Kawasaki Ninja 500R

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

Another image of the post-update version.

The Kawasaki Ninja 500R (which was originally named, and is still referred to as the EX500) is a 498 cc motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki from 1987 to present. The 2006 model has a 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.

For touring the EX500 has an 18 litre tank, reserve included. Without tapping into the reserve the range is over 240 km.

The design was updated in 1994; it has remained essentially unchanged since then. Its marketing name was also changed in 1994 from EX500 to Ninja 500; the R suffix was added in 1998.

Features (1994+)

Twin-cylinder 498 cc engine
Compact parallel-twin design
Liquid cooling
Four valves per cylinder
34 mm CVK semi-flat slide carburetors
Digital ignition - microprocessor-controlled timing
Six-speed transmission
Positive neutral finder
Standard half fairing
Dual trip meters
Double-cradle steel box-section frame
Centerstand
37 mm front fork
Large-diameter fork tubes with thin walls for light weight and exceptional rigidity
Front disc brake with dual-piston caliper drilled for better cooling and reduced unsprung weight
Rear disc brake - single-piston caliper
Bottom-link UNI-TRAK® Rear Suspension
Lightweight aluminum components provide quick suspension response
17-inch wheels

Specifications

Engine:

type: liquid-cooled four, counter-balanced, 8-valve, dual chin-driven overhead camshaft 180° parallel twin
displacement: 498 cc (19.6 in³)
bore x stroke: 74.0 x 58.0 mm (2.913 x 2.283 in.)
compression ratio: 10.8:1
redline: 11,000 rpm
power: 52 bhp @ 9500 rpm (103 hp/L)
torque: 30.86 lb. ft. @ 8000 rpm
starting: electric
carburetion: Keihin CVK34 x 2
exhaust: 2-into-2
ignition: transistorized, battery-powered, inductive, magnetically triggered (1987-1993), TCBI with digital advance (1994+)
oil capacity: 3.6 qts. (3.4 L)
fuel: unleaded or low-lead minimum octane 91 RON (~87 R+M/2)

Transmission:

six-speed
constant mesh
wet-clutch
primary drive: 23/61, 2.662
final drive: 42/16 sprockets (2.625 ratio), #520 chain
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
gear ratios (overall) (1) 17.87 (2) 12.37 (3) 9.60 (4) 7.83 (5) 6.88 (6) 5.92
maximum speed in gears @ engine redline (1) 44 (2) 63 (3) 82 (4) 101 (5) 118 (6) 133

Chassis

frame: high-tensile steel double-downtube, full cradle, steel, perimeter box section; steel swingarm
overall length: 83.66 in. (2125 mm) (1987), 83.07 in. (2110 mm) (1988-1993), 82.5 in.(1994+)
overall width: 26.97 in. (1987-1993), 27.6 in. (1994+)
overall height: 45.86 in. (1987-1993), 45.7 in. (1994+)
wheelbase: 56.5 in. (1435 mm)
ground clearance: 4.9 in. (1987-1993), 4.7 in. (1994+)
seat height: 30.81 in. (770 mm) (1987-1993), 30.5 in. (1994+)
dry weight: 373 lb. except California (169 kg) 374 lb. (170 kg) (1987-1993), 388 lb. (1994+)
wet weight: 409 lb. (185 kg) (1987-1993), 437 lb. (198 kg) (1994+)
fuel capacity (main/reserve): 4.2/0.6 gal. (15.9/2.21 L)
load capacity (GVWR less curb weight): 418.5 lb. (189.8 kg)

Suspension:

rake / trail: 27.5°/3.5 in. (89 mm) (1987-1993), 27° / 3.6 in. (91 mm) (1994+)
type, front: center-axle hydraulic telescopic 36 mm (1987-1993) or 37 mm (1994+) fork
type, rear: UNI-TRAK® system with single shock, adjustable pre-load
wheel travel, front: 5.5 in. (140 mm) (1987-1993), 5.1 in. (1994+)
wheel travel, rear: 3.9 in. (100 mm)
wheel, front: cast, 2.15 in. x 16 in. tubeless (1987-1994), 17 in. (1994+)
wheel rear: cast, 2.5 in. x 16 in. tubeless (1987-1994), 17 in. (1994+)
tire, front: 100/90-16 54H Bridgestone Excedra G533 (1987-1993), 110/70-17 tubeless (1994+)
tire, rear: 120/90-16 in. 83H Bridgestone Excedra (1987-1993), 130/70-17 tubeless (1994+)

Brakes

front: dual-piston hydraulic single (280 mm 1994+) disc
rear: rod-actuated, single leading-drum (1987-1993), single-piston hydraulic single disc (1994+)

Electrical

battery: 12 V, 14 Ah
power source: AC Alternator, charge control solid-state voltage regulator
headlight beams (high/low): 60/55 w
tail/stoplights: 8/27 x 2 w
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

Colors

Kawasaki Lime Green / Ebony
New Candy Red / Ebony
Metallic Violet Royal/Gray

Performance

from Cycle Magazine January, 1987 for 1987-1993

Standing start ¼ mile: 12.73 s @ 102 mph
Acceleration, 0-60 mph: 3.76 s
Acceleration, 45-70 mph, top gears: (4) 4.08 s, 343 ft. (5) 5.92 s, 492 ft.(6) 6.62 sec., 589 ft.
Braking, 60-0 mph: 115 ft.
Power @ 60 mph: 9.58 hp
Engine speed @ 60 mph, top gear: 4935 rpm
Average fuel consumption rate 48 mpg (20.4 km/L)
Cruising range (main/reserve) 202/29 mi. (237/46 km)
Speedometer error: 30 mph indicated, actual 29.50; 60 mph indicated, actual 57.53

from Motorcyclist Magazine for 1994+

Standing start ¼ mile: 12.98 s @ 99.0 mph
Top speed: 118 mph

In Media

Top Gun

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
The motorcycle also appears in the 1994 action film True Lies.
Jessica Alba rides a black Ninja 500R throughout the TV action series Dark Angel.

External links

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