Which 500cc bike you recomend most for a begginer rider?

[Fayanth]

Im stuck between these two bikes. Ninja 500(03-05) im not sure about the looks, but i hear its a solid bike and has some forgiveness. Or, the suzuki GS500F (03-05). Personally I like the looks better of the GS500. But its a hard bike to find. I cant find any local and when I do find them, I find 4 and they are on east coast. So if I go with this bike, it may be a new purchase.

[Gummiente]

So if I go with this bike, it may be a new purchase.

Well, you'll get a warranty with a new bike - that's a big bonus. What's the difference in pricing between a used Kawi and a new Suzi? Kep in mind that with any used bike you'll need to sink a few hundred dollars into it right away (tires usually need to be replaced, oil change, brake pads, etc, etc) so the better bargain might be a brand new bike where you don't have to fix anything.

[gsJack]

I am a great fan of the GS500 or GS500E, the naked bike without the plastic wrap. I've put over 100k miles on my 2 GSs after having owned 4 Hondas. When my 97 GS with 80k miles on it was totalled in the summer of 03 and I realized that the naked GS500 was no longer to be sold in the US, I went looking for a good used low milage 02 GS to replaced my 97 with.

Having said that, if I were to buy a brand new 500cc bike in this country today, I would go with the Ninja 500 because of it's better performance. Both bikes have similar gas milage. Handlingwise, the GS comes with too soft front springs. Add Progressive front springs and radial tires and the little GS wll perform like a budget sportbike. The 50 HP Ninja engine has always outperformed the 40 HP GS in road tests.

I've recorded all magazine road test data I've found on the GS500 since it came out in 89 and where the data came from a GS vs EX comparo, I've included the EX(Ninja) data too. Might be of some interest to you.

http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/sergiodelr ... _tests.jpg

Might want to check the GS500 and EX500 forums for additional input from the folks that ride them.

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/

http://www.ex500riders.com/forums/

[mattf]

For no reason in particular, I just like the GS better.

[karenmotoracer]

I choose the ninja because it has better performance and smooth run. the engine and throttle is not noisy at all!

[Aggroton]

i the gs is the only suzuki i would ride...

[BudmanTom]

Looks like a little GSXR.


Tom