MyMoto Comparison
Kawasaki Ninja 400 vs Ninja 500: Which Should You Buy?
This is the most-searched beginner sport bike comparison there is, and there is a twist most lists skip: the Ninja 500 did not just join the lineup, it replaced the Ninja 400 in markets like the US for 2024. So this is really two questions in one: which bike is better, and is it worth buying a used 400 over a new 500? Here is the honest answer to both.
Photo: AVMOTO, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The current new bike. A little more displacement and power than the 400, plus a colour TFT dash and smartphone connectivity. The pick if you want to buy new, want a touch more grunt for the highway, and like having modern tech.
Photo: Rikita, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The value legend. One of the best beginner sport bikes ever made: light, forgiving, and quick enough to be fun. Now largely a used buy in markets where the 500 replaced it, which makes it a genuine bargain and the lightest-on-the-wallet way in.
Specs head to head
| Ninja 500 | Ninja 400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 451cc parallel twin | 399cc parallel twin |
| Power | ~51 hp | ~45 hp |
| Wet weight | ~171 kg | ~168 kg |
| Seat height | 785 mm (low-seat option) | 785 mm (low-seat option) |
| Price | ~$5,799 new | ~$4,300 used |
| Availability | Current new model | Used / global; replaced in some markets |
| Tech | ABS, colour TFT, Bluetooth | ABS; simpler analog/LCD dash |
| A2 option | A2-friendly depending on market | A2-friendly depending on market |
| Best for | Buying new, a bit more power, tech | Best value, lightest on the wallet |
Figures are catalog approximations and vary by model year and market; always verify the exact spec and price for your region.
Where the Ninja 500 wins
Power, tech, and being the bike you can actually buy new. The bigger 451cc engine adds a useful bit of midrange and highway ease over the 400 without changing the friendly, beginner-appropriate character. You also get a modern colour TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, and the reassurance of a full new-bike warranty. If you want a brand-new sport bike and a little more grunt to grow into, the 500 is the natural choice.
Where the Ninja 400 wins
Value, plain and simple. The 400 is lighter on power in the friendliest possible way, which suits a nervous beginner, and because it has been replaced in some markets the used examples are a genuine bargain. It is a tiny bit lighter than the 500, costs less to buy, insure, and replace if you drop it learning, and it is still one of the best beginner sport bikes ever made. For a budget-focused new rider, a clean used 400 is hard to beat.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Ninja 500 if you want to buy new, value the extra power and the TFT-and-Bluetooth tech, and want warranty peace of mind. It is the better bike on paper and the one most new buyers will end up on simply because it is what dealers stock.
Buy a used Ninja 400 if value is your priority. You give up a little power and the fancy dash, but you save real money, get the lightest and most forgiving of the two, and own a bike you will not outgrow for a long time. Honestly, you cannot make a bad choice here; let your budget and whether you want new or used make the call.
Still not sure which fits you?
The right call depends on your budget, whether new or used makes more sense for you, your insurance costs, and how much power you actually want as you start out. Tell the MyMoto advisor about yourself in your own words - it weighs all of that, including the regret risks most comparisons skip, asks only what matters, and builds your free personal report in a few minutes of chat.
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MyMoto is an early beta. Always verify current specs, pricing, A2 options, insurance, and local availability before buying any motorcycle, and inspect any used bike carefully. Figures are sourced from our catalog and may vary by model year and market.
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