Kawasaki GPZ 500 S 2005 — Specifications

Do you know what an honest motorcycle is? Not a showpiece crammed with electronics, nor a design sculpture with a nonexistent personality. I'm talking about a machine that does the job, without frills, for decades. The Kawasaki GPZ 500 S, in its 2005 version, is the very archetype of this forgotten virtue. Its history began much earlier, with the launch of the first Kawasaki GPZ 500 S in 1987, and the recipe has hardly changed. That's where its genius lies, and perhaps, its only weakness.

What immediately strikes you is the longevity of its vertical twin cylinder. 498 cm3, 60 horsepower at 9800 rpm, a torque of 46 Nm that likes to be called upon. You have to make this engine sing, because it frankly lacks punch at the bottom of the rev range. But once in the right range, it delivers a pronounced surge and a typically Kawasaki aggressive sound. It's an engine from the school of old, which teaches you to downshift and exploit the six-speed gearbox. With an 18-liter tank and legendary reliability, it's the ideal base for an A2 license or for a novice who wants to learn without breaking the bank.

The chassis follows the same philosophy: efficient and simple. A steel double cradle frame, 37 mm forks, a mono shock. Nothing fancy, but everything works with surprising precision. At 202 kg fully fueled, it is agile, light in the city, and its 77.5 cm seat suits most riders. It is on mountain roads that it reveals its true temperament of a small sportbike. The handling is intuitive, the motorcycle leans easily, and the road holding inspires confidence. However, you shouldn't ask too much of the braking. The two front discs, inherited from previous versions like the Kawasaki GPZ 500 S 1994, lack bite and feel when you start to really push the pace. This is where its age is felt.

So, who is it for today? For those looking for a used Kawasaki GPZ 500 S in France, reliable and economical, long before a flashy machine. Its look, although dated, possesses a timeless grace that makes it an excellent candidate for a café racer conversion. For around 5600 euros new at the time, it offered a rare versatility. In 2005, Europe said goodbye to it, but it survived across the Atlantic under the name Ninja 500 R. An ultimate proof of the solidity of the concept. It's not the most exciting motorcycle, but it's a sincere road companion, a lesson in mechanics in its purest form. And that is priceless.