2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 Vs Aprilia RS 457 – The Sub-500cc Sport Bike Comparison

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  2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500

  The new Ninja 500 replaces the much-popular Ninja 400 in Kawasaki’s sport bike lineup. It boasts a handful of upgrades over its predecessor, headlined by a new 451cc parallel-twin engine. The mill is good for 51 horsepower and 31.7 pound-feet. Other than this, you also get new features and design. 

  Pros

  • Powerful engine
  • Trusted package
  • Strong MSRP

  Cons

  • Average feature list
  • Basic underpinnings

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  Aprilia RS 457

  The RS 457 is Aprilia’s all-new competitor in the crowded 400-500cc sports bike segment. It boasts a new 457cc, twin-cylinder engine, housed inside an aluminum perimeter chassis. The design takes heavy inspiration from the RS 660, evident from the triple-element LED headlight and integrated turn signals. 

  Pros

  • Likable design
  • Loads of torque
  • Long feature list

If you’re into entry-level sport bikes, 2024 must make you feel like a toddler in a toy store. The sub-500cc segment has never had so many options, and it won’t be wrong to say you are spoiled for choice. But among the crowd, two motorcycles have made the most headlines in the last six months: the Aprilia RS 457 and the Kawasaki Ninja 500.

The RS is a much-anticipated, all-new creation by Aprilia that aims to widen the company’s target audience and bring a premium touch to the segment. Whereas, the Ninja 500 is a replacement for the super-popular and trusted Ninja 400, which aims to replicate the same success as its predecessor.

So with both bikes available in the States now, there’s no denying you’ll be torn between these if you’re looking for a small-capacity sport bike. What do you pick then? That’s where we come in, as we’ve curated an in-depth comparison between the RS 457 and the Ninja 500 to make your life easier.

In order to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate comparison possible, we’ve relied on information sourced straight from the manufacturers (Aprilia and Kawasaki). For information regarding our ranking and grading procedures, please refer to our methodology policy.

Design And Technology

The RS 457 takes heavy aesthetic inspiration from the bigger Aprilia RS 660 and RSV4 1100 to flaunt a premium, big-bike design. Up top, there’s a triple-element LED headlight, complete with integrated turn signals. This is housed inside sporty bodywork that comprises aerodynamic fairings and MotoGP-inspired intakes. Outback, you get an RS 660-like inverted ‘W’ tail lamp, joined by spoilers near the pillion saddle for extra sportiness.

As for the Ninja 500, it looks simpler than the RS 660. Its fascia comprises a Ninja ZX-6R-inspired multi-projector headlight, flanked by segmented fairings with turn signals embedded into them. Meanwhile, the tail end is largely reminiscent of the Ninja 400–the only exception is the new tail lamp on the 500.

Both motorcycles come in a handful of color options. The RS 457 is available in Racing Stripes, Prismatic Dark, and Opalescent White options (the latter two come with red alloy wheels). Whereas, you can have the Ninja 500 in Metallic Spark Black, Metallic Matte Whitish Silver, and Passion Red. Other than this, there’s also a Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) livery and a 40th Anniversary Edition. These cost a bit more than the standard trio of colors. Overall, we feel the RS 457 does a better job here since the Ninja 500 doesn’t feel as fancy as its rival.

Coming to technology, it’s the RS 457 that strikes again. Aprilia has equipped the sport bike with a five-inch TFT instrument cluster, ripe with traction control, ride modes, switchable ABS, and smartphone connectivity. In the meantime, the Ninja only has a simple LCD with no electronics. Heck, it even misses out on all LED lights. Refer to the table below for more details.

Engine Performance And Capability

The Ninja 500 employs Kawasaki’s 451cc powerhouse based on the Ninja 400’s engine, while the RS 457 has a new from the ground up 457cc mill. Both have a couple of similarities, like the parallel-twin layout, liquid cooling, and six-speed transmission, but there are still a few notable differences.

Powertrain Comparison

The ‘no replacement for displacement’ notion takes a hit here. Even with a lower cubic capacity, the Ninja 500 produces 51 horsepower from its twin-cylinder engine–four ponies more than the RS 457’s 47 horsepower output. However, the RS strikes back with its near class-leading 32.1 pound-feet. To make matters sweeter, the RS’ torque and power both kick in considerably earlier than the Ninja. All this means the Aprilia would be the more tractable option between the two, while the Ninja would edge it in a straight line.

As for efficiency, Aprilia America claims the RS can return 57 miles to the gallon. Kawasaki hasn’t revealed a figure for the U.S. version, but the European model is good for 61 miles per gallon. Considering the Ninja has a bigger tank, the 500 will take you farther in a full tank of gas.

Ride And Handling

This is where the two motorcycles are poles apart. On one hand, the RS 457 brings a premium touch to the segment. It has a segment-first aluminum perimeter chassis, complete with an aluminum swingarm. This is topped by 41 mm upside-down forks and monoshock–both adjustable for preload. On the other hand, the Ninja 500 carries forward the same (and dated) underpinnings from the 400. You get non-adjustable 41 mm telescopic forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock, attached to a steel trellis chassis. In similar fashion, the RS also has a 320 mm front disc and a radial four-piston caliper, unlike the Ninja’s two-pot caliper and 310 mm rotor.

It’s not a clean sweep, though. The Ninja 500 boasts a 0.6-inch lower saddle height than the RS, while being 10 pounds lighter in terms of curb weight. These should make the former easier to live with and maneuver in tight spots. Aprilia hasn’t revealed the wheelbase or ground clearance, so we can’t comment on that just yet.

Pricing And Availability

From the above insights, we can deduce the RS 457 is the more premium and capable offering between the two. It spoils you with loads of features, boasts upmarket suspension, and even promises better tractability. However, all this comes at a cost. $6,799, to be precise. At this MSRP, the Aprilia costs a sizable $1,100 more than the Ninja 500 ABS version. So if you’re on a budget and don’t mind missing out on modern componentry, just pick the Ninja 500. Heck, you can even get the top-of-the-line SE version, and you’ll still save $400. For reference, the SE tag brings with it:

• 4.3-inch TFT instrument cluster
• Bigger windscreen
• LED turn signals
• Keyless ignition
• Pillion seat cowl
• Frame sliders
• Radiator guard
• Tank pads
• USB type-C port