How are the Kawasaki Ninjas?

[darsek]

Love my EX 500, couldn't have asked for a better first bike!

[Ninja Geoff]

Ninjas are junk!


Just kidding. I like my 650R. It's fun. FWIW it's my first street bike, and had about a season and a half on a XR200R dirtbike before i got it. It's tame for the most part, and next to the Ninja 250/500 or GS500, it's the easiest sport bike to ride. Not a bad choice for a beginer either if you plain just don't want a 250 or 500. Though if you DO go for a 650R, get an 06 in black.

The blue looks fine though. Saw a red one at the dealership, yuk!

[BeachComber]

I'm approaching 400 miles on my new EX 500 and I have no complaints; just a caveat. You can't exceed 4000 RPM for the first 500 miles, which means that if you take it on the highway and wind it out to 4000 RPM in 6th gear you're going something like 53 MPH, which means that a lot of cars and other riders will have to go around you. Kind of annoying during the busy morning commute, but it does motivate you to get those first 500 miles in!

BTW I'm 5'6", 127 lbs. and the bike is a good size for me.

[Super Dave]

Ninjas are junk!


Just kidding. I like my 650R. It's fun. FWIW it's my first street bike, and had about a season and a half on a XR200R dirtbike before i got it. It's tame for the most part, and next to the Ninja 250/500 or GS500, it's the easiest sport bike to ride. Not a bad choice for a beginer either if you plain just don't want a 250 or 500. Though if you DO go for a 650R, get an 06 in black.

The blue looks fine though. Saw a red one at the dealership, yuk!

I'd definitely would want it in black and red.....just like Mordeth13 but i'm getting a red Ninja 250 because that's what i can afford

[tanitatt]

yeah Mordeth's bike is cool, but he's crazy ... I love his vids ... anyway, I've had a 250 since Feb of this year ... after 4000 miles I can say that this is a great all around bike. Even in group rides, she keeps up pretty well, sure does teaches you about shifting ... keeping the motor in the right RPM range is work, but you'll appreciate it when you move up.

[IcyHound]

The 500 is a nice bike. Its bigger but not to big. You won't feel out of control with it, but it has enough of a kick that you will be happy playing with it. Its forgiving, its good in traffic, it has good gas millage. Its older 'style' and very basic, but it does just what you need it to do comfortably.

[buckwheat15]

you might be able to get a gsx 650f

[JC Viper]

The detuned version of the Ninja 500 engine is in my Vulcan 500 but it's by no means slow.

Gotta love the parallel twins by Kawasaki. A good feel when idle, pretty smooth when you get going.