GS500 vs. EX500

[Clayman]

I was just curious if there was anyone who could give me an unbaised comparison of the EX500 and the GS500.

[davipu]

nope can't do it. the gs rocks the socks off the ex.

[The Buddha]

And that is un biased...
Cool.
Srinath.

[nl_carey]

If you do a search on the forums you should find quite a few comparisons. There was one a couple of months ago, IIRC...

[Mat]

ex has a stronger motor while the gs will rip it a new arse hole in  the twisties

[Rema1000]

GS may be cheaper to insure (this is a big one!  Check insurance before you buy!).

The 2004 GS looks hot.  The older GSs look cool.  The Ninja just looks 80's.

Ninja has more power (on paper, at least).  But this is a minor thing for a first bike.  Either bike will far exceed the power you can use legally, or even safely on the street.  You really shouldn't care about how hard it pulls above 100mph.  In my opinion, this is a non-issue for street riding.

GS has an early-80's design motor, all steel and air-cooled (low-tech).  Ninja has aluminum motor, late-80's design, water-cooled.   This makes the GS a bit easier to work on, but it warms up slower.

[pantablo]

click -->here<-- for a comparison from Motorcyclist magazine- April 1994.

They seem to be pretty well matched with the ex edging out the gs in outright performance. But the gs handles better, possibly cheaper to insure because no bodywork and is cheaper to buy. EX is water cooled I think, where GS is air cooled-that goes a long way...

[Flash]

Click here for the April 1994 comparison from Motorcyclist
(edit: dangit Pantablo you beat me to it as I was typing this out :x   :guns: :lol:     )

Click here for an Adobe Acrobat file of the July 2004 comparison from Motorcycle Consumer News.

Essentially, both say the EX500 was/is the clear winner, but in my (biased) opinion here is a short list of why the GS500 is better:
1) can be tricked out or personalized rather easily, whereas the EX500 is kinda stuck with that cheezy plastic fairing
2) fools alot of people on how small the GS really is, whereas the EX500 is just a wannabe for a real "rice rocket"
4) modern look (with or w/o the fairing), whereas the EX500 looks rather 1980ish
5) a whole website dedicated to the GS500  

Need I say more :dunno:

[wasabi_peas]

I've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes of the group (go figure, many of the others were cruisers, a dual sport, a royal enfield repro, etc....

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  The Ninja's frame and suspension design are a bit more primitive.

If you want, I can dig up the issue information and maybe type out the bottom line comment or something.

But if I were to offer my totally unbiased opinion :lol:  and try to convince you, the GS is really nice in that there's no fairing to break/replace when you drop it, it's fantastic to ride, it's easy to work on, etc.  This site alone was a major factor in my decision, and it's helped tremenously.

And I do prefer the look, because it looks like it is exacly what it's trying to be.  The little ninjars look like they're trying to be faster than they really are.  Heck, I parked next to a Ducati Monster 600 the other day, and I thought the GS held it's own pretty well.  It just looks solid.  Uncomplicated, honest, hella-fun.

[pianopraze]

I guess it's all a matter of preference, but the gs500 is just one classy lady to me... all these years later and she still looks young and beautiful. If she were a lady... she would have the young and beautiful looking mom (following the old addage "want to see what your wife will look like in 20 years.. look at the mother")

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/038206/

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/033046/

[Frost]

GS have a much smoother engine and gearbox...

the EX just feels like a cruiser sometimes...but it has more topend power...
it can easily go over 200kph...which the GS will be hard to even maintain 190kph...

i was blown by by a EX at topspeed...

but i UPGRADED from an EX to a GS this year...and i'm extremely about it

[Rema1000]

There was an article by a U.K. motorcycle-safety instructor (sort of like MSF).  He basically said that they were awfully similar when new, but that the GS had no duct tape after a couple of years of student abuse, while the EX was looking like a rat-bike.

It may not be as sturdy as a KLR, but the naked GS is probably the most crashable road bike sold in the US (least damage, cheapest to repair).  You may not intend to crash, but you'll probably at-least tip it over in your driveway once.

[pantablo]

I've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes ...

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  ...

Cycle World, December 02 issue.
Both EX and GS were neck and neck with the nod going to the gs based on value (cheaper to buy). I have it too somewhere but I remember it was that issue because I bought mine in November 02 and I also went to the motorcycle show in December 02 (getting free copies of that issue there).

[cernunos]

I would say if you are looking more for speed and acceleration, the Kaw is the one. I think the reliability of the Suz is probably better. But then I have always felt that the simpler a machine is the more reliable it tends to be. Air-cooled engines are simpler than water-cooled. And the Suz has fewer valves to go bad. But should I speak since I think the greatest bike motor in the world was the Shovel-head. JMO, I am biased . But I know I love the little White Owl and the GStwin forum.

C.......

[Muldoon]

I did ALOT of reading on the two before I bought, but what really swayed me was:
a) This site. The enthusiasm that people have for these bikes is amazing. I cound find nothing like it on the ER5 (whatever they call it)
b) It looked kinda tough on the suzuki Australia web site.
c) No fairings.
d) gs500e.co.uk. Again another bunch of GS enthusiasts.
e) Pantablo's page.
And lastly, they dont rot or rust as fast as others in their class according to the mags. Sure if you read performance bikes, bike magazaine etc,they bag the hell out of it, but these guys ride new sportsbikes for a living and seem to lose perspective on real motorcycling with your own real money.
Oh, and kerry was going to put photos of his dogs on the site for me.....

[Kerry]

Oh, and kerry was going to put photos of his dogs on the site for me.....

Yow!  (Smacks forehead.)  My wife just took a couple more last night that I haven't seen yet.

I'll do my best this weekend, K?

(Wouldn't you know ... I've got a rear rotor and pads to swap out, oil & filter to change, fork seals to install - naw, maybe NEXT weekend - and I have to FILM it all.  I'm swamped!   )

[Muldoon]

Kerry!
Stress less! I just saw this beautiful labrador pup and it reminded me of yours.  

[Flash]

I've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes ...

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  ...

Cycle World, December 02 issue.
Both EX and GS were neck and neck with the nod going to the gs based on value (cheaper to buy). I have it too somewhere but I remember it was that issue because I bought mine in November 02 and I also went to the motorcycle show in December 02 (getting free copies of that issue there).

Thanks guys . I spent over 30 minutes looking through all my archives for that very same article, but to no avail (was it Motorcyclist, Cycle World, Sport Rider? Argh :x  :x ). I vividly remember b/c the article is what initially got me interested/hooked on buying a GS500 as my first bike. The article was very nicely done. PM me if you want a copy or something. I can probably scan it for you and e-mail.

[johncam4]

i hate kawasaki

[Flash]

i hate kawasaki

Yeah, who wants to ride a "Green Machine" anyways! U-G-L-Y Ugly (well, maybe if you gave me one for free   )

Although, Kawasaki is taking a step in the right direction with new, vibrant color schemes (Suzuki, you really need to pay attention to this):
RED

ORANGE

BLUE

SILVER

BLACK


Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-6R/10R each has four nice color schemes, while Suzuki's SV-650/1000 only has two boring colors. What's up with that?:dunno:
I wanna see black & red and,  while I'm at it, bring back the 2003 copper color (way cool   )