Kawasaki Z500 SE

Compared to the standard Z500, the Kawasaki Z500 SE gets a more eye-catching triple-tone colour scheme and a green-coloured theme for the 17-inch alloy wheels, which make it look like a more premium motorcycle compared to the former. 

The rest of the motorcycle is the same as the regular Z500, with the front fascia of the Kawasaki Z500 having a dual LED headlamp setup with the latest design Z-face. This all-LED headlamp setup has a sporty-looking chin at the front while having a tinted cowl above it that comes attached with LED turn indicators to its sides. 

The aggressiveness in the visual appeal of the Kawasaki Z500 SE is further contributed by the sharp-edged designs for the front fender and the extensions of the muscular-looking fuel tank, both of which have been shared with the Z500. Even the raised tail section and split seat arrangement have come from the standard Z500, with the Z500 SE having a different set of graphics and a sportier-looking engine cowl.

To make it look sportier, Kawasaki has given the Z500 SE a dash of contrasting green to its alloy wheels and the trellis frame which is partially visible from the side. At the back, the Z500 SE has the same LED tail lamp as the standard Z500 but gets a more modern-looking set of LED turn indicators mounted on the rear fender. 

Another aspect of the Kawasaki Z500 SE shared with the standard Z500, and many other Kawasaki motorcycles is the 4.2-inch full-TFT instrument console, which packs in a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters, real-time MID, clock and gear indicator. However, it does get the additional benefit of Bluetooth connectivity, which is missing in the standard Z500.

There are no changes to the rest of the mechanical hardware of the Z500 SE over the standard Z500. This more-premium version of the Z500 also sits on the same high-tensile trellis steel frame and gets a suspension setup of a 41mm telescopic fork setup at the front and a gas-charged mono-shock with preload adjustability at the rear. 

Like the standard Z500, the Z500 SE also feels sharp and dynamic to ride, courtesy of the stiffer setup of suspension setup and the stickier set of 17-inch tyres – a 110/70-R17 tyre at the front and a 150/60-R17 tyre at the rear. The braking setup of the Kawasaki Z500 SE has also been shared with the standard Z500, including 310mm front disc and 220mm rear disc brakes, both of which deliver instant feedback. 

There are no changes to the liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, 451cc engine of the Z500 SE over the standard Z500, as this engine is also paired with a 6-speed transmission and generates a maximum power output of 52 bhp and a maximum torque output of 42.6 Nm. Shared with the Ninja 500 and Eliminator, this parallel-twin engine has brilliant refinement levels, while delivering impressive peak performance which is best enjoyable at higher RPMs.

Besides having the dual-channel ABS and slip-and-assist clutch like the standard Z500, the Kawasaki Z500 also gets Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphones. However, we would have appreciated more riding aids, especially the different riding modes. 

The steep premium of PHP 25,800 over the standard Z500 for just a few added new-age features might appear too much for many prospective buyers. However, there’s no denying that these additional features make the Z500 SE look more premium and modern while it retains the same brilliant packaging, consisting of the likeable performance, eye-catching modern design, and agility of a true-blue naked sports roadster.