Anyone use Ninja 500s for distance riding?

[< I Fly >]

I'm considering taking a trip, and wherever it is to, it'll be 400 miles or more.

Does anyone here who rides a Ninja 500 enjoy touring on them?
The riding position tends to jar one's... parts.

[fireguzzi]

I remember my teacher, who is an iron butt member, telling me that a ninja 250 rider competed in the Iron butt rally, and i think won a time or two.
Not sure about it winning though,.........I'm bad about making stuff up.

So i think you could easily do it on a 500. As far as comfort goes I dont know. Never rode one.

[Myself002]

I remember my teacher, who is an iron butt member, telling me that a ninja 250 rider competed in the Iron butt rally, and i think won a time or two.
Not sure about it winning though,.........I'm bad about making stuff up.

So i think you could easily do it on a 500. As far as comfort goes I dont know. Never rode one.

Iron butt rally? when does that take place?

[dieziege]

I think it runs in august... http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/default.cfm

I have no problem going 11,000 miles in 11 days... in an airplane...

I see a 250 ninja finishing 12th in 2003, and 59th in 2005... considering that most of the bikes are big BMWs and the like, those are fantastic results.

[QuietMonkey]

i've done 1000km days (about 600 miles) on RZ350's (2-stroke, 350cc twin-cylinder engine) and on a naked (unfaired) SRX600 (4-stroke, 600cc single-cylinder engine)... it's all a matter of physical comfort/resilience/experience, i'd say. Your parallel twin EX500 is half a Kawi ZX1000 engine - a very nice design, even though they sound like tractors )

The RZ350 is similar in horsepower and useability to the EX500, but the EX is likely better for touring, as the little RZs require more rev's and has less torque at lower RPMs, as the little 2-stroke engine needs revs to work well, even though the RZ is in a pretty mild state of tune in street trim.

The nicest thing on the highway is a fairly upright seating position, with a little lean into the wind, a fairing for wind protection, which reduces fatigue and noise, a torquey engine, and comfy seat.... all of which the EX500 has... you should be ready to ride. A good fitting full-coverage helmet and other quality gear helps too.

Try a few 2 or 3 hour stints out on the road to get a feel for it and watch for aches in your body. Shift aroudn on the bike a little and take breaks as you need to. Its even better to take a break before your body tells you it's tired, keep hydrated and pack some snacks.

Plan ahead a little, ensure your bike is mechanically sound, know your fuel distance on a tank of gas, and find some FUN ROADS to ride to keep things interesting

//monkey

[Myself002]

Its official in 2011 Myself002 will enter the Iron Butt Competition!

[DenverDude2002]

I did a 75 mile ride in my old EX500, thats about all I could do without stopping, its upright but will get uncomfortable after a while

[Sev]

One of the keys is to shift around every so often, I've found my bike has 3 seat positions:

1) nuts to the tank
2) set back in the middle of the seat
3) "O Ring" against the passenger hump

By shifting around a bit aliviates strain on certain muscles, and prevents a sore butt. Don't wear tighy whities, they'll just leave lines on you. Glad I have boxers.

You can buy lambskin pads for your seat that'll make a huge difference. I don't have one, but I've heard good things.

Other then that, it's just a case of grin and bear it. Focus on what's going on around you, not how you feel.

[liablemtl]

The EX500 is a perfectly capable bike for touring... believe it or not. I had a friend who rode one from San Diego to Vancouver, BC and didn't take the most direct route in doing so. And he's tall... like 6'2". He said he actually had more fun riding the EX than he did riding his ZX-9R. You can verify his trip here: http://www.calamarichris.com/05britcol-1.htm

I'd put one in my garage if I could sneak it past my wife. There's something to be said for humiliating squids on bikes with twice the displacement and 3-4 times the power.

[runsilent]

I'm considering taking a trip, and wherever it is to, it'll be 400 miles or more.
Does anyone here who rides a Ninja 500 enjoy touring on them?
The riding position tends to jar one's... parts.

I took my first "long trip" in 2001 on a GS500. I had been riding since 84 so I did have considerable riding experience by then. Went to the Honda Hoot in Knoxville TN from NE Ohio, over 600 miles away. After wearing out 6 Hondas, I bought a GS500 in 99 and another in 03 and have put on over 110k miles on the 2 GS's. Did 4 more trips of that length since and longest single day ride was about 540 miles to the Americade in Lake George NY. Coming and going and some riding in between make these trips about 1500 miles total. I was just 2 months shy of my 69th birthday on that first long trip, should be a piece of cake for you.

There's something to be said for humiliating squids on bikes with twice the displacement and 3-4 times the power.

Makes riding a "beginners" bike worthwhile.