GS500F VS Ninja 500R

[dnthmn44]

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.

[04gsrider]

my gs is my second bike(after a mishap with a bike that was toobig for my first bike.) I absolutely love it. i do with it had a little more top end power, otherwise it's great. as far as long trips i've only ridden as mush as 2-3 hours at one time, but i use it as my everyday transportation realitivly cheap bike, cheap ins., and i average 45-48mpg if i ride hard if not i can get 50-52mpg. you really can't beat it (economically of course). i ridden with people with much bigger bikes and have to trouble keeping up. as far a aftermarket support goes you have to look hard but it's out there

[jaydog19833]

Hmmmmm kind of a tough question. I rode a 2003 Kawisaki Ninja 500 for a while and I loved the bike. Statistically speaking the Ninja has a better cooling system and a bit more HP (i think the Ninja beats the GS by something like 11 HP). Also reviews I have read rated the Ninja slightly better mechanically all around; by the slightest degree.

The GS looks SOOO much better than the Ninja though. I honestly think the Ninja is well overdue for a plastic and headlight update.

Bottom line: The differences between the bike really won't be exceptionally noticable. The GS looks better, and the Ninja is mechanically better.

P.S. I also found a Muzzy exhaust and a Lockhart Phillips full fairing kit for the Ninja.....in case you wanted to look into that stuff also.

[axel_2078]

I had a '98 Ninja 500 and loved it. It was comfortable and had decent power. I did, however, have to get an in-line fuel filter installed because the float needle kept getting clogged with debris.

[dnthmn44]

The GS looks SOOO much better than the Ninja though. I honestly think the Ninja is well overdue for a plastic and headlight update.

I couldn,t have said it better myself

I would even be happy if they made it look like the ZZR 250.

By the sounds of things I will probably end up getting another Kawi. If Suzuki ends up doing a little more work on the platform I will take another look in a few years.

Thanks for the info on the parts Jaydog. My old bike had a Muzzy and it sounded awesome I have found body panels at Targa and a tail at airtech but I am not sure if I like the full package together. I have a pic of a GP rep with those parts but I could not attach it (Too Big)



THanks for the insight, much appreciated.

[finch20th]

the 500 i had took on like 5 or 6 long trips 2-3 hours no problem you hand gets numb from the twin but it is still a good ride..... you will like and it looks ahell of alot better than a ninja!!!!!!

[LayinLo]

Originally Posted by dnthmn44

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.

Not bad at all. It has a very upright position. The seat was a little bit stiff and coulda used some padding.

Originally Posted by dnthmn44

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.

No there isn't much out for it. Supposedly, you can get a Vance and Hines for it now, and Yoshi was in the process of making an exhaust. Dyno jet has a jet kit for it, though.

Originally Posted by dnthmn44

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.

It gets really good gas mileage and offers a great look. It is not built for speed. It should feel like your your 500 did as far as performance is concerned. Except it is a bit heavier.

[PinkHat]

I'm very new to riding myself, so I may not be the best person take advice from; but . . .

my buddy rode my 500f home for me when I first got it, since then he (R6), my other friend (Monster), and I switch off often, almost every ride. Even thought their bikes are way more powerfull in every way they say, and I agree, its just a ridiculously fun bike to ride.

If you go with the 500f the only way you may regret it probably is the aftermarket parts, there's slim pickings as everyone's mentioned.

[Nexus242]

I think your ready to step up to something larger like a SV or FZ6 or 599 or Kat 600 or even a supersport 600 or since your in cananananada maybe the . 2 years of riding a EX500 is alot of seat time.

[gsJack]

Bought my 97 GS500E new in April of 99 and it was totaled in July of 03, it has been restored and now has about 80k miles on it. Bought my 02 GS500 in Sept of 03 after the accident and it now has 30k miles on it. That's about 110k miles on GS500s after owning 4 Hondas ranging from 400 to 750cc.

Whether it's suitable for long milage travel depends on the rider, not the bike. I've done 400-500 mile days on my GSs. Went to the Smoky Mountains last four years and ran thru the mountain twisties with all kinds and sizes of bikes. Turned the front rotor blue twice on the 97 GS and the GS has better brakes than the EX500.

The OEM front springs are way too soft. Put in a set of Progressive springs and add a set of good sport touring radials and it will be capable of running with most any in the mountain twisties if you are.

I prefer the GS500 mostly because it's naked, have nothing against the EX500. The 01 and 02 models are the best GSs. The EX500 has the best performance figures and that is a plus. If I had to buy a new one today and had to choose between the current full faired models, I would go with the Ninja. Would look real hard for another like new 02 GS500 first though.

I get a constant 60-65 mpg all summer and this can drop to as low as 50-55 mpg in the winter. Lean bikes need a lot of choke when it's below freezing. When I had some spare time a couple winters ago, I made a list of all the GS500 published road tests I could find and where the data came from a GS v EX comparo, I inxcluded the EX data too in case you are interested:

http://www.prodigyweb.net.mx/sergiod...S500_tests.jpg

[dnthmn44]

Originally Posted by Nexus242

I think your ready to step up to something larger like a SV or FZ6 or 599 or Kat 600 or even a supersport 600 or since your in cananananada maybe the . 2 years of riding a EX500 is alot of seat time.

Upgrading is something that I considered but ruled out. My insurance on a 600 would be $100 - $140 per month. The insurance on the 500 is like half of that. Yes Ontario has messed up insurance rates

Aside form that I have been happy with the performance of a 500 so far and don't see a need to change to a bigger bike. I am at the point where I am leaning towards the Kawi because of What is available for it in terms of aftermarket parts and the fact that I can buy an older one for dirt cheap and have some fun working on it over the next year or two. If the 500F had been around for a little longer and I could have picked one up for $3K and then added my own touches it would be a different story.

Thanks for the test info GSJack. It helped make my decision a litttle easier to make.

Thanks for the input everyone, I'll let you know when I get my next bike. Hopefully I will be able to post a pic and get some more advice from you in the future. I'll be looking for input on a paint scheme. By auto body guy just hired one of the best air-brush guys in the area and we are working out a deal on a paint job if I let him put his company logo on the bike...I'm thinking along the lines of a dragon.