Honda CB300R vs Kawasaki Ninja 500
Specs side by side, plus our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
Honda CB300R and Kawasaki Ninja 500: three different takes on what a great bike should be. They land within touching distance on price, so this comes down to character and fit. On paper the Kawasaki Ninja 500 leads on power with 51 hp. Below we put them head to head on price, performance, weight and seat height, then give our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
Honda
Honda CB300R
Our pickKawasaki
Kawasaki Ninja 500The verdict
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 edges it overall at 8/10, but the Honda CB300R wins on best for new riders, so let how you ride decide.
Honda CB300R
A2-legal, 31 hp, forgiving to learn on.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
51 hp and 0.30 hp/kg, the strongest here.
Honda CB300R
Our 7.8/10 at $5,149, the most bike per dollar.
Honda CB300R
143 kg with an 803 mm seat, the easiest to throw around.
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Our top score in this matchup at 8/10.
Cyan marks the best figure in each row. Specs are the most-cited for the current model; verify before relying on them.
Still torn between them?
Answer a few questions and we'll rank every bike by how well it fits you.
Honda CB300R vs Kawasaki Ninja 500: your questions answered
Which is faster, the Honda CB300R or the Kawasaki Ninja 500?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 makes the most power at 51 hp and 42.6 Nm, giving it the edge on outright performance.
Which is cheaper, the Honda CB300R or the Kawasaki Ninja 500?
The Honda CB300R is the most affordable here with an MSRP around $5,149.
Which is lighter, the Honda CB300R or the Kawasaki Ninja 500?
The Honda CB300R is the lightest at 143 kg, which makes it the easiest to manage at low speed and in the bends.
Which is better for a beginner, the Honda CB300R or the Kawasaki Ninja 500?
For a new rider we'd point to the Honda CB300R: A2-legal, 31 hp and 143 kg make it the most approachable of the group.
