Across the 1979 and 1980 model years, the Kawasaki Z 500 motorcycle has a listed wet/running weight of 463 lb (210 kg).
Kawasaki Z 500 weight overview
This is firmly on the heavier side. The real penalty is not necessarily normal riding; it is low-speed work, awkward parking and moving the bike around manually.
Heavy Motorcycle
How heavy is the Kawasaki Z 500?
wet weight
Using a model-level wet weight comparison, the Kawasaki Z 500 is heavier than about 51.7% of 60 Kawasaki naked bikes with compatible weight data.
Ready-to-ride weight
Bike + rider total weight
These totals use the model’s representative wet weight. They exclude riding gear, luggage and a passenger.
Kawasaki Z 500 weight & related specs
| Model years covered | 1979, 1980 |
|---|---|
| Wet / running weight | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| Engine displacement | 498 cc |
| Power | 50 hp to 52 hp |
| Torque | 32.5 lb-ft (44.1 Nm) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.96 US gal (15 L) |
| Full-tank fuel weight (estimated) | 24.6 lb (11.2 kg) |
Weight changes by model year
The 1979 model is used as the baseline where data is available. Only later supplied values that differ are shown below. A year pill does not mean every individual weight field was supplied for that year.
Useful weight calculations
| Horsepower per 100 lb | 10.8 hp / 100 lb to 11.23 hp / 100 lb |
|---|---|
| Pounds per horsepower | 8.9 lb / hp to 9.26 lb / hp |
| Torque per 100 lb | 7.03 lb-ft / 100 lb |
| Displacement per pound | 1.08 cc / lb |
| Weight per 100 cc | 93 lb / 100 cc |
| Fuel weight as % of bike weight | 5.3% |
What the weight numbers tell you
Kawasaki Z 500 weight FAQ
How heavy is the Kawasaki Z 500 ready to ride?
Listed ready-to-ride weight is 463 lb (210 kg). The year-specific section above shows which years use each figure where the supplied value changes.
Is the Kawasaki Z 500 heavy compared with other Kawasaki naked bikes?
It sits fairly close to the middle of the category. Its representative wet weight is around the 52nd percentile among 60 compatible Kawasaki naked bikes.
Does the Kawasaki Z 500 weight change by model year?
Not in the usable weight data on this page. Across the covered 1979-1980 years, the supplied weight figure remains the same where comparable values are available.
How much does the Kawasaki Z 500 fuel weigh?
The listed tank capacity is 3.96 US gal (15 L). Using approximately 0.745 kg/L gasoline, a full tank is roughly 24.6 lb (11.2 kg). That is an estimate for fuel mass, not an official Kawasaki curb-weight calculation.
How heavy is the Kawasaki Z 500 with an average-size rider?
A 180 lb rider brings the simple bike-plus-rider total to roughly 643 lb (291.6 kg) using the representative wet/running figure. Gear and luggage would add more.
How much horsepower does the Kawasaki Z 500 have per 100 lb?
Where compatible power and weight figures are available, it works out to 10.8 hp per 100 lb to 11.23 hp per 100 lb. That places it around the 37th percentile within the compatible Kawasaki naked bike power-to-weight comparison.
How much of the Kawasaki Z 500 total weight comes from fuel?
Based on the available weight basis, a full tank of gasoline represents about 5.3% of the motorcycle’s weight.
How does Kawasaki Z 500 torque compare with its weight?
The calculated torque-to-weight range is 7.03 lb-ft per 100 lb. It is useful for comparing bikes with very different overall weights.
What is the Kawasaki Z 500 engine-size-to-weight ratio?
Engine displacement relative to bike weight is 1.08 cc per lb. It can help compare motorcycles from very different displacement classes without relying on cc alone.
Motorcycle specifications can vary by model year, market, equipment and the exact dry/curb-weight definition. Calculated fuel-weight and ratio figures on this page are estimates derived from the supplied specifications. Confirm critical figures in the owner’s manual or on the official Kawasaki website.