Kawasaki Ninja 500 was launched at Rs 5,24,000 (ex-showroom) as the Ninja 400’s successor

It comes with a bigger engine & more features than the now-discontinued Ninja 400

We got a chance to ride it & here’s what we think…

Looks big, muscular & aggressive – It is only available in a Metallic Spark Black colour

Gets an LCD console with Bluetooth connectivity, all-LED lighting, dual-channel ABS & an assist-and-slipper clutch

451cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine makes 45PS & 42.6Nm, 5.6Nm more than the 400

Engine is so tractable that the bike can pull cleanly from as low as 20kmph in 5th gear

Despite the 171kg kerb weight, the Ninja 500 is easy to ride in the city & hold cruising speeds of up to 150kmph effortlessly

Comes alive post 4000rpm & pulls very hard after 8000rpm all the way up to 12000rpm

We got a mileage of around 25kmpl in the city & about 28kmpl out on the highway

Handles really well – Feels very light even when riding at slow speeds in the city. Leans into corners effortlessly & the stability will inspire confidence

Suspension setup works beautifully – Keeps the bike stable around corners & absorbs potholes and speed breakers efficiently

At Rs 5.24 lakh, though, it costs the same as the outgoing Ninja 400. It’s still on the expensive side & can be costly to maintain

However, if you are willing to spend that much, it's a near-perfect bike that will put a smile on your face everytime you ride it