Sahara 500 at a glance
| Weight | 170 g (≈ 6.0 oz) · lightest of 12 Sahara sizes |
|---|---|
| Gear ratio | 5.6:1 · 69 cm (≈ 27.2 in) per crank |
| Max drag | 3 kg (≈ 6.6 lb) |
| Line capacity | PE 0.6 gō 185 m (202 yd), 0.8 gō 140 m (153 yd), 1 gō 110 m (120 yd) / Nylon 1 gō 150 m (164 yd), 1.5 gō 90 m (98 yd), 2 gō 70 m (77 yd) Full table |
| Spool | 39.5 mm dia. / 8 mm stroke |
| Same body as | No other Sahara size prints the same spool and max drag. |
| Japan list price | ¥9,000 excl. tax |
| US version | Yes: SH500FJ Details |
What are the Sahara 500 specs (weight, gear ratio, drag)?
Shimano Japan lists the Sahara 500 at 170 g (≈ 6.0 oz), 5.6:1 gear ratio, 3 kg (≈ 6.6 lb) max drag. 3 of the 17 items below are not in the official table and are marked Not confirmed.
| Gear ratio | 5.6:1 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 170 g (≈ 6.0 oz) |
| Line capacity, PE (gō-m) | 0.6-185, 0.8-140, 1-110 |
| Line capacity, nylon (lb-m) | Not confirmed |
| Line capacity, nylon (gō-m) | 1-150, 1.5-90, 2-70 |
| Line capacity, nylon (mm-m) | 0.20-110 |
| Line capacity, fluorocarbon (gō-m) | 1-130, 1.5-85, 2-60 |
| Line capacity, fluorocarbon (lb-m) | Not confirmed |
| Max drag | 3 kg (≈ 6.6 lb) |
| Practical drag (maker figure) | 2 kg |
| Bearings (ball/roller) | 3/1 |
| Retrieve per crank | 69 cm (≈ 27.2 in) |
| Handle length | 40 mm |
| Spool | 39.5 mm dia. / 8 mm stroke |
| Product code (品番) | 044495 |
| JAN code | 4969363044495 |
| Model year | Not confirmed |
| List price in Japan | ¥9,000 excl. tax official |
Imperial figures in brackets are our unit conversions of the Japanese values, not manufacturer figures.
In US units
Weight: 6.0 oz; max retrieve per handle turn: 27.2 in; max drag: 6.6 lb. The line-capacity table below gives yards for each confirmed metre figure.
Converted from Shimano Japan's official metric values. Weight and drag are rounded to one decimal place, retrieve to one decimal place.
How much is the JDM Sahara 500?
¥9,000 before consumption tax. That is Shimano Japan's "本体価格" (base price; the page marks it 税別, before consumption tax) for the 500 (product code 044495), checked 2026-10-13. Across the 12 Sahara sizes the Japanese list prices run ¥9,000–¥10,900; the 500 is at the low end. The 1000, C2000S and C2000SHG have the same list price.
Prices: Japan list prices are the makers' base prices before consumption tax (Shimano "本体価格", marked 税別; Daiwa "メーカー希望本体価格", marked 税抜). US prices are Shimano North America and Daiwa USA MSRP, or for Shimano baitcasting reels the price on Shimano North America's official online store. Source dates are shown with each record (2026-10-11 or 2026-10-13). We do not convert currencies or add tax. Prices can change; check the current price on the official page. Shop prices and stock are not shown. About prices
How much does the Sahara 500 weigh?
170 g (≈ 6.0 oz) in Shimano Japan's table. Across the 12 Sahara sizes the range is 170–305 g: the lightest is the 500 and the heaviest the C5000XG.
What is the Sahara 500 gear ratio and retrieve per crank?
5.6:1, with 69 cm (≈ 27.2 in) of line per handle turn.
How much drag does the Sahara 500 have?
Max drag 3 kg (≈ 6.6 lb). Shimano also prints a practical drag of 2 kg (≈ 4.4 lb), its own figure for normal use.
How much line does the Sahara 500 hold?
The table keeps the maker's gō, lb or mm rating and metre length together; the yard figure changes length only. For example, PE 0.6-185 means size 0.6 gō and 185 m.
| Line | Japan official capacity | In US length units | JAFTMA standard diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE (gō–m) | 0.6-185, 0.8-140, 1-110 | 0.6 gō–202 yd, 0.8 gō–153 yd, 1 gō–120 yd | Not confirmed (PE standard is denier) |
| Nylon (gō–m) | 1-150, 1.5-90, 2-70 | 1 gō–164 yd, 1.5 gō–98 yd, 2 gō–77 yd | 1 gō: 0.165 mm, 1.5 gō: 0.205 mm, 2 gō: 0.235 mm |
| Nylon (mm–m) | 0.20-110 | 0.20 mm–120 yd | — |
| Fluorocarbon (gō–m) | 1-130, 1.5-85, 2-60 | 1 gō–142 yd, 1.5 gō–93 yd, 2 gō–66 yd | 1 gō: 0.165 mm, 1.5 gō: 0.205 mm, 2 gō: 0.235 mm |
Converted from Shimano Japan's official metric values; yd is rounded to the nearest whole yard. The gō rating is unchanged and is not a lb-test conversion. JAFTMA line-size standards and how to read these figures →
How many bearings does the Sahara 500 have?
3/1 (ball bearings / roller bearings), as printed in Shimano Japan's table.
What handle and spool size does the Sahara 500 have?
Handle length 40 mm; Shimano lists Yumeya handle knob type A. Spool: 39.5 mm dia. / 8 mm stroke.
How does the 500 differ from other Sahara sizes?
The 500 is the only Sahara size with 500 in its code in Shimano Japan's table.
Shimano Japan lists 12 Sahara sizes, weighing 170–305 g with gear ratios of 4.7–6.2:1; the 500 is 170 g at 5.6:1. The table shows each size's official values. Full Sahara size table →
| Size | Gear ratio | Weight | Max drag | PE (gō-m) | Japan price (excl. tax) | US SKU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 (this page) | 5.6:1 | 170 g | 3 kg | 0.6-185, 0.8-140, 1-110 | ¥9,000 | SH500FJ |
| 1000 | 5:1 | 205 g | 3 kg | 0.8-240, 1-190 | ¥9,000 | SH1000FJ |
| C2000S | 5:1 | 210 g | 3 kg | 0.6-150, 0.8-110, 1-80 | ¥9,000 | Not confirmed |
| C2000SHG | 6:1 | 210 g | 3 kg | 0.6-150, 0.8-110, 1-80 | ¥9,000 | Not confirmed |
| 2500 | 5:1 | 240 g | 9 kg | 1-320, 1.2-270, 1.5-220 | ¥9,700 | SH2500FJ |
| 2500SHG | 6.2:1 | 240 g | 4 kg | 0.6-200, 0.8-150, 1-120 | ¥9,700 | Not confirmed |
| C3000 | 5:1 | 240 g | 9 kg | 1-400, 1.5-270, 2-200 | ¥9,700 | Not confirmed |
| C3000DH | 5:1 | 265 g | 9 kg | 1-400, 1.5-270, 2-200 | ¥10,200 | Not confirmed |
| C3000HG | 6.2:1 | 240 g | 9 kg | 1-400, 1.5-270, 2-200 | ¥9,700 | SHC3000HGFJ |
| 4000 | 4.7:1 | 280 g | 11 kg | 1-490, 1.5-320, 2-240 | ¥10,200 | Not confirmed |
| 4000XG | 6.2:1 | 280 g | 11 kg | 1-490, 1.5-320, 2-240 | ¥10,200 | SH4000XGFJ |
| C5000XG | 6.2:1 | 305 g | 11 kg | 1.5-400, 2-300, 3-200 | ¥10,900 | SHC5000XGFJ |
Which spools fit the Sahara 500?
We have no official spool listing recorded for the 500, so we name no spool for it.
| Part | Listed value | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Yumeya handle knob type | A | Shimano Japan spec table (夢屋ハンドルノブタイプ). |
| Yumeya screw cap type | HC-1 | Shimano Japan spec table (夢屋ハンドルスクリューキャップタイプ). |
| Yumeya reel stand type | C | Shimano Japan spec table (夢屋リールスタンドタイプ). |
We only list parts the manufacturer (or its own custom-parts brand) names. A part with similar dimensions is not treated as compatible, and a matching type is not a statement that stock spools swap between models.
Is there a US version of the Sahara 500?
Yes. Shimano North America lists SH500FJ with the same size code (500). gear ratio and weight match after our unit conversion; max drag and retrieve per crank are Not confirmed.
Both official listings use size code 500. Published gear ratio and weight match after unit conversion.
| Item | JDM 500 | US SH500FJ | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gear ratio | 5.6:1 | 5.6:1 | Matches after our conversion |
| Weight | 170 g (≈ 6.0 oz) | 6 oz | Matches after our conversion |
| Max drag | 3 kg (≈ 6.6 lb) | Not confirmed | Cannot compare (value not published) |
| Retrieve per crank | 69 cm (≈ 27.2 in) | Not confirmed | Cannot compare (value not published) |
US values are Shimano North America official figures; ≈ values are our unit conversions of the Japanese figures. Gaps within rounding (0.15 oz, 1 lb, 0.6 in) count as a match.
Side-by-side: Sahara 500 JDM vs USDM → Every Sahara size: Japan vs SAHARA FJ →
Sahara 500 vs Nasci and Sedona 500
Reels from other series whose size code carries the number 500, closest in weight first. Size numbers are each maker's own naming, not a measured standard, so the same number does not mean the same spool or body. By Japanese list price (excl. tax), the cheapest 500 is the Sahara at ¥9,000 and the most expensive the Nasci at ¥12,500.
| Reel | Weight | Gear ratio | Max drag | Japan price (excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano Nasci 500 | 170 g | 5.6:1 | 3 kg | ¥12,500 |
| Shimano Sedona 500 | 170 g | 5.6:1 | 3 kg | – |
Compare
- Other 500 reels in our data: Shimano Nasci 500, Shimano Sedona 500
- Other Sahara sizes: 1000, C2000S, C2000SHG, 2500, 2500SHG, C3000, C3000DH, C3000HG, 4000, 4000XG, C5000XG
- Shimano Sahara JDM: all sizes · All JDM Shimano reels · JDM reels guide
- Japanese line sizes · Shimano vs Daiwa sizes · Shimano size codes
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Sources
- Shimano Japan product page and spec table (サハラ) (checked 2026-10-13)