Kawasaki Z500 specifications
Kawasaki · Naked
The Z500 is a well-built beginner naked. Motorcycle News says the seat and ride quality are comfortable enough, with an optional 30 mm taller seat for tall riders, that the six-speed gearbox is slick and the clutch so light it needs a single finger, and that the Assist and Slipper clutch helps newer riders avoid stalling and experienced riders avoid rear wheel skipping on high-rev downshifts.
It was impressed by the perceived build quality of the paintwork and fittings and calls Kawasaki's four-year warranty a strong long-term ownership proposition.
Kawasaki Z500
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Naked |
| Engine | 4-stroke, Parallel Twin, DOHC, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 451cc |
| Bore x stroke | 70.0x58.6mm |
| Compression ratio | 11.3:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Front suspension | 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 4.7 in |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Front brake | Single 310mm semi-floating disc with 2-piston calipers and ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 220mm disc with single-piston caliper and ABS |
| Front tire | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 150/60-17 |
| Seat height | 30.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 54.1 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 24.5° |
| Trail | 3.6 in |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal |
| Ground clearance | 5.7 in |
| Starting MSRP | $5,699 |
| Destination charge | $650 |
| Final drive | Sealed chain |
| Fuel system | DFI with dual 32mm throttle bodies |
| Rear suspension | Horizontal back-link with adjustable spring preload |
| Wet weight (curb) | 368.2 lb |
| Maximum horsepower | 51.0 hp |
| Maximum horsepower (at rpm) | 10,000 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 31.7 lb-ft |
| Maximum torque (at rpm) | 7,500 rpm |
| Ignition | TCBI with Electronic Advance |
| Frame | Trellis, high-tensile steel |
| Electronic rider aids | Economical Riding Indicator, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) |
| Special features | ERGO-FIT , LCD Instrumentation with Smartphone Connectivity via RIDEOLOGY THE APP |
| Length x width x height | 78.5x31.5x41.5 in |
| Estimated dry weight (dry) | 337.4 lb |
What the Z500 is like
That warranty statement is from the UK test; US warranty terms depend on the actual model and purchase.
The Z500 is an A2-ready model designed as such and not throttled back, which makes it lighter than many rivals.
Where the Z500 is weaker
The engine note is not very entertaining at lower rpm and almost disappears at 70 mph, MCN says, which is a shame given the engaging handling, and an owner review adds that the ride is not as comfortable as other brands. So the fair comparison is KTM's 390 Duke and not a Honda or Yamaha.
Accessories include LED indicators, a larger windscreen in clear or smoke, a radiator guard, frame sliders, a pillion seat cover, a tank pad and knee grip pads.
Kawasaki lists the Z500 at $5,699 plus a $650 destination charge, so about $6,349 before tax and dealer fees. That is $2,000 less than the Z650 at $7,699 and $300 more than the Ninja 500 at $5,399, its fully faired sibling on the same 451cc engine. A new rider should budget for a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots on top, and for an insurance quote for the actual rider and motorcycle.
Against the other small bikes
The Z500 is the lightest and cheapest of the newest 450-class road bikes: at 368.2 lb curb it is 4.4 lb under the Ninja 500 and 46 lb under Honda's CB500F at 414 lb, and at $5,699 it costs $200 less than the Honda. Kawasaki's Eliminator cruiser, at $6,499 and 385.9 lb, shares the engine but sits lower, at 28.9 in against 30.9 in.
A rider who wants the easiest reach to the ground should consider the Eliminator, and one who wants the sharpest handling should look at the Z500 or the Ninja.
Z500 against the MT-03, CB500 Hornet and Ninja 500
Yamaha's MT-03 costs $4,999 at 373 lb, and Honda's CB500 Hornet costs $5,899 at 414 lb. Kawasaki's fully faired Ninja 500 costs $5,399 and shares the Z500's engine. At 368.2 lb the Z500 is the lightest of the three naked bikes.
Kawasaki Z500 — specification reference- Model-year range
- 2025–2026
- Compared editions
- 2
- Specification entries
- 29
- Entries that differ
- 2
- Estimated Dry Weight
- 335.2 lb / 337.4 lb; 337.4 lb; 335.2 lb.
- Curb Weight
- 366.0 lb / 368.2 lb; 368.2 lb; 366.0 lb.
- 2026 Kawasaki Z500 recalls
- The 1 NHTSA campaign also cover the NINJA 500 , whose page lists them.
2026 Kawasaki Z500 questions
Is the Kawasaki Z500 a good beginner motorcycle?
Yes. Motorcycle News describes a comfortable seat, a very light clutch, an Assist and Slipper clutch that helps avoid stalling, and a four-year warranty. It was designed as an A2-ready bike and is lighter than many rivals.
Is the Z500 the same engine as the Ninja 500?
Yes. The Z500 and Ninja 500 share the 451cc parallel twin and six-speed gearbox, and the Z500 is the naked version.
The 2026 Kawasaki Z500 is a 451cc naked bike, a parallel twin rated at 51 hp and 31.7 lb-ft with a six-speed gearbox, anti-lock brakes and an LCD display with smartphone connectivity. Reviewers call the seat and ride comfortable enough, the clutch very light and the build quality impressive, and criticize an engine note that is not entertaining. It suits a new or returning rider who wants a light, well-built naked bike.
Kawasaki lists the Z500 at $5,699 plus a $650 destination charge, so about $6,349 before tax and dealer fees. That is $2,000 less than the Z650 at $7,699 and $300 more than the Ninja 500 at $5,399, its fully faired sibling on the same 451cc engine.
A new rider should budget for a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots on top, and for insurance that is usually cheaper on a small naked bike than on a sport bike. The 3.7 gal tank gives a modest range, so plan fuel stops on longer rides. Ask the dealer whether ABS is included in the quoted price.
The unfaired version for everyday use
The Z500 is the naked-bike choice around Kawasaki's 451cc twin. A buyer comparing it with the Ninja should look at the riding position and wind exposure rather than expecting another engine. The shared 30.9-inch seat and 54.1-inch wheelbase do not describe the difference made by the bodywork and handlebar arrangement. Sit on both in normal riding equipment.
Both tire sizes use seventeen-inch rims, but the front 110/70 and rear 150/60 designations remain different. Check the actual tires and any wheel changes on a used Z. A seller's use of the word sport does not identify the tire specification or how much useful life remains.
The listed $5,699 starting figure must be compared with the exact Ninja version on offer. An ABS or equipment difference can matter more than the apparent price relationship between the two body styles. Ask for a complete cash-price offer, then decide whether the unfaired layout covers the intended roads and speeds without buying accessories that duplicate the other model's purpose.
Check exposed parts after a reported drop
On the naked Z, inspect the bar ends, levers, engine covers and footrests together. Scrapes in several places can help frame a question about an earlier fall without proving its severity. Ask what was repaired, whether the controls were replaced and whether receipts exist. A changed lever should move freely and match the intended fitment; appearance alone does not show whether its geometry or adjustment is suitable.
Resolve those questions before assuming a low-speed drop was purely cosmetic.