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I think whatever the company that makes it classifies it as...

Rehab Ralphy wrote:What classifies it as a sport, crusier, etc.?

Hmm I don't know why but it wouldn't be the first time the EX500 Ninja was thought of as a 'standard'. It's not. What classifies a bike generally is the riding position AND the bikes PURPOSE. The riding position is dictated by the location of the PEGS and the BARS. While the EX500 riding position is not 'extreme', forcing you to virtually lay on the tank like a litre-bike, make no mistake, the half-litre 500 is a sportbike. If you ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs like you're supposed to, it's easily seen that it's not a 'standard' riding position. And if you wanted to make the riding position extreme, there are aftermarket rearsets and clip-ons that will do the job nicely.

SuperRookie wrote:If you ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs like you're supposed to, it's easily seen that it's not a 'standard' riding position.

uhhm.... you have balls on your feet?

ninja79 wrote:uhhm.... you have balls on your feet?

The bit of your foot that your toes connect to...

The heel in laymans terms.

Or, actually I guess balls would be laymens terms....

*shrugs*



Anyways the seating position and function determine what class the bike is in.

GS/EX500 may look like sports bikes but they have a standard seating position. You're sitting more or less up and not all hunched over.

Hmm only $212 a year? Thats pretty cheap. How often do you have it insured? Is that why its cheap because its only insured for a few months out of the year?

Nope, that's for a full 12 months (but it's only liability, not full coverage, with $250 deductible, and the minimum for everything else).


And I always considered the EX500 and GS500 to be standards, because the seating position is so upright.

I went to progressive.com in order to get a rough estimate and it said $89 a month for a 2001 Kawasaki ninja 500. Not to bad in my opinion.

You have a lot of good questions. Here are a lot of good answers:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn

I made that page to help new riders and educate them on the process involved in learning to ride.

You get a lot of conflicting advice on message forums. But I always say that's a good thing. When learning ANYTHING new, it is wise to get as much advice as you can, then have the maturity to make up your own mind about what advice you want to ignore and what advice you want to take to heart.

Some people in this thread have given advice that I would disagree with. But that's cool. It helps you make a more well-informed decision when you have a lot of options and ideas to weigh in your head.

Good luck with whatever you decide. And again, check out that page I made. It will give you a ton of advice in one simple, step-by-step setup.

I would have to recommend something in the 600 - 750 range...and probably an older bike, but It sounds like you want something newer and maybe sportier. But the virago you are looking at could work in the larger ranges nicely, and if you dont mind going older the Maxim works great as its a pretty standard riding position with a more cuiser look and popular as a beginnner bike so there are a few out there. I hadn't driven anything with a motor and two wheels before sitting on my 650 Maxim and it didnt seem to offer any problems as far as torque for me and having riden for about 3 months now I am still having fun seeing just what it can do. being 6' + will only limit you in what feels comfortable to sit on, don't worry a great deal about weight as even with a 650 riding two-up didnt seem sluggish to me. Glad your so excited and keep up the good research, oh and older bikes = a lot cheaper insurance.

P.S. Nighthawks are great too.