Okay, so I recently got my hands on the new 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500, and let me tell you, this bike is a beast! I’ve been itching to see what she can really do, so I decided to test out the top speed.
Getting Ready
First things first, I made sure to gear up properly. Safety is no joke when you’re pushing a machine to its limits. I put on my helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots – the whole nine yards. Then, I checked the bike’s vitals: tire pressure, oil levels, the works. Gotta make sure she’s in tip-top shape before we go blasting down the road.
The Ride
I picked a long, straight stretch of highway with minimal traffic. It was early morning, so the conditions were pretty ideal. I started off slow, getting a feel for the bike’s responsiveness. This Ninja 500 has a 451cc parallel-twin engine, a bump up from the old 399cc in the 400. Kawasaki says it puts out around 51 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 31.7 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm. It’s not a superbike, but trust me, it’s got some pep.
As I opened up the throttle, the engine roared to life. This thing is liquid-cooled with an 11.3:1 compression ratio, which is a bit lower than the Ninja 400’s 11.5:1. The redline is at 11,700 rpm, down from 13,000 rpm on the older model. I could feel the power kicking in smoothly. No jerks, just pure, raw acceleration.
Hitting the Top Speed
I kept pushing, watching the speedometer climb. The bike felt incredibly stable, even as I approached higher speeds. Kawasaki did a great job with the design; it’s only 379 lbs, so maneuvering is a breeze. I hit 100 mph, then 110 mph, and the bike was still pulling strong. I glanced down at my GPS, and it read 115 mph! The specs said the redline was 11,000rpm, but I was pushing it a bit into the red zone, just to see what she could do. The bike is geared for about 111 mph out of the box, so hitting 115 was pretty impressive.
Cool Down
After hitting my target, I eased off the throttle and started to slow down. I took a few minutes to cruise at a lower speed, letting the engine cool off a bit. It was exhilarating, to say the least. This bike definitely lives up to the Ninja name.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a fantastic machine. It’s got the power, the handling, and the looks. I bought it at $5,000. If you’re in the market for a sportbike that won’t break the bank but still delivers a thrilling ride, this is the one to get. And hey, if you’re curious about the top speed, just know that it can easily hit 115 mph with a little push. Ride safe, folks!
