Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs Yamaha YZF-R7
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs Yamaha YZF-R7. Kawasaki Ninja 500: 45 hp hp, 418 lbs (wet) weight, top speed ~112 mph, Motoryk rating 8.0/10. Yamaha YZF-R7: 73 hp @ 8,750 rpm hp, 417 lb (wet) weight, top speed 135 mph, Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Yamaha YZF-R7
Horsepower (hp)
45 hp
73 hp
Torque (Nm)
29.5 Nm
50.2 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
112 km/h
135 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
418 kg
417 kg
Type
Sportbike
Sportbike
Horsepower
45 hp
73 hp @ 8,750 rpm
Torque
29.5 lb-ft
50.2 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm
Top Speed
~112 mph
135 mph
Weight
418 lbs (wet)
417 lb (wet)
Fuel
—
—
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Ninja 500
8.0/10
"The smartest $3,500 you'll spend on two wheels, period."
Pros
+Bulletproof reliability when maintained
+Excellent power-to-price ratio
+Forgiving yet genuinely capable
Cons
−Wind protection basically nonexistent
−Fuel range embarrassingly short
−Seat comfort degrades fast
Yamaha YZF-R7
7.8/10
"A brilliant entry sportbike that rewards skilled riders without punishing beginners."
Pros
+Forgiving yet genuinely engaging chassis
+CP2 engine incredibly tractable
+Strong parts and dealer network
Cons
−Minimal electronic rider aids
−Stock mirrors completely useless
−Heat soak noticeable in traffic
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
