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The CBR500R brings a lot to the table, but we believe that the Ninja 400 retains certain advantages unmatched by the Honda bike.

Honda has finetuned the CBR into a modern motorcycle with incredible performance alongside aspirational styling that makes it look like something right off the racetrack.

The Honda CBR500R’s 471cc, parallel-twin motor churns out 46.9 hp and 31.7 lb-ft of torque, giving you plenty of thrust to engage the road and zip up to speed. It is also perfectly stable, and the low seat height means you sit in a comfortable semi-racy crouch that encourages you to ride as sporty as you want all day.

The Honda CBR500R competes with the Kawasaki Ninja 400 within the entry-level sports motorcycle class. The CBR500R brings a lot to the table, but we believe that the Ninja 400 retains certain advantages unmatched by the Honda bike.

The Honda CBR500R’s sharp looks and aerodynamic lines that slice cleanly through the air give off the kind of aggression you expect from a proper supersport motorcycle. The evolved aerodynamic profile of the 500R is designed to allow the rider and bike to cleave as cleanly through the atmosphere as possible.

Despite its aggressive looks, the bike’s ergonomics are very comfortable. A low seat height places the driver in a dynamic seating stance that’s just as ideal for a fatigue-free daily commute across town as it is for carving corners.

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The entry-level Kawasaki Ninja 400 will not get your adrenaline pumping like other more powerful bikes on the higher rung of the ladder, but it has mastered ease of rideability and practicality. Its approachable power at 45 hp, precise gearing, and comfortable rider’s triangle make it an easily tamable bike for new riders.

The bike’s larger bodywork offers great wind protection, further enabling smooth and manageable rides for new riders. The Ninja 400 manages to be a sensible bike without diminishing its thrill factor.

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The CBR500R is loud enough to let everyone know you just drove a real CBR into your driveway, but not so loud that it upsets your neighbors. The bike is a fire-breathing monster largely because it is packing a pair of 67-mm pistons that squeeze the intake charge from its two 34mm throttle bodies to give it an impressive amount of grunt.

Honda gave the latest CBR500R new valve timing, a bigger airbox, straighter inlet tracts, and a revised stainless steel exhaust system for an even more throaty growl and menacing presence.

The Ninja 400 is a really fun bike to ride. Kawasaki has tuned the motor perfectly to ensure there is plenty of acceleration in any gear—it always has just the right amount of acceleration to overtake, drive out of a corner, or simply make the exhaust howl. The engine gets under your skin, encouraging you to behave like a teenager and ask the bike for as much as it can give.

The bike’s excellent suspension keeps you in comfort as you ride over bumps and carve corners. Its Dunlop Sportmax tires grip fabulously to support any kind of assertive riding demand you may make.

The CBR500R has no problem cruising smoothly along the fastest highways and open roads. Its light clutch and smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox work in precision to help you tackle big miles without any fatigue. Clip-on bars, the cushioning 785mm seat, and aluminum footpegs make city runs a cinch.

Breaking in this bike is a piece of cake, and the new Showa 41mm fork internals help keep the 500R superbly well-planted on the road and poised when you are jamming it into corners.

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The Ninja 400’s 119-mph top speed and 200-mile tank range ensure you can scream your way around the race track all day long. It is the quickest bike in its class, and it will do 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. It is lightweight at just 370 lbs with a full tank, but its short wheelbase and long swingarm design make it very stable.

The Ninja 400 is an absolute joy to ride around corners. Thanks to the weight-saving effect of its new engine and chassis, along with its 17-inch tires, the bike is a poised and precise corner carver.

Fuel efficiency is one of the things the CBR500R has going for it that most of the other bikes in its category can’t match. The bike goes at an economical 80.2 mpg for normal running to give it a tank range of over 260 miles before you need to put more gasoline in it.

Honda paid attention to all technical details, and its bright LED light is highly efficient and consumes far less juice than the previous iteration. The 500R’s combination of exhilarating performance and ridiculous fuel efficiency makes it perfect for those that want to save money on gas while riding a fun motorcycle.

Entry-level bikes like the Ninja 400 don’t come with lots of features, and it’s a good thing that there are lots of accessories and optional extras to pick from. Genuine accessories that come from the company include ERGO-FIT high seat, large windshield, frame sliders, U-lock, pillion seat cover, tank bag, and DC outlet.

The bike also comes in multiple colors, including Pearl Nightshade Teal, Metallic Spark Black, Passion Red, Metallic Graphite Grey, and Metallic Magnetic Dark Grey.

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The CBR500R has been pretty much bomb-proof since its first iteration in 2013, and online reviews by owners of the latest 2022 500r have been similarly overwhelmingly positive. The bike’s engine is smooth with sufficient linear power and good response. LED headlights, MotoGP winglets, and carbon effect fairing infil panels all sum up the level of attention to detail that was lavished on the bike.

Quality and balanced componentry are the defining features of this bike. It is a bike you can imagine yourself riding for years with just regular maintenance.

The Kawasaki Ninja 400 may be in the same general price bracket as other bikes in its class, but it’s still over $1000 cheaper than the Honda CBR500R. An ABS-equipped Ninja 400 costs between $5,599 and $5,799, while a similar CBR500R costs $6,999.

The Ninja 400 is an excellent motorcycle that will cost you a lot less than the competition. You get a comfortable, refined, and smooth motorcycle at a reasonable price.