# BMW R 1300 GS vs Kawasaki Ninja 500: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the BMW R 1300 GS (BMW) and Kawasaki Ninja 500 (Kawasaki) among motorcycles. Kawasaki Ninja 500 is the cheaper of the two at $5299.

## Side by side

| Spec | BMW R 1300 GS | Kawasaki Ninja 500 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $20395 | $5299 |
| Brand | BMW | Kawasaki |
| Released | 2026 | 2024 |
| Motorcycle type | adventure | sport |
| Engine displacement cc | 1300 | 451 |
| Engine configuration | boxer-twin | parallel-twin |
| Horsepower hp | 145 | 51 |
| Torque lb (ft) | 110 | 31.7 |
| Seat height (in) | 33.4 | 30.9 |
| Wet weight (lb) | 523 | 370 |
| Fuel capacity gal | 5 | 3.7 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | 6 |
| Final drive | shaft | chain |
| Cooling type | — | liquid |
| Abs equipped | Yes | No |

## Key differences

- Motorcycle type: BMW R 1300 GS adventure vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 sport
- Engine displacement cc: BMW R 1300 GS 1300 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 451
- Engine configuration: BMW R 1300 GS boxer-twin vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 parallel-twin
- Horsepower hp: BMW R 1300 GS 145 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 51
- Torque lb (ft): BMW R 1300 GS 110 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 31.7
- Seat height (in): BMW R 1300 GS 33.4 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 30.9
- Wet weight (lb): BMW R 1300 GS 523 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 370
- Fuel capacity gal: BMW R 1300 GS 5 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 3.7

## Sources

- BMW R 1300 GS: https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/adventure/r1300gs/technicaldata.html (bmwmotorcycles.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Kawasaki Ninja 500: https://www.cycleworld.com/kawasaki/ninja-500/ (cycleworld.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/motorcycles/bmw-r-1300-gs-vs-kawasaki-ninja-500/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, BMW R 1300 GS ($20395) vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 ($5299) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/motorcycles/bmw-r-1300-gs-vs-kawasaki-ninja-500/
License: CC BY 4.0.