Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base vs Honda CBR500R ABS (2026)
Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Basestacks up against the Honda CBR500R ABS. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.
Spec comparison
| Spec | Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base | Honda CBR500R ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Price | $5,399 | $7,399 |
| Engine | 451 cc | 471 cc |
| Weight | 155 kg | 191 kg |
| Seat height | 784 mm | 790 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14.0 L | 17.0 L |
| Fuel type | petrol | petrol |
| Transmission | Manual, 6 speed, Chain | Manual |
| Front brakes | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc |
| Rear brakes | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc |
| Tires | Dunlop® Sportmax GPR-300: 110/70R17 M/C 54H / Dunlop® Sportmax GPR-300: 150/60R17 M/C 66H | Michelin® Road 5: 120/70 R17 58W / Michelin® Road 5: 160/60 R17 69W |
Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base vs Honda CBR500R ABS — which should you buy?
Picking between the Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base and the Honda CBR500R ABS usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base brings its published horsepower in a 155 kg package, while the Honda CBR500R ABS counters with its own power figure at 191 kg. On price, the Kawasaki Ninja® 500 Base has the lower MSRP.
Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: