New Ninjette? All new 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500

[CZroe]

Well, since I’m still not seeing any threads about this, I might as well start one… New Ninjette: 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 replaces Ninja 400.

Link to original page on YouTube.

There’s also a Z500 to go along with that:

Link to original page on YouTube.

It seems the Ninja 400’s motor was bumped up to 451cc for the Kawasaki Eliminator and ADVrider speculates that it has been carried over to the new Ninja 500:
https://www.advrider.com/new-kawasaki-ninja-500-z500/
Edit: Confirmed 451cc on Kawasaki EU’s Ninja 500 SE product page. There’s also a product page for the base Ninja 500.

If true, that means displacement creep took us from 250>300>400>500(451?) all while the same bikes kept being sold as a 250 in Japan and SE Asia. They have yet to announce a 2024 Ninja 400 in the USA but they have on Kawasaki’s Australian site, so it might not be replacing the 400 in all markets. Seems awfully crowded to have the 400, 500, 650, and ZX-4R/RR at the same time. Meanwhile, the 250 coexisted with the previous 500 for decades and the 300/400 continued to be sold as a 250 in some markets. No doubt, there will be a 250 version of this bike for those same markets, at least. Since the 250 and 500 coexisted for decades before, perhaps it’s time to replace the 400 with a 500(451?) and bring back a 250.

[CZroe]

I genuinely don’t understand why there is zero discussion. I mean, if they hadn’t changed the name surely someone would be talking about the Ninja 400’s new facelift and displacement bump.

How about the special edition’s keyless remote that can also unlock the tank and handlebars? Neat. The gauge cluster is also different (color). The basic Uni-Trak swingarm is definitely looking long in the tooth, IMO, but that likely isn’t going to change as long as the bike is still sold somewhere as a 250.

[sharky nrk]

The only real negative here is the futher difficulty to be competitive in ULW racing if your at a 51cc discplacement disadvantage if there is not a reclassification.

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by sharky nrk

The only real negative here is the futher difficulty to be competitive in ULW racing if your at a 51cc discplacement disadvantage if there is not a reclassification.

Yeah. Perhaps they want everyone on the ZX-4RR instead.

I do wish they would’ve kept the “Ninja 400” name, kinda like the 636cc ZX-6R year models continued being called ZX-6R. They probably have their sights on the CBR500.

[Alex]

Certainly would be a fun bike - hopefully Kawi can continue to sell them in the US.

[CZroe]

I don’t see why not. There were a ton of Ninja 400 bikes sold this year. It’s the most common sport bike on the road here by a wide margin. Ignore the name change and it’s literally just a refresh with +52cc displacement.

Might even be time to add the relevant sub forums, though I’d like to see if they sell it alongside the 250 version like they always have in Japan. The extra 52cc might distinguish it enough to have both in our market. After all, we had a 250 and 500 for decades before, though they were actually different bikes with slightly more difference in displacement where these would be closer in displacement and literally identical in every other way (same bike).

[JasonGael]

Originally Posted by CZroe

I don’t see why not. There were a ton of Ninja 400 bikes sold this year. It’s the most common sport bike on the road here by a wide margin. Ignore the name change and it’s literally just a refresh with +52cc displacement.

Might even be time to add the relevant sub forums, though I’d like to see if they sell it alongside the 250 version like they always have in Japan. The extra 52cc might distinguish it enough to have both in our market. After all, we had a 250 and 500 for decades before, though they were actually different bikes with slightly more difference in displacement where these would be closer in displacement and literally identical in every other way (same bike).

The Ninja 400's popularity and minor displacement increase might justify adding subforums especially if both the 400 and 250 versions are sold side-by-side, given their similarities.