Yamaha
Yamaha MT-09
$10899
Released 2025
Best Motorcycles · head-to-head
Yamaha MT-09 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Kawasaki Ninja 500 is cheaper at $5299. Every spec and price links to its source.
Kawasaki
Kawasaki Ninja 500
$5299Cheaper
Released 2024
Which is better: the Yamaha MT-09 or Kawasaki Ninja 500?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is the cheaper at $5299. The Kawasaki Ninja 500 both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Yamaha MT-09 | Kawasaki Ninja 500 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $10899 | $5299 |
| Brand | Yamaha | Kawasaki |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
| Motorcycle type | naked | sport |
| Engine displacement cc | 890 | 451 |
| Engine configuration | inline-3 | parallel-twin |
| Horsepower hp | — | 51 |
| Torque lb (ft) | 68.6 | 31.7 |
| Seat height (in) | 32.5 | 30.9 |
| Wet weight (lb) | 425 | 370 |
| Fuel capacity gal | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | 6 |
| Final drive | chain | chain |
| Cooling type | liquid | liquid |
| Abs equipped | Yes | No |
Sources — Yamaha MT-09: yamahamotorsports.com (verified 2026-07-11). Kawasaki Ninja 500: cycleworld.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Yamaha MT-09 and Kawasaki Ninja 500?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.
- Motorcycle type: Yamaha MT-09 naked vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 sport
- Engine displacement cc: Yamaha MT-09 890 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 451
- Engine configuration: Yamaha MT-09 inline-3 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 parallel-twin
- Torque lb (ft): Yamaha MT-09 68.6 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 31.7
- Seat height (in): Yamaha MT-09 32.5 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 30.9
- Wet weight (lb): Yamaha MT-09 425 vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 370
- Abs equipped: Yamaha MT-09 true vs Kawasaki Ninja 500 false