Black vs White
As the world of motorcycling continues its devolution of engine sizes, mid-size bikes continue to grow as a market segment. Two recent competitors have emerged locally, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and the CF Moto 450 SR-S.
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The Ninja is not a 500 but a 450cc, and the CF Moto brand has come out of the Far East swinging, making a big splash locally with a comprehensive range of bikes that are easy on the pocket. We check out the tech specs on both to see which tops come out.
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Specifications
| Kawasaki Ninja 500 | CF Moto 450 SR-S | |
| Engine | 451cc Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke Parallel Twin | 449.5cc 2-Cylinder, Water-cooled, DOHC |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential | 6-speed sequential |
| Power figures | 33.4kW / 42.6Nm | 34.5kW / 39.3Nm |
| Top speed | 190km/h | 192km/h |
| Suspension Front | Telescopic Fork – ø41 mm | Φ37 Upside Down Hydraulic Damper Suspension, Adjustable Damping |
| Suspension Rear | Bottom-Link Uni-Trak (adjustable preload) | Single-sided swingarm, centrally aligned monoshock |
| Brakes Front | Φ310 mm Semi-floating Disc | Φ320mm Single Disc, Brembo M40 |
| Brakes Rear | Φ220 mm Disc | Φ240mm Single Disc, Dual-piston Calliper |
| Fuel Tank (litres) | 14l | 14l |
| Fuel Consumption | 4.2 L / 100km | 4.5 L / 100km |
| Weight | 171kg | 179kg |
| Seat Height | 785mm | 795mm |
| Price | R 124 995 | R 124 900 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 Years |
Verdict
These machines have a few differences; one could say they are nearly identical in engine size, suspension, size and handling characteristics. The main difference here is the country of origin. The CF Moto is built in China while the Ninja 500 comes from Japan. Having ridden both, separating the two or saying which is best is hard. The Chinese have gotten the recipe right here, and the CF Moto is comparable in every way to the established Kawasaki. Either machine will be an excellent local commuter.
