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The BEST Beginner Sportbike of 2026? Ninja 500 vs Ninja 650

MotoraRider

11,698 views

Looking for the BEST beginner sportbike in 2026? In this video, I compare the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and the Kawasaki Ninja 650 to help new riders figure out which bike is actually worth buying. We go over power, comfort, riding position, pricing, beginner friendliness, daily riding, and overall value so you can decide which Ninja fits YOU best.

Whether you’re buying your first motorcycle or upgrading from a smaller bike, this comparison will help you avoid making an expensive mistake. From city riding to highway pulls, both bikes bring something different to the table — but only one may be the perfect beginner bike for 2026.

Huge thanks to Cycle World for allowing us to film and check out these bikes in person.

📍 Location:
4972 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462

🌐 Website:
Cycle World Powersports

Ask for Marty Meyers — Sales Consultant at Cycle World — if you’re interested in getting your first bike or checking out their inventory, and tell them “MotoraRider” on YouTube sent you.

🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more motorcycle content, beginner bike reviews, rides, and comparisons coming soon.
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19 Comments

@hcdangan 1 month ago

The throttle slack is adjustable. OMG.

@mokujin29 2 months ago

That ain't throttle response, that is play/slack which you can adjust.

@YoungAli504 3 months ago (edited)

I wanted to 500 SE so bad but my fiend and seller told me to get the 650 which I don’t regret! That red, white, & blue with the bigger windshield, frame sliders, & that key less start up is hard to pass up.

@grandaam 1 month ago

me and my brother have these bikes. they are basically the same bike. at the top end 650 is a little quicker. we live in Cali and there was a really windy day and he was getting pushed around on the 500 but the 650 was better at handling the wind. If you are a beginner save your money and get the 500. I only got the 650 because I thought it would be more powerful by a lot but it isn't. Also with the 500 you can get a slip on exhaust the ninja 650 you have to get a full exhaust. I don't want to pay for a full on a bike I don't plan on keep for that long.

@ElCoqui_Shinobi 3 months ago (edited)

I like the video thank you for sharing and creating it. If I may suggest please no background music, I’m trying to understand and lock into what you are saying and the lyrics of the music is distracting. Regular instrumental is fine but once the lyrics plays I’m finding it difficult to follow you. Anyway overall it’s good thank you.

@Ghost-dx8mm 3 months ago

abs is anti-lock braking system, ever been going down a hill in your car and its been snowing and its icy out and you are trying to go slow and you push in on the brakes and instead of sliding you feel that like grinding feel in your pedal? pretty much ABS is when you slam on your brakes, instead of allowing your brakes to lock up and you slide, it brakes and releases the brake, brakes and releases the brake really quick to prevent your brakes from just locking up on you and causing you to slide....thats a really simplistic way of putting it, you can look the definition up for yourself and get a more detailed explanation but if you've ever driven a car and had to brake really fast, you know exactly what ABS does.

@iman58 3 months ago (edited)

People need to do their research before they post videos about motorcycles. Dude That little Ninja 500 tank size is not a 5 gallon it's a 3.7-gallon 14-liter and it's a 451cc parallel-twin engine. The hyabussa is a 5.3 US gallon.

@Jim-su7en 3 weeks ago

Camera work I’m puking

@mokujin29 2 months ago

That is not ABS lol you foo, ABS only works above 5mph speeds

@RedFog26 3 months ago

6 gallon tank??? No.

@YoungAli504 3 months ago

Also there’s no slip on the 650 have to do a full replacement or cut

@bobbyjones2112 2 months ago (edited)

So the front brake also stops the rear tire is that what I heard? I don’t understand that part, is that how the ABS works?

@RajPatel364-7 3 months ago

9:10 It should be illegal to call a 451cc bike a 500. I’m sure a lot of people believe it has 500cc of power.

@James007-q6g 2 weeks ago

There both the same just one is for bigger heavier people 😮😮😮😮😮😮

@AceMTGunboxings 3 months ago

Isn’t the 650 the black one and the 500 se the green one?

@seansutube5791 3 months ago

absolutely poor review

@mokujin29 2 months ago

Bruh those are literally Japanse bikes

@James007-q6g 2 weeks ago (edited)

500 is better handling and mpg cheaper insurance and similar too end speed similar engine twin parrel just different displacment obviously 😮also it is super comfortable and the front forks aren't dropped so it is a touring sport this guy tried to put a good video but he fucked up some shit 😮😮😮.the 650 cost the same as a zx4r you flash a zx4r it kills a ninja650 every day same price or you can just drop 12k for a zx6 .a 650 brand new out of most dealerships and fees will cost 10k on average 😮😮😮.650 is a great beginner bike if you weight 250lbs😮😮😮😮.500is better for the dollar and smaller riders that weight 220lbs and less.kawasaki is king of the road.

@built-different-ops 6 days ago

Not trying to be rude, but you got to do better if your going to review motorcycles. I question if you have ever ridden any motorcycles ever. 60% of what you said was wrong. You should take this video down and try again.