You’re finally ready to chase the horizon and explore life on two wheels. Making that decision was easy, but the next step can often be overwhelming for new riders: finding the perfect bike. Fortunately, you’re in excellent hands with SF Moto, the most trusted motorcycle dealer near San Jose. As a team of experienced riders, we share your passion and promise a laid-back dealership experience that ends with you in the saddle of a bike suited to your needs.
The love story between you and your first bike doesn’t begin on our showroom floor. Instead, it starts now as we fuel your dream of climbing behind the handlebars of a Kawasaki. As one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers, Kawasaki is an excellent choice for riders of all skill levels, especially new riders looking for a bike to hone their skills and build confidence in the saddle.
First Things First: New or Used?
Before exploring the Kawasaki 500 family and our extensive inventory of new and used bikes, we always encourage new riders to consider their budget and investment. Why is this crucial? Why do many new riders invest in used bikes? What are the advantages of buying a new Kawasaki?
As a new rider, your job is to learn the complex choreography of balancing the bike, being aware of your surroundings, listening to the engine, and knowing when to engage the clutch and shift gears. The choreography is challenging but becomes second nature as you spend more time in the saddle. That time often entails hard lessons, like dropping your bike or stalling the engine in the middle of town.
Many new riders invest in a used bike because it’s more practical and budget-friendly. For example, you’re paying the used bike’s depreciated value rather than the MSRP of a new one. Moreover, dropping the bike isn’t nearly as cringe-worthy since it’s worn in and well-loved, likely seeing a few drops during its earliest adventures with its previous rider.
Alternatively, if you’re set on buying a new bike, there are many advantages. Kawasaki’s reputation for performance permeates every new and used model, with newer bikes offering the latest technologies and styling details. Moreover, Kawasaki 500 models are incredibly affordable, heightening their appeal with or without a few miles and adventures logged on the odometer.
Meet the Kawasaki 500 Family
Kawasaki has a stellar history, shaping the global landscape with bikes that cater to every need. From high-performance powerhouses to off-road adventurers and cruisers, the Kawasaki lineup has something for everyone. Fortunately, “everyone” includes new riders in San Jose, thanks to the Kawasaki 500 family, which includes options like the Ninja 500, Z500, and Eliminator 500.
Ninja 500: The Sporty Road Warrior
Kawasaki’s Ninja lineup has been around for over four decades and showcases the manufacturer’s dedication to building bikes for every skill level. The Ninja 500 is a sporty road warrior with bold styling that defies expectations. It doesn’t look like a beginner bike. Instead, it has a prominent stance, with aggressive styling elements and LED lighting.
The Ninja 500 has a sporty riding position that heightens your comfort as you master the choreography between balancing the lightweight bike with its 451cc twin-cylinder engine. Kawasaki gives you more control over the ride with the bike’s Uni-Trak rear suspension, which offers five-way preload adjustability on models like the 2025 Ninja 500. With the ability to adjust the ride height and stiffness, the Ninja 500 can accommodate your stature, heightening your comfort and control.
Beyond the lightweight chassis, modern styling, and impeccable build, the Ninja 500 is designed with new riders in mind. The 2025 Ninja 500 features enhanced components like an assist and slipper clutch. This feature fosters confidence as you shift gears because it widens the range of when the clutch engages, making for a light clutch pull that offers more seamless gear changes. Likewise, the slipper clutch mitigates slipping at the rear wheel during harsh downshifts, instilling more confidence as you finesse your skills.
Z500: The Urban Streetfighter
San Jose riders who want a bike perfectly suited to the urban landscape will love the Z500. As an urban streetfighter, the Z500 is a supernaked bike with an unmistakable aesthetic. The bike blends the signature elements of Kawasaki’s Z family with Sugomi styling to create an aggressive road warrior. Those styling elements stretch from the striking LED headlights to the frame, where the engine’s stunning design is a focal point below the bodywork.
The Z500’s aesthetic matches its performance and packaging, with Kawasaki enticing new riders with many standard features. For 2025, the Z500 has a high-contrast LCD instrument panel with Bluetooth capability and integration with the RIDEOLOGY smartphone app. This technology keeps you connected, ensuring your hands stay on the wide handlebars and your focus on the road ahead.
Between its relaxed riding position and lightweight frame, the Z500 is accommodating to all riders and features the same Uni-Trak rear suspension as the Ninja 500. The suspension’s preload adjustability lets you tailor the bike’s ride height and stiffness to your needs, improving your control behind the handlebars. Likewise, its 451cc twin-cylinder engine delivers a steady stream of power, with the Z500 ABS optimizing your stopping power for greater confidence in any situation.
Eliminator 500: The Relaxed Cruiser
Kawasaki’s aggressive styling dominates its lineup, but models like the Eliminator 500 show another side to the manufacturer. The Eliminator 500 puts a new spin on Kawasaki’s signature styling, with its timeless aesthetic blending modern technology and the performance expected from the brand. It’s a relaxed cruiser perfect for San Jose riders who want a classically styled bike that’s lightweight and easy to ride.
The Eliminator 500 features a relaxed, upright riding position that complements the bike’s lightweight chassis, optimizing maneuverability and handling in any condition. The low seat height makes the Eliminator 500 accommodating to more riders without compromising its classic aesthetic. You can also add low or high accessory seats, perfect for riding two-up when you’re ready.
As a Kawasaki 500, the Eliminator 500 relies on the same heartbeat as the Ninja 500. Its 451cc parallel-twin engine provides a steady stream of low-end torque, making it incredibly agile in the urban landscape. Fortunately, that power also feels at home on the highway, guaranteeing that you can upgrade your weekday commute and venture beyond the city limits when adventure calls. With a wide range of performance, Kawasaki sweetens the Eliminator 500’s packaging with its assist and slipper clutch that lessens the learning curve and fuels your confidence in the saddle.
Navigating San Jose with Kawasaki
Kawasaki is revered for building bikes that satiate every need. Yet, the Kawasaki 500 family reveals how the world-renowned manufacturer doesn’t ignore the needs of new riders. Models like the Ninja 500, Eliminator 500, and Z500 offer new riders the opportunity to hone their skills in the saddle without stating the obvious—their inexperience. The bikes are boldly styled, meaning they don’t look like most 500cc bikes. Moreover, they offer comfortable riding positions and engaging powertrains that instill confidence as you learn and master the intricate balance of keeping the bike upright, being attuned to the engine, and shifting gears while chasing the horizon, just as you’ve always dreamed.
