EICMA 2023: Kawasaki Unveils New 500cc Bikes!

The Japanese manufacturers have brought in some exciting bikes to EICMA 2023 with Honda unveiling its 2024 lineup and Kawasaki unveiling the Ninja 500 and the Z500. Both these bikes will replace the Ninja 400 and the Z400 in the international market. The motorcycles are powered by an all-new 499cc, parallel-twin engine. The Japanese manufacturer hasn’t revealed the power figures yet but has announced that they will be A2 licence-compliant, meaning they’ll get a maximum power output of 35kW (47.6PS). 

Both the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Z500 come equipped with LED lighting, keyless ignition, and a TFT console that appears to be shared with the Ninja 650 and the Z650. Our last experience with the Ninja 400, which we rode last year, left a strong impression of the remarkable versatility of its 399cc parallel-twin engine. It will be intriguing to see if the new 499cc engine can maintain the excellence of its predecessor. When the 500cc models are eventually introduced in the Indian market, it's likely that they will come at a premium price compared to the Ninja 400.

Kawasaki also introducing the new Z7 Hybrid motorcycle at EICMA 2023, which is basically the naked variant of the previously unveiled Ninja 7 HEV, a month ago. The Z7 inherits Kawasaki's signature aggressive and bold styling, consistent with the Z series models. Its powertrain consists of a 451cc parallel-twin engine paired with a 9kW traction motor, resulting in a power output of 43.5 kW (58.5PS), which can be boosted to 51.1 kW (69.5PS) when engaging the e-Boost feature. Much like the 7 Hybrid, the Z7 promises performance akin to 650cc bikes while maintaining fuel efficiency comparable to 250cc motorcycles.

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Additionally, the Z7 incorporates features such as a full-color TFT display (similar to the one found on the Kawasaki e-1 and Z e-1), an idle stop function, three distinct riding modes, a walk mode, and more, all of which are borrowed from the 7 HEV. It's worth noting that Kawasaki's hybrid motorcycles remain primarily targeted at the global market, and their introduction in India seems unlikely at this time. As of now, electric bikes like the Tork Kratos, Revolt RV400, Oben Rorr, and the Ultraviolette F77 are prominent players in the Indian market.