Metal Earth Kawasaki Ninja Review (Premium Series)

Motorcycles make excellent metal model subjects — lots of mechanical detail packed into a small footprint — and the Metal Earth Premium Series Kawasaki Ninja is one of the most characterful. The color printing on the fairings gives it real presence for a compact kit.

Licensed detail in color

As a Premium Series kit, the Ninja arrives with color-printed bodywork rather than bare steel. The result captures the bike’s aggressive sportbike styling far better than an uncoated kit would. The fairings show the distinctive Kawasaki Ninja green — or whichever color edition the kit ships in — and the color detail extends to the tank and tail section, which matters at this scale.

It is worth noting that the color is printed onto the steel sheet, not a paint applied after the fact, so flaking during assembly is less of a concern than with applied paint. The more likely risk is scuffing when you grip parts with metal-jaw pliers, which is the main handling caution for any Premium Series build.

The build

This is a solid Intermediate project. The wheels, fairings, and handlebars involve some small, fiddly parts, so a steady hand and good pliers help. Budget two to four hours depending on your experience.

The wheel rims are likely to be the most fiddly sub-assembly. Spoke detail at this scale typically means small tabs in tight proximity, and it is easy to catch an adjacent tab with your pliers. Work under a magnifying lamp if you have one, and use a cocktail stick to pre-position tabs before squeezing them with pliers. The fairings, by contrast, should come together more easily once you have the right curve pre-bent in.

Protecting the color fairings

For the fairings specifically, ceramic-tipped pliers or a strip of masking tape over your standard plier jaws will prevent scuff marks on the color surface. The fairings are the most visible part of the finished model, so they are worth the extra care.

Mistakes to avoid

• Avoid forcing the front fork angle — it is designed to sit at a slight rake, and pushing it upright will stress the connection points
• The handlebars are easy to over-bend; fold them to roughly the right angle, then fine-tune by hand rather than re-gripping with pliers
• If a wheel does not sit true, check that the axle tabs are fully twisted before trying to adjust the rim — a half-twisted axle tab is a likely cause

How it compares

Compared to the M1 Abrams Tank in the vehicles category, the Kawasaki Ninja is a smaller and slightly more delicate build. The tank’s running gear is fiddly in a similar way, but the Ninja’s color fairings add a handling challenge the bare-steel tank does not have. If you have done the tank already, the Ninja is a natural next step. Both sit comfortably in the Intermediate bracket.

Display tips

The Ninja looks best displayed at a slight angle rather than dead-on from the side — the perspective shows both the fairing profile and the wheel geometry. A small piece of black foam board or a dark surface under it stops the wheels from rolling and gives the display a cleaner look. Photographing it from a low angle, roughly level with the engine, captures the sportbike stance well.

Who it is for

• Motorcycle and Kawasaki fans
• Builders past their first few kits
• Anyone wanting a detailed model with a small footprint

The verdict

The Kawasaki Ninja is a fun, characterful build that looks great on a desk or shelf. The color Premium Series finish gives it visual appeal that a bare-steel bike could not match. If you like vehicles, also look at the mechanical Time For Machine car in the vehicles category — a very different but equally compelling direction for vehicle fans.

Frequently asked questions

Does Metal Earth make motorcycle kits?

Yes. The Premium Series Kawasaki Ninja is an officially licensed, color-printed motorcycle kit, and it is the only Metal Earth motorcycle in our catalog. For other Metal Earth vehicles, from classic Chevys to the 1989 Batmobile, see our metal model car kits roundup.

How hard is the Metal Earth Kawasaki Ninja to build?

It is an Intermediate kit. Budget 2–4 hours. The wheels, fairings and handlebars have small parts, so it is better as a second or third build than a first.

How big is the finished Kawasaki Ninja?

Roughly 12 cm long, which makes it a compact desk model.

Is the Kawasaki Ninja in color or bare steel?

Color. As a Premium Series kit, the fairings, tank and tail are color-printed on the steel. Wrap plier jaws in masking tape to avoid scuffing the printed parts.