I have this bike and I don't think I'll get a slip-on. I'm an experienced rider and like a quieter bike when commuting. I love the torque and it's great for longer trips as the frame is larger than other bikes in this class. This bike is perfect for me and I plan to keep it for a long time.
I have to agree with what you said. Now hopefully I can find a new one. I put deposit down days ago but gut feeling is none left (due to other Kawasaki dealers saying no stock left)
I got screwed over. DON'T WAIT IF YOU CAN BUY A 40TH 500 ANNIVERSARY BIKE!! I am really not happy missing out but found 40TH zx4rr and 40TH zx6r. Damn I really thought dealership was honest for fk sake. Second hand was crashed and dealership didn't say so maybe im not meant to own a 500
Bikes with under 100hp are more fun to ride in the city but that's not enough for me to own one. Nothing like a fast bike on the highway I appreciate that you like the old bikes they are the best
I just got this as my first bike 2 days ago. At 43, like you said, the livery was what got me looking again. I remember seeing them as a kid and always wanted one. I have some riding experience and this bike, with all of it's ease of use features, has been a blast. The break in period has been a good safety net because I'd probably over do it. 😬
I have this bike as well, at 2:15, you forgot to mention the frame sliders, seat cowl, radiator guard, USB port, taller windscreen and tank pads....just saying.
Just keep the 500 if your really going to get an older used supersport/superbike. If something goes wrong with your used bike and you have to fix it/maintain it, you will have a turn the key and go backup Kawasaki 500 that gets insane gas mileage. Keep it in your pocket. Plus you wont lose any money by keeping it.
@@JD-fd6gt yup that's what I'm thinking now. Instead of trading this in and handing over another few thousand to upgrade to the ZX4 just take that cash and buy a classic.
I got the ninja 500 se and am new to riding, I agree that it is an excellent beginner bike. Very capable for what it is. I'd does have a lawnmower "esque" feel to it I do t know how to articulate it but all in all it is super fun. Also I have a tricked out Vulcan 900 which is a nice contrast to use on the other days when I feel like cruising. I also agree that I probably won't keep it longer than a year or 2 and am already shopping for something 600ccs + but again it's perfect for what it is. Great video!
Nice review! I really love the 40th anniversary look. I got a Ninja 650 because in Germany I am currently only allowed to drive 48HP (with HP limiter in the bike). Once I upgrade my license in 1.5 years I really want to get a ZX6R 40th anniversary edition. Subscribed and looking forward to more videos! Will also start making videos soon
I went brand new for my first bike. Love the SE. Got the akropovic slip on and loving the bike. Right at 2000 miles now. Hoping my girlfriend will ride the bike soon and I can upgrade. Great video
@@MrJamjammersI think the people who get bored are those that live in open areas where they can just open the throttle all day. If you kind an in urban environment, you don’t get that opportunity and you spend more time turning and navigating and actively riding
I have this bike and lowered it put yoshi exhaust velocity stacks racing I take and had it dyno tuned with a race shifter and the bike moves really well. Love this bike
Thanks for the vid I appreciate what you said on changing the exhaust as I already find alot of vibration through the grips that my hands go numb after 30 minutes of riding and I don't want to potentially increase that sensation so I'm staying standard for now then , I eventually plan to take it on a track so maybe then
40 years ago I started on the first middleweight ninja the 1985 600r. Still have it but it’s for shows now. Fast forward to today and I think the 2025 KRT everything pkg. I’m allowing down a bit it’s a good transition
I don't own a bike and I just failed my permit test today. LMFAO That said, my plans is to eventually get the 500. It's the perfect amount of power for its purpose and looks good. That's the kind of bike you start on new and keep until it literally falls apart. The kind of bike you have in your garage that nobody realizes you still have and teach your newbie pals on.
We have the same bike brother! I just put about 2100 miles on my Ninja 500. I also got mine because of that OG livery. If you want a 4 cylinder maybe consider a zx4rr?
I had a loaner for a week.I am currently looking for a used 400 but they are so stable in price that it's not really worth going for a used one. A used 400 in my area goes for 6.4k to 6.9k. On the other hand there are offerings for the 500 SE for 6.9k. Long story short: If you are looking to buy this bike, just go for a new one. The price differential is neglectable and with the stable prices it's worth buying new. Also I believe this is one of those bikes you'll want keep anyways. It's just a nice daily.
I was the same. As soon as I saw it i knew i had to own one. If it wasn't for the plastics i would have gone with ninja 650 but The 40th anniversary SE is far too beautiful to not own
Any used 400s available in my area with ABS are around 5-6k and then I'll need to take it for a safety inspection for it being used(which might not be easy being a beginner going on the highway immediately) before being able to register it and get tags. That along with how much I do love the design of the 40th Anniversary livery like you and options added in the SE version along with the dealer delivering it straight to me free, it's tempting to go for it for a little bit over 7k OTD brand new. I'm lucky that I found a dealer with reasonable OTDs rather than others that apparently are asking for over 8k, since that would push me away from it immediately. In the end I'll probably get this or spend half the money for a much older Ninja 300 or CBR300R (if I can find an ABS version in that price range) and hope my older brother who has ridden motorcycles for many years can ride it for me to the inspection.
i love this bike. better gear ratio and shifting timing than my 2019 honda cbr 500. i love the bigger windshield too. helps so much with the wind not bouncing at my helmet at high speeds. makes a huge difference at higher speeds. I love this bike. only thing is that i have no meat in my ass so my bum hurts after only 20 minutes so ima need to get a gel pad from amazon.
I own this same bike and first time rider. Additional advantages are radiator guard, frame sliders, tank guard (not grips). I only want a slip-on if it doesn't affect the bike's performance/ ECU and "tank grips" on the grooved plastic under the tank.
I went from a New 09 R1 to a 24 R7. The R7 has great MPG to R1 18MPG in the city. These smaller bikes are perfect for beginners learning to lean and for me splitting LA traffic ✌️
I both hate and love that color. It teases you with how beautiful a blue and white Ninja could potentially be but then reminds you why green is the best color for a ninja, then comes back to the potential blue-white masterpiece it couldve been. Damn
Buy both a 40th 500 and im getting 25 650 krt for the green. Unlike Americans who could buy 2025 bikes now Australia is months away from getting them (i have deposit and having to watch UA-cam for my fix lol)
That's something I noticed too. In general, the bike community feels more childish than the car community ( I know it's a generalization but I'm part of both so I don't gain anything from being bias). They will irrationally defend their bike brand and talk shit about yours, talk shit if you want to start with smaller CC, talk shit if you wear your gear at all times, the list goes on. I know many are already writing that I need to stop hanging with the wrong people, but the reality is that a huge chunk of the community looks like that.
@@SB-mw1bg it was something I looked at for sure, I hear they are pretty great but they were a little too new for me. Also resale values for them in Canada are not great yet.
I couldn't find another 40th 500 (interstate purchase first one andsecondi said no to is $1300 delivery but 30+ days for delivery🤬🤬🤬) luckily dealership 2mins away just got 40th zx4rr and zx6r bikes Saturday literally. I have issues with the new colours and now i own three 40th Anniversary bikes. Im waiting for the 25 650 KRT to get to Australia (October November due). Live your dreams people
The livery is absolutely amazing! I can attest to the 500 powertrain being super beginner friendly (I’m riding an Eliminator). It has enough power to scoot when I want it too, but not enough to send me to jail. The 180 degree crank does make it lame as far as sound. But the rest of the bike is perfect. I am curious as to why you didn’t go for a ZX4R.
agree the se isnt worth the upgrade I only bought it because I couldn't find the base model nearby. Would recommend the frame sliders that come with it either way for new riders though
My only tip if you have one of these beginner bikes is to keep it stock. It will keep its price better and sell faster. Reason behind is buyers will be beginner too and wants the reliability of a brand new bike and will not leave an expression that parts were replaced because it’s been dropped.
Excellent video, watched all related to this bike, thanks for posting your experience; On a getting back to motorcycling journey myself, ultimate goal would be a Ducati 950S, so was considering the Ninja 500 as a stepping stone for a year or so. Good advice: have the money get a ZX4R, else used Ninja 4/500. I'm sensitive to good sound and this is the one factor that is giving me second thoughts about both this particular Ninja and the Ducati. Twins. May just need to get a used Ninja and then spring for a Panigali V4. Still nothing to me sounds like a CBRRRRR :) or Ninja inline-4 with modified exhaust. Thanks.
@@russelfernandes8483 I appreciate it! When I was shopping for bikes I watched a lot of videos so I just wanted to add some perspective now that I've had it a while. If sound is what you're after then I would say the ZX4 is a must. I think if I were to do it all again I would probably go that route and never look back. Having said that this bike is excellent for what it is, and it is a pretty big price gap between the two. Happy shopping and ride safe!
The colour was literally the ONLY reason why I bought 5 40th anniversary bikes (x3 500's zx4rr zx6r and wife rides one of the 500). I wouldn't mind a 25 650l (yellow stripe is not doing it for me) but I have never bothered following laws enforced by people who protect child abusers (I'm 45 now and can prove what I say unlike said pigs! (I should've bought the ZX10r and zx14 in 40th also so id have a complete 40th collection. Problem atm is I don't have the skills yet for living the litre bike life, YET 😊. ❤ FROM AUSTRALIA
It's cooler but also overpriced as hell. Weight as much as the middle weight 650s, and can't keep up them with due to lack of torque. (There are reviews where they are compared here in youtube) And don't get me wrong, that high revving engine and a decent amount of tech in makes it an interesting toy, but even a R7 blows it out of the water in every metric, and is cheaper.
@@luigynkaren062011 dude there are literal reviews in youtube where they go head to head. Not sure if you are aware that the ZX4RR weights as much as the R7 even while being a 400, but doesn't have the torque. Even with similar peak power, the power band is nowhere as usable in the Kawa. Again, it's no me making it up, it's documented if you care to do a 30 secs search.
I did have a 2020 ninja 650 i trade in for a moto guzzi v7 stone the ninja 650 had atrocious vibration.........i still have a cbr 929rr the bike doesnt vibrate at all and the weight its the same of those new 600cc supersport
hey thought id leave a comment, I started on a used 2012 250 and learnt how to ride on that for about 4 1/2 months, I purchased this exact bike about a month ago and ive put more than 3k km on it, I absolutely love the thing and use it as my daily ride. more than capable of doing highway where I live in fourth gear. As a rider whose terrified of law enforcement this is the PERFECT bike for me, and I feel it leaves me satisfied and sated in my "need for speed"
I have this bike and I don't think I'll get a slip-on. I'm an experienced rider and like a quieter bike when commuting. I love the torque and it's great for longer trips as the frame is larger than other bikes in this class. This bike is perfect for me and I plan to keep it for a long time.
Man this is such a beautiful bike, highly considering buying one. Looks even better with an aftermarket exhaust.
I have to agree with what you said. Now hopefully I can find a new one. I put deposit down days ago but gut feeling is none left (due to other Kawasaki dealers saying no stock left)
I got screwed over. DON'T WAIT IF YOU CAN BUY A 40TH 500 ANNIVERSARY BIKE!! I am really not happy missing out but found 40TH zx4rr and 40TH zx6r. Damn I really thought dealership was honest for fk sake. Second hand was crashed and dealership didn't say so maybe im not meant to own a 500
@@nicolewalker8495 don't sweat it but yeah, be aware the bike dealership are often even more shady than car dealerships, easier to get away with shit.
Bikes with under 100hp are more fun to ride in the city but that's not enough for me to own one. Nothing like a fast bike on the highway I appreciate that you like the old bikes they are the best
I just got this as my first bike 2 days ago. At 43, like you said, the livery was what got me looking again. I remember seeing them as a kid and always wanted one. I have some riding experience and this bike, with all of it's ease of use features, has been a blast. The break in period has been a good safety net because I'd probably over do it. 😬
I really feel your bike is the anniversary ZX-6R... Best of both worlds!
I have this bike as well, at 2:15, you forgot to mention the frame sliders, seat cowl, radiator guard, USB port, taller windscreen and tank pads....just saying.
Just keep the 500 if your really going to get an older used supersport/superbike. If something goes wrong with your used bike and you have to fix it/maintain it, you will have a turn the key and go backup Kawasaki 500 that gets insane gas mileage. Keep it in your pocket. Plus you wont lose any money by keeping it.
@@JD-fd6gt yup that's what I'm thinking now. Instead of trading this in and handing over another few thousand to upgrade to the ZX4 just take that cash and buy a classic.
@@philp7012 Yeah its good to have 2 bikes if your serious about riding. I got an 03 YZF R1 but im looking for a cheap second bike.
Exactly! It doesn’t cost anything to keeping a bike
@@hope1427 Just make sure to keep it in a safe place, so it doesn't get stolen. Lock it up in a storage unit or garage!
@@JD-fd6gtand try not to live in low life suburbs like i do. I have an agreement with local kawasaki dealership to park my bikes due to my area
I got the ninja 500 se and am new to riding, I agree that it is an excellent beginner bike. Very capable for what it is. I'd does have a lawnmower "esque" feel to it I do t know how to articulate it but all in all it is super fun. Also I have a tricked out Vulcan 900 which is a nice contrast to use on the other days when I feel like cruising. I also agree that I probably won't keep it longer than a year or 2 and am already shopping for something 600ccs + but again it's perfect for what it is. Great video!
Nice review!
I really love the 40th anniversary look.
I got a Ninja 650 because in Germany I am currently only allowed to drive 48HP (with HP limiter in the bike). Once I upgrade my license in 1.5 years I really want to get a ZX6R 40th anniversary edition.
Subscribed and looking forward to more videos! Will also start making videos soon
I went brand new for my first bike. Love the SE. Got the akropovic slip on and loving the bike. Right at 2000 miles now. Hoping my girlfriend will ride the bike soon and I can upgrade. Great video
Same bro! Im at 1800 miles also the SE model but with the Leo vince evo one slip on. Awesome bike not even close to being bored with it.
@@MrJamjammersI think the people who get bored are those that live in open areas where they can just open the throttle all day. If you kind an in urban environment, you don’t get that opportunity and you spend more time turning and navigating and actively riding
I have this bike and lowered it put yoshi exhaust velocity stacks racing I take and had it dyno tuned with a race shifter and the bike moves really well. Love this bike
Which race shifter and dyno did you put in? I have the same bike and about to add the mods
Thanks for the vid I appreciate what you said on changing the exhaust as I already find alot of vibration through the grips that my hands go numb after 30 minutes of riding and I don't want to potentially increase that sensation so I'm staying standard for now then , I eventually plan to take it on a track so maybe then
40 years ago I started on the first middleweight ninja the 1985 600r. Still have it but it’s for shows now. Fast forward to today and I think the 2025 KRT everything pkg. I’m allowing down a bit it’s a good transition
I don't own a bike and I just failed my permit test today. LMFAO
That said, my plans is to eventually get the 500. It's the perfect amount of power for its purpose and looks good. That's the kind of bike you start on new and keep until it literally falls apart.
The kind of bike you have in your garage that nobody realizes you still have and teach your newbie pals on.
@@v3nom11065 I can see it being a good bike to keep long term. Don't be discouraged at all, if you want it you will get it. All the best.
Lol I bought a bike first and licence second. Don't give up if that's what you want
@@philp7012 Passed the next day. ;)
Officially in the "saving up for gear" phase.
We have the same bike brother! I just put about 2100 miles on my Ninja 500. I also got mine because of that OG livery. If you want a 4 cylinder maybe consider a zx4rr?
I had a loaner for a week.I am currently looking for a used 400 but they are so stable in price that it's not really worth going for a used one. A used 400 in my area goes for 6.4k to 6.9k. On the other hand there are offerings for the 500 SE for 6.9k. Long story short: If you are looking to buy this bike, just go for a new one. The price differential is neglectable and with the stable prices it's worth buying new. Also I believe this is one of those bikes you'll want keep anyways. It's just a nice daily.
I was the same. As soon as I saw it i knew i had to own one. If it wasn't for the plastics i would have gone with ninja 650 but The 40th anniversary SE is far too beautiful to not own
500 is a perfect size bike for anyone...
if you are new its not too much power
if you are an experienced rider you can push this bike hard
Any used 400s available in my area with ABS are around 5-6k and then I'll need to take it for a safety inspection for it being used(which might not be easy being a beginner going on the highway immediately) before being able to register it and get tags. That along with how much I do love the design of the 40th Anniversary livery like you and options added in the SE version along with the dealer delivering it straight to me free, it's tempting to go for it for a little bit over 7k OTD brand new.
I'm lucky that I found a dealer with reasonable OTDs rather than others that apparently are asking for over 8k, since that would push me away from it immediately. In the end I'll probably get this or spend half the money for a much older Ninja 300 or CBR300R (if I can find an ABS version in that price range) and hope my older brother who has ridden motorcycles for many years can ride it for me to the inspection.
You have a very soothing voice lol
i love this bike. better gear ratio and shifting timing than my 2019 honda cbr 500. i love the bigger windshield too. helps so much with the wind not bouncing at my helmet at high speeds. makes a huge difference at higher speeds.
I love this bike. only thing is that i have no meat in my ass so my bum hurts after only 20 minutes so ima need to get a gel pad from amazon.
I'm in North Carolina. I'm very interested in purchasing this bike, if and when you ever put it up for sale.
I own this same bike and first time rider. Additional advantages are radiator guard, frame sliders, tank guard (not grips). I only want a slip-on if it doesn't affect the bike's performance/ ECU and "tank grips" on the grooved plastic under the tank.
Hello, thank you for your honesty 👍🏽
I went from a New 09 R1 to a 24 R7. The R7 has great MPG to R1 18MPG in the city. These smaller bikes are perfect for beginners learning to lean and for me splitting LA traffic ✌️
I both hate and love that color. It teases you with how beautiful a blue and white Ninja could potentially be but then reminds you why green is the best color for a ninja, then comes back to the potential blue-white masterpiece it couldve been. Damn
Buy both a 40th 500 and im getting 25 650 krt for the green. Unlike Americans who could buy 2025 bikes now Australia is months away from getting them (i have deposit and having to watch UA-cam for my fix lol)
That's something I noticed too. In general, the bike community feels more childish than the car community ( I know it's a generalization but I'm part of both so I don't gain anything from being bias). They will irrationally defend their bike brand and talk shit about yours, talk shit if you want to start with smaller CC, talk shit if you wear your gear at all times, the list goes on. I know many are already writing that I need to stop hanging with the wrong people, but the reality is that a huge chunk of the community looks like that.
I know what you mean. I have a 650. Ended up getting a 40th anniversary zx6r because it feels way more smooth and sounds a lot nicer.
You still like the 650?
Did you consider the cfmoto 450ss?
@@SB-mw1bg it was something I looked at for sure, I hear they are pretty great but they were a little too new for me. Also resale values for them in Canada are not great yet.
@@philp7012 Excellent points, basically unproven but an interesting alternative. Marketplace may be a place for consideration.
@@SB-mw1bg if they prove to be reliable that would be an awesome deal on the used market for sure.
Yeah beginner bike is a term that needs to go. Realistically, most people don’t need to be on anything above a ninja 400.
I couldn't find another 40th 500 (interstate purchase first one andsecondi said no to is $1300 delivery but 30+ days for delivery🤬🤬🤬) luckily dealership 2mins away just got 40th zx4rr and zx6r bikes Saturday literally. I have issues with the new colours and now i own three 40th Anniversary bikes. Im waiting for the 25 650 KRT to get to Australia (October November due). Live your dreams people
I'd say look for a 954,900rr,zx9r,zx7r or a rc51
I had the same thought when comparing this and the rs457. did not want to be a Guinea pig for Aprilia
The livery is absolutely amazing! I can attest to the 500 powertrain being super beginner friendly (I’m riding an Eliminator). It has enough power to scoot when I want it too, but not enough to send me to jail.
The 180 degree crank does make it lame as far as sound. But the rest of the bike is perfect.
I am curious as to why you didn’t go for a ZX4R.
agree the se isnt worth the upgrade I only bought it because I couldn't find the base model nearby. Would recommend the frame sliders that come with it either way for new riders though
Mine is in the shop after 2k miles, started making a knocking noise
@@donniethedonn oh shoot, yeah I already sold mine but still under warranty?
@ yes thankfully
I am in the same boat as u man i hate the 2 cylinder exhaust note and also at highspeed i feel it in my hands and feet too much vibration
My only tip if you have one of these beginner bikes is to keep it stock. It will keep its price better and sell faster.
Reason behind is buyers will be beginner too and wants the reliability of a brand new bike and will not leave an expression that parts were replaced because it’s been dropped.
Thank you for mentioning points that few owners do. The buzziness in particular was one issue I was concerned about. Cheers m8.
All sportbikes are buzzy at high rpm except the 3 cylinder bikes. Feel the vibration! Want smooth get a gold wing.
Excellent video, watched all related to this bike, thanks for posting your experience;
On a getting back to motorcycling journey myself, ultimate goal would be a Ducati 950S, so was considering the Ninja 500 as a stepping stone for a year or so.
Good advice: have the money get a ZX4R, else used Ninja 4/500.
I'm sensitive to good sound and this is the one factor that is giving me second thoughts about both this particular Ninja and the Ducati. Twins. May just need to get a used Ninja and then spring for a Panigali V4. Still nothing to me sounds like a CBRRRRR :) or Ninja inline-4 with modified exhaust. Thanks.
@@russelfernandes8483 I appreciate it! When I was shopping for bikes I watched a lot of videos so I just wanted to add some perspective now that I've had it a while. If sound is what you're after then I would say the ZX4 is a must. I think if I were to do it all again I would probably go that route and never look back. Having said that this bike is excellent for what it is, and it is a pretty big price gap between the two. Happy shopping and ride safe!
The colour was literally the ONLY reason why I bought 5 40th anniversary bikes (x3 500's zx4rr zx6r and wife rides one of the 500). I wouldn't mind a 25 650l (yellow stripe is not doing it for me) but I have never bothered following laws enforced by people who protect child abusers (I'm 45 now and can prove what I say unlike said pigs! (I should've bought the ZX10r and zx14 in 40th also so id have a complete 40th collection. Problem atm is I don't have the skills yet for living the litre bike life, YET 😊. ❤ FROM AUSTRALIA
Sounds to me like you should of just gotten a ZX4RR
It's cooler but also overpriced as hell. Weight as much as the middle weight 650s, and can't keep up them with due to lack of torque. (There are reviews where they are compared here in youtube)
And don't get me wrong, that high revving engine and a decent amount of tech in makes it an interesting toy, but even a R7 blows it out of the water in every metric, and is cheaper.
@@hyper_channel you lost all respect when you said the R7 blows it out of the water🤣🤣
@@luigynkaren062011 dude there are literal reviews in youtube where they go head to head. Not sure if you are aware that the ZX4RR weights as much as the R7 even while being a 400, but doesn't have the torque. Even with similar peak power, the power band is nowhere as usable in the Kawa. Again, it's no me making it up, it's documented if you care to do a 30 secs search.
@@hyper_channel bye
I did have a 2020 ninja 650 i trade in for a moto guzzi v7 stone the ninja 650 had atrocious vibration.........i still have a cbr 929rr the bike doesnt vibrate at all and the weight its the same of those new 600cc supersport
Hey if u like screaming 4 cylinder engines maybe look at hond cb 650r or zx4rr
650r doesn't rev high enough. Zx4rr is what he's looking for.
hey thought id leave a comment, I started on a used 2012 250 and learnt how to ride on that for about 4 1/2 months, I purchased this exact bike about a month ago and ive put more than 3k km on it, I absolutely love the thing and use it as my daily ride. more than capable of doing highway where I live in fourth gear. As a rider whose terrified of law enforcement this is the PERFECT bike for me, and I feel it leaves me satisfied and sated in my "need for speed"
so no bike start up or short ride ....and you talk to much
@@spacecan_official6302 do people go on your channel and leave nice comments like this too?
Girls bike . Get a bmw s1000rr you’ll know what a real bike feels like
Great to see that Boomers are still on UA-cam. Keep on leavin’ boomer comments while you can, I’m sure you’re nearing ‘nursing home’ age.
I love that this person doesn’t even understand BASIC grammar and punctuation 🤣😂