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Sportbikes & Sport-tourers Got a supersport, sport-tourer or streetbike? If you prefer the twisties to the open road, this is the place to talk about it!

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Old 08-16-2005, 05:17 PM   #1 (permalink)
Where Am I ?
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Bike: Currently Between Rides
Location: London Ontario Canada
Posts: 27
Default GS500F VS Ninja 500R

Hi All,

Don't worry, I will not be asking about 600cc supersports. I spent the last two years riding a 90 ex500 Kawi. After a few close calls and some stupid miss-haps (Dropped it loading it onto a trailer...etc) I sold it and took a season off to save for a new 500. I was just in the dealership and had a chance to see a 2005 GS500F up close and I really liked what I saw. I then did a little bit of research and the two machines are very similar. The main difference is that the Kawi is liquid cooled and is running a slightly higher compression ratio.

I have already searched the site and read any thread pertaining to the bike and so far have only a few questions.

How comfortable is the ride? I used to ride my Kawi for 3-4 hour stretches with only a short stop for fuel and something to drink along the way. I never got sore or stiff on the bike.

I Know the 500F platform is new but is there a good website for aftermarket parts? ie: exhausts, clutch kits etc. so far I have only been able to find a jet kit by Dynojet.

Basically if I do go with the Suzuki I only want to slightly modify it because it looks great as is. If I stay with the Kawi I will be doing the same mods and then fitting completely different plastics to the bike plus painting it, but I know what I am going to get with that bike.

Any details on how this platform performs & any problems I should look out for would be graetly appreciated.

Thanks.