Kawasaki’s Z500 Sugomi Edition Wants To Turn Heads, At Least In France

Kawasaki’s modern-day Z lineup of naked sportbikes is pretty expansive. From beginner-friendly offerings like the Z500 all the way to fire-breathing, high-performance machines like the Z H2, there’s essentially a Z for every rider.

And now, Kawasaki’s making the beginner-friendly Z500 even more attractive with a special Sugomi Edition, exclusive to the French market, at least for now.

In case you weren’t aware, Sugomi has been quite a long-standing tradition in Kawasaki’s design book. It all started with the 2014 Kawasaki Z1000, a bike that was designed specifically to look like a menacing predator on the hunt. Its dual LED headlights gave off the look of a predator intently stalking its prey, while its muscular tank gave it a hunched-over stance giving you the impression that it was ready to strike at any moment.

Since then, pretty much the rest of Kawasaki’s Z lineup followed similar styling cues, and quite frankly, it’s a pretty good look for Kawasaki’s naked sportbikes.

So, what makes the Kawasaki Z500 Sugomi edition so special? Well, for starters, it gets special graphics that give the naked streetfighter a sportier, more aggressive look. According to Kawasaki, the graphics give the bike a more fluid and muscular look, making it look like it’s in motion even if it’s just sitting still. But that’s it—just graphics.

And quite frankly, it’s a bit disappointing.

Personally, I was a huge fan of the Z1000 when it was refreshed for the 2014 model year bearing Sugomi styling. I saw it as a bike that was way ahead of its time in terms of styling and performance, and one that made liter bike performance accessible to a wider audience, all while looking totally badass and turning heads everywhere it went.

Unfortunately, I just don’t think the same can be said about the Z500. Beneath the surface, the Z500 Sugomi Edition is mechanically identical to the regular model. It’s powered by a docile and tractable parallel-twin engine and gets all the tech and features of the standard Z500, a bike that has proven itself to be quite an impressive beginner to intermediate model—albeit one that’s built atop a platform that’s beginning to show its age.

And while the Z500 Sugomi Edition is certainly a good-looking machine, and one that’ll appeal to younger riders looking for a sporty yet approachable bike, there’s no denying that Kawasaki can do much better than adding a fancy new livery.

The entry-level naked and sportbike segment is booming with new models all eager to make a mark in the industry. Bikes like the Aprilia RS 457 and CFMoto 450 NK are setting a new standard of performance in the entry-level segment, particularly thanks to their use of a 270-degree crankshaft in their parallel-twin engines. And with many more manufacturers going in this direction, it’s clear that Kawasaki needs to step up sooner or later.