Yamaha YZF-R7 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha YZF-R7 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500. Yamaha YZF-R7: 73 hp @ 8,750 rpm hp, 417 lb (wet) weight, top speed 135 mph, Motoryk rating 7.8/10. Kawasaki Ninja 500: 45 hp hp, 418 lbs (wet) weight, top speed ~112 mph, Motoryk rating 8.0/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Yamaha YZF-R7
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Horsepower (hp)
73 hp
45 hp
Torque (Nm)
50.2 Nm
29.5 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
135 km/h
112 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
417 kg
418 kg
Type
Sportbike
Sportbike
Horsepower
73 hp @ 8,750 rpm
45 hp
Torque
50.2 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm
29.5 lb-ft
Top Speed
135 mph
~112 mph
Weight
417 lb (wet)
418 lbs (wet)
Fuel
—
—
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
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
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
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
