Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs Honda CBR500R
Specs side by side, plus our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Honda CBR500R are among the most cross-shopped sport bikes of 2026. The Kawasaki Ninja 500 undercuts the Honda CBR500R by about $2,100, so value is squarely on the table. On paper the Kawasaki Ninja 500 leads on power with 51 hp. Below we put them head to head on price, performance, weight and seat height, then give our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
Our pickKawasaki
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Honda
Honda CBR500RThe verdict
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is our pick of this group on the numbers, scoring 8/10.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
A2-legal, 51 hp, forgiving to learn on.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
51 hp and 0.30 hp/kg, the strongest here.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Our 8/10 at $5,299, the most bike per dollar.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
172 kg with an 785 mm seat, the easiest to throw around.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Our top score in this matchup at 8/10.
Cyan marks the best figure in each row. Specs are the most-cited for the current model; verify before relying on them.
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Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs Honda CBR500R: your questions answered
Which is faster, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 or the Honda CBR500R?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 makes the most power at 51 hp and 42.6 Nm, giving it the edge on outright performance.
Which is cheaper, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 or the Honda CBR500R?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is the most affordable here with an MSRP around $5,299.
Which is lighter, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 or the Honda CBR500R?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is the lightest at 172 kg, which makes it the easiest to manage at low speed and in the bends.
Which is better for a beginner, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 or the Honda CBR500R?
For a new rider we'd point to the Kawasaki Ninja 500: A2-legal, 51 hp and 172 kg make it the most approachable of the group.
