Kawasaki Ninja 500R

The Kawasaki Ninja 500R is a sport bike with a 498 cc parallel-twin engine that Kawasaki built from 1987 to 2009 as part of its Ninja series. It began as the EX500, took the Ninja 500 name in 1994, gained the R suffix in 1998 and was sold in Europe as the GPZ500S. Despite its sporty looks it has a fairly upright, comfortable riding position, and low running costs made it a favourite first motorcycle for new riders as well as for experienced riders on a budget. A partial redesign in 1994 brought larger 17-inch wheels, new fairings and instruments, a rear disc brake in place of the drum, firmer suspension and minor engine changes. Because it was cheap and parts were easy to find, the EX500 became a common mount for club road racing, with dedicated production twins and 500 SuperSport classes built around nearly stock machines. Magazine tests recorded a top speed of about 180 km/h.