Kawasaki Ninja 500 launched at Rs 5.24 lakh

- 451cc, parallel twin engine makes 45bhp and 42.6Nm

- Gets LCD instrumentation with Bluetooth connectivity

- Available in one colour only

Kawasaki has launched the new Ninja 500 in India at Rs 5.24 lakh, ex-showroom. The new baby Ninja joins the Ninja 400 and the Ninja 300 in the company’s Indian portfolio. Interestingly, the Ninja 500 is priced exactly as much as the Ninja 400. We are yet to get clarity on whether Kawasaki will continue to sell the Ninja 400 alongside the new Ninja 500 or will the former be discontinued at some point.

The highlights of the Ninja 500 include a brand new 451cc, parallel-twin engine. It produces 45bhp at 9000rpm and 42.6Nm at 6000rpm. It is paired with a six-speed gearbox with slip and assist function.

The design of the Ninja 500 appears like an evolution of the Ninja 400 and it looks sharper, sleeker and more purposeful. Sadly, Kawasaki has launched the Ninja 500 in the standard trim and in one colour only - Metallic Spark Black. However, the SE variant with the Kawasaki Racing Team colours that’s sold in International markets, would’ve looked rather fetching.

Since we get the standard bike, it gets an LCD instrument cluster instead of the SE’s colour TFT display. Nevertheless, you have Bluetooth connectivity as standard and pairing a phone gives access to a range of information.

Under the bodywork lies a trellis frame and you’ve got a telescopic fork at one end and a monoshock at the rear. The bike rides on 17-inch wheels while braking duties are taken care of by a 310mm disc at the front and a 220mm disc at the rear. The front disc brake is larger in diameter than that of the Ninja 400.

Bookings for the Ninja 500 have commenced and deliveries are expected to begin in March.

With the Ninja 500 being a CBU import the price is steep and it costs more than its main rivals, the Yamaha R3 and the Aprilia RS457.