ engine redline (1) 44 (2) 63 (3) 82 (4) 101 (5) 118 (6) 133
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| ===Chassis===
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| *frame: high-tensile steel double-downtube, full cradle, steel, perimeter box section; steel swingarm
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| *overall length: 83.66 in. (2125 mm) (1987), 83.07 in. (2110 mm) (1988-1993), 82.5 in.(1994+)
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| *overall width: 26.97 in. (1987-1993), 27.6 in. (1994+)
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| *overall height: 45.86 in. (1987-1993), 45.7 in. (1994+)
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| *wheelbase: 56.5 in. (1435 mm)
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| *ground clearance: 4.9 in. (1987-1993), 4.7 in. (1994+)
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| *seat height: 30.81 in. (770 mm) (1987-1993), 30.5 in. (1994+)
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| *dry weight: 373 lb. except California (169 kg) 374 lb. (170 kg) (1987-1993), 388 lb. (1994+)
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| *wet weight: 409 lb. (185 kg) (1987-1993), 437 lb. (198 kg) (1994+)
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| *fuel capacity (main/reserve): 4.2/0.6 gal. (15.9/2.21 L)
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| *load capacity (GVWR less curb weight): 418.5 lb. (189.8 kg)
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| ===Suspension:===
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| *rake / trail: 27.5°/3.5 in. (89 mm) (1987-1993), 27° / 3.6 in. (91 mm) (1994+)
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| *type, front: center-axle hydraulic telescopic 36 mm (1987-1993) or 37 mm (1994+) fork
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| *type, rear: UNI-TRAK® system with single shock, adjustable pre-load
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| *wheel travel, front: 5.5 in. (140 mm) (1987-1993), 5.1 in. (1994+)
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| *wheel travel, rear: 3.9 in. (100 mm)
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| *wheel, front: cast, 2.15 in. x 16 in. tubeless (1987-1994), 17 in. (1994+)
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| *wheel rear: cast, 2.5 in. x 16 in. tubeless (1987-1994), 17 in. (1994+)
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| *tire, front: 100/90-16 54H Bridgestone Excedra G533 (1987-1993), 110/70-17 tubeless (1994+)
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| *tire, rear: 120/90-16 in. 83H Bridgestone Excedra (1987-1993), 130/70-17 tubeless (1994+)
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| ===Brakes===
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| *front: dual-piston hydraulic single (280 mm 1994+) disc
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| *rear: rod-actuated, single leading-drum (1987-1993), single-piston hydraulic single disc (1994+)
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| ===Electrical===
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| *battery: 12 V, 14 Ah
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| *power source: AC Alternator, charge control solid-state voltage regulator
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| *headlight beams (high/low): 60/55 w
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| *tail/stoplights: 8/27 x 2 w
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| *instrumentation: speedometer, odometer, single (1987-1993) or double (1994+) tripmeter, tachometer with 11,000 rpm redline, water temperature gauge, indicators: oil pressure, high-beam, headlight off, turn signals, neutral
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| ===Colors===
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| *Kawasaki Lime Green / Ebony
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| *New Candy Red / Ebony
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| *Metallic Violet Royal/Gray
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| ==Performance==
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| from Cycle Magazine January, 1987 for 1987-1993
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| *Standing start ¼ mile: 12.73 s @ 102 mph
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| *Acceleration, 0-60 mph: 3.76 s
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| *Acceleration, 45-70 mph, top gears: (4) 4.08 s, 343 ft. (5) 5.92 s, 492 ft.(6) 6.62 sec., 589 ft.
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| *Braking, 60-0 mph: 115 ft.
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| *Power @ 60 mph: 9.58 hp
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| *Engine speed @ 60 mph, top gear: 4935 rpm
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| *Average fuel consumption rate 48 mpg (20.4 km/L)
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| *Cruising range (main/reserve) 202/29 mi. (237/46 km)
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| *Speedometer error: 30 mph indicated, actual 29.50; 60 mph indicated, actual 57.53
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| from Motorcyclist Magazine for 1994+
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| *Standing start ¼ mile: 12.98 s @ 99.0 mph
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| *Top speed: 118 mph
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| ==In Media==
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| [[Image:Tom_Cruise_Top_Gun_sunset.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Top Gun]]
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| * Tom Cruise drives a Ninja 500R throughout the movie Top Gun. --Very likely false I believe this was the original ZX10 ninja need confirmation though -- budlight
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| * The motorcycle also appears in the 1994 action film True Lies.
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| * Jessica Alba rides a black Ninja 500R throughout the TV action series Dark Angel.
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.ex500riders.com/ Ninja 500 Riders Forum]
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| *[http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/ninja-500r.php Ninja 500 Picture and Specifications]
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| {{motorcycle-stub}}
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| [[Category:Kawasaki motorcycles|EX500R Ninja]] | |