The Kawasaki EX500 Ninja 500 uses a 9003 bulb size for both high beam and low beam headlight applications. The replacement chart covers vehicle production spanning 1987 to 2009.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Kawasaki EX500 Ninja 500 uses the 9003 bulb size for both the high beam and low beam headlight positions across the entire 1987-2009 model range covered by these specifications.
The 9003 is an ANSI-standard halogen bulb recognized in the United States and Canada, operating on a 12-volt electrical system with a dual-filament design rated at 60 watts for high beam and 55 watts for low beam.
Because the 9003 houses both filaments within a single bulb, one unit serves both the high and low beam functions, which accounts for its use in both headlight positions on this motorcycle.
The 9003 uses a P43t base, a bayonet-style mount with a 43mm collar that physically determines fitment and is not interchangeable with bulbs carrying different base types, regardless of voltage or wattage similarity.
The 9003 is functionally equivalent to the H4 bulb used in international markets, sharing the same dual-filament halogen construction and P43t base, though the 9003 designation reflects the ANSI classification system rather than the ECE system used elsewhere.