Who's on first?

[SuperRookie]

Hey guys...

I think I posted this in the wrong place before...so, forgive me if you're reading it again...sheesh, newbs...

Ok...so, from what I've been reading on here and my other research, I'm leaning toward a used, and hopefully well kept Kawasaki 500 as a first bike...either that or the Suzuki...

Opinions? Further ideas?

I'm 5'6, 150...I don't see what all the fuss is about when novice riders want a more powerful bike as a first bike...these both seem to be capable machines AND they look good to boot.

Cheerz

[Shiv]

Opinions? Further ideas?

My opinion is that you should research bikes a bit more before you try and buy one. Not trying to be offensive but there's a lot that falls under a "Kawasaki 500". GPZ 500 and EX 500, for example, are both made by Kawasaki but two different bikes.

[NCRonB]

Assuming you're talking about the EX500/Ninja 500R, it's a very nice bike. It has more than enough power, IMO, and I think it handles quite well at highway speeds of 70mph (probably more -- I'm a conservative rider).

[flynrider]

Personally, I like the Ninja and the Suzuki for first bikes. There's enough power to get just about any job done, yet they're still light and forgiving on the throttle.

I started out on a Kaw 400 with much less horsepower and really didn't need much more than that. I rode it around town and on long highway trips (i.e 500 miles) without a problem. I think many newbies underestimate the capabilities of the mid-size bikes and automatically think they will be needing 100 hp in order to have a fun ride. It's not true.

Very few of the folks I know that want to move up to a high-powered sportbike are actually able to ride a mid-size bike to its limits.

[SuperRookie]

Yes, yes, I should have been more specific...it's the Ninja I'm referring to..say, what's the dif between the EX500 and the 500R? Also the Suzuki I have in mind is the GS500...

[jmillheiser]

the EX500 and Ninja 500R are the same bike. The EX500 is simply its model number.

[NCRonB]

Right. I don't think the EX500 has always had the Ninja 500R label, but it's the same bike.

[Sev]

The R makes it sound faster.

It's sort of like the guys who put big spoilers on their front wheel drive cars... Or Carbon Fibre decal material over their hood.

[storysunfolding]

The R makes it sound faster.

It's sort of like the guys who put big spoilers on their front wheel drive cars... Or Carbon Fibre decal material over their hood.

Whoa dude, maybe some "scientist" or "aerospace engineer" says that my car doesn't go fast enough to get the down pressure that my car doesn't need on the back wheels... but can you really believe them? I mean, they went to college. Have you seen animal house?

[gsJack]

Yes, yes, I should have been more specific...it's the Ninja I'm referring to..say, what's the dif between the EX500 and the 500R? Also the Suzuki I have in mind is the GS500...

The EX500 came out in 87 and the GS500 in 89 as I recall. The EX500 had an update in 94 changing wheels from 16" to 17" and some other upgrades and was named the Ninja 500R then. It is still a EX500 model named Ninja to promote sales.

Opinion? the GS500 and EX500 are excellent bikes to start with for anyone interested in sportbikes as opposed to cruiser styling. The naked 89-02 GS500 would be the best for a first bike since it is naked and doesn't have expensive bodywork to damage in a drop.

The GS500E models ran from 89-00 and then changed to just GS500, no E, with some upgrades in 01. When the fully faired model came out it was designated GS500F in 04. Only the F model is now sold in the US but both faired and naked models are available in the rest of the world.