Kawasaki 500R no more after 2009!

**Lash** · 06-30-2009, 10:24 AM

My sources tell me that 2009 will be the last year for the Kawasaki Ninja 500R - has anyone else heard this? It wont be coming back for 2010, that's why Kawi didnt give it a makeover like the 250R recently got.

I dont understand it since I thought people were still buying this bike, but the price point for the 500R between the 250R and the 650R doesnt match up that well, especially for such outdated, yet reliable, technology.

The parallel twin engine makes a good combination of power with the bike's light weight - should Kawasaki come out with a next-gen 500R?

**GO 200** · 06-30-2009, 11:02 AM

In my opinion, there's room for a 500 in the Ninja line-up (though it's squeezed a bit by the 250 & 600)... It seriously needs to be an inline 4 design, tho, as that is the technology that sells... Mebby an oversquare, short-stroke high-revving unit??

The 250 is known as a learner's bike, but in my opinion, there's not a big demand for a 500 that does the same job...

shiphteey · 06-30-2009, 11:10 AM

Finally!!! Death to the ugliest ninja!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jhinderliter · 06-30-2009, 12:22 PM

the 650r and the verseys are solid machines... i dont know why anyone would pick the 500 over the 650...

DCSoul · 06-30-2009, 12:31 PM

I'm with Ship on that. If anything, bring back the 750's!!!

**Lash** · 06-30-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCSoul

If anything, bring back the 750's!!!

I'd like to see Kawi bring back out the ZX-7R and compete against the always sold out GSX-R 750.

Then again, I'd really like to see Kawi come out with ZX-8R - they would be the first to the 800cc sportbike punch and would be carving out a new market between the 600cc and the liter bikes.

tenbears · 06-30-2009, 01:13 PM

Ninja 500? Are all Kawasaki's machines Ninjas then?

That's a GPZ 500 btw

... and never an R in a month of Sundays.

DCSoul · 07-08-2009, 05:34 PM

HEY KAWASAKI...The Riders Have Made a Request...GET'R DONE!!! ZX-8R lol

ddonacaZX12 · 07-08-2009, 10:55 PM

I still tell all the newbies to buy one for their first bike... (either that or an sv650)

I think they should have given the 500 the same re-do as the 250.

New zx7 would be cool, same as gix7.5 : liter bike power, in a 600 weight.

( the 500 is also a great wifes bike, enough power to go on the freeway, but low to the ground for short legs, etc... )

OutsiderZX12R · 07-09-2009, 04:35 AM

I am not a big fan of the looks of the 650R... I like ddonaca's idea of the 500R getting the same re-do as the 250, update the look.

miker · 07-27-2009, 08:31 AM

I just bought my wife a Candy Red 2006 500r. Almost bought her a 2009 650R but changed my mind at the last minute. Glad I did. We did our first ride yesterday and she damm near dropped it trying to adjust her jeans with one hand while holding her sunglasses with the other. The 650 would have been on the ground. Also I like the prolink rear over the goofy laid down no linkage shock. I takes a hell of a shock to make that work even close to a linkage setup.



06-30-2009, 10:24 AM	#1
Lash Site Admin From: Portland Joined: Aug 2008 I Ride: 00 ZX12R I Race: 05 ZX6R Posts: 386 Blog Entries: 2	Kawasaki 500R no more after 2009! My sources tell me that 2009 will be the last year for the Kawasaki Ninja 500R - has anyone else heard this? It wont be coming back for 2010, that's why Kawi didnt give it a makeover like the 250R recently got. I dont understand it since I thought people were still buying this bike, but the price point for the 500R between the 250R and the 650R doesnt match up that well, especially for such outdated, yet reliable, technology. The parallel twin engine makes a good combination of power with the bike's light weight - should Kawasaki come out with a next-gen 500R?

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06-30-2009, 11:02 AM	#2
GO 200 Moderator From: Cadiz, KY USA Joined: Sep 2002 I Ride: 2000 ZX-12R Posts: 22,811	In my opinion, there's room for a 500 in the Ninja line-up (though it's squeezed a bit by the 250 & 600)... It seriously needs to be an inline 4 design, tho, as that is the technology that sells... Mebby an oversquare, short-stroke high-revving unit?? The 250 is known as a learner's bike, but in my opinion, there's not a big demand for a 500 that does the same job...



06-30-2009, 11:10 AM	#3
shiphteey Senior Member From: VA Joined: May 2003 I Ride: ZX-12R & EX250 I Race: ZX-12R & EX250 Posts: 4,406	Finally!!! Death to the ugliest ninja!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



06-30-2009, 12:22 PM	#4
jhinderliter Senior Member From: central il Joined: May 2004 I Ride: 01 12r,07 FJR,96 FZR600,86 GSXR750,84 RZ,06 CRF250R,06 250 recon,06 200KDX,04 CRF230,03 Road Glide I Race: Z-50 , XR 80 , TTR 90 in the yard :) Posts: 1,727	the 650r and the verseys are solid machines... i dont know why anyone would pick the 500 over the 650...



06-30-2009, 12:31 PM	#5
DCSoul Member From: D.C. Joined: Apr 2008 I Ride: 03 ZX636 I Race: 00 ZX12r A1 Posts: 56	I'm with Ship on that. If anything, bring back the 750's!!!



06-30-2009, 01:13 PM	#7
tenbears Senior Member From: Farnham, Surrey Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 373	Ninja 500? Are all Kawasaki's machines Ninjas then? That's a GPZ 500 btw ... and never an R in a month of Sundays.



07-08-2009, 05:34 PM	#8
DCSoul Member From: D.C. Joined: Apr 2008 I Ride: 03 ZX636 I Race: 00 ZX12r A1 Posts: 56	HEY KAWASAKI...The Riders Have Made a Request...GET'R DONE!!! ZX-8R lol



07-08-2009, 10:55 PM	#9
ddonacaZX12 Senior Member From: Camas Washington Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 505	I still tell all the newbies to buy one for their first bike... (either that or an sv650) I think they should have given the 500 the same re-do as the 250. New zx7 would be cool, same as gix7.5 : liter bike power, in a 600 weight. ( the 500 is also a great wifes bike, enough power to go on the freeway, but low to the ground for short legs, etc... )



07-09-2009, 04:35 AM	#10
OutsiderZX12R Senior Member From: Ahead of the FUGLY BUGLIES Joined: Dec 2001 I Ride: 2003 Z1K I Race: 2003 Z1K Posts: 17,199	I am not a big fan of the looks of the 650R... I like ddonaca's idea of the 500R getting the same re-do as the 250, update the look.



07-27-2009, 08:31 AM	#11
miker Senior Member From: USA Joined: May 2009 Posts: 334	I just bought my wife a Candy Red 2006 500r. Almost bought her a 2009 650R but changed my mind at the last minute. Glad I did. We did our first ride yesterday and she damm near dropped it trying to adjust her jeans with one hand while holding her sunglasses with the other. The 650 would have been on the ground. Also I like the prolink rear over the goofy laid down no linkage shock. I takes a hell of a shock to make that work even close to a linkage setup.