KAWASAKI ER-5 (1996-2005) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki ER-5 was a naked motorcycle intended as a commuter. The bike was manufactured from 1997 until 2006, when it was replaced by the Kawasaki ER-6. At its core was a 498cc four-stroke parallel-twin engine based on the one used by the GPZ500.

Unlike many modern motorcycles with modern brakes, such as a fixed caliper and a floating brake disc, the Kawasaki ER-5 installed a fixed brake disc, a floating caliper, and a drum braking unit on the rear.

The bike's aesthetic department was represented by a round headlight with instruments mounted on top, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a two-into-one exhaust system with a silencer mounted on the right side, and lightweight three-spoke aluminum wheels.

The motorcycle was built around a lightweight aluminum monocoque frame with a conventional telescopic fork on the front and five-way adjustable twin shock absorbers on the rear, providing optimum suspension performance and handling.

The braking performance was handled by a 280 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 160 mm drum braking unit on the rear wheel, offering acceptable stopping power when riding solo.

As for the power figures, the 1996 Kawasaki ER-5 had installed underneath its fuel tank a 498cc four-stroke liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine that delivered 49 hp with a peak force at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm (32 lb-ft) torque at 7,200 rpm.