Kawasaki Ninja 500R

A partial redesign of the 500 was done in 1994. The changes made include the following: • Bigger 17-inch wheels with wider tires replaced the original 16 inch wheels • Redesigned front and rear fairing • Redesigned instrument cluster and dials • New rear disk brake replaced rear drum brake • Firmer suspension tuning • Minor changes to the engine to improve reliability such as changes to the alternator. More importantly the CCT (Cam Chain Tensioner), flywheel & transmission, all three of which may be retrofitted with minimal modification to any first generation bike (1987–1993). == Performance ==

;Motorcyclist magazine for 1994–2009 • Standing start ¼ mi 12.98 seconds @ • Average fuel consumption: • Average touring range: ;Motorcycle Consumer News 2004 • Standing start ¼ mi: 13.9 seconds @ • Top speed: • : 4.49 seconds • Average fuel consumption: == Reception ==

The EX500 and Ninja 500 have been reviewed by motorcycle magazines, separately and in comparison to other motorcycles, from time to time. Upon its introduction, the EX500 was reviewed in the January 1987 issue of Cycle magazine. With a manufacturer's suggested retail price, as of October 1, 1986, of $2899, the EX500 led Cycle to pronounce, "[o]n price alone, the EX is peerless." In February 1992, Cycle World magazine, in an article titled "Bargain Blasters," compared the EX500 to the Yamaha Seca II, the Suzuki Bandit, and the Suzuki GS500. The Seca II came in first, with the Bandit, the EX500, and the GS500 following in that order. In April 1994, in an article titled "Bargain Hunters," Cycle World compared the then-new Ninja 500 to the Suzuki GS500E, the Suzuki Katana 600, the Yamaha FZR600, and the Yamaha Seca II. Cycle World concluded of the EX500, "it's our pick as the best overall deal in this group," though each bike had its virtues. ==Gallery==

File:2009 Kawasaki Ninja 500r EX500.jpg|Side view of the 2009 Ninja 500R in Candy Plasma Blue File:GPZ 500 1994 - side view 2006-04-20.jpg|Side view of 1994 GPZ500S File:2000 Kawasaki Ninja 500R front-right.jpg|2000 Kawasaki Ninja EX-500 motorcycle == See also ==