rode my friends ninja 500, oh man now i know my bike is fckgwed

[makenzie71]

Podiablo...the first thing that you need to do here is realize that the EX500 has a 14rwhp advantage over the GS out of the box.  Power actually has more of a tendency to appreciate with age, as opposed to depriciate, if the bike is maintaned and cared for propperly (this is usually accounted for by carbon deposits and such).  Stock for stock, considering the weight of these bikes, if you bike's valves and carbs are in good order then you'll be beat on pretty good by an EX.  Further, if the EX isn't stock, you should keep in mind that they're VERY responsive to modifications (mine is putting down close to 72rwhp with basic bolt ons and no headgasket).

I can't really suggest much as for making the best of what you got...all the good tips have been covered.  Are you looking to have a faster bike than this EX?

As for fuel level...use whatever doesn't make the engine knock.  If you're not boosting fuel level isn't too serious an issue if you're not knocking.  My manuals call for premium in my TLS and my 328i but I only use the premium if I intend to be doing any hard riding/driving.  If I'm just cruising or commuting the cheap stuff works fine.  Bike and car both work well off 86 and sometimes lower.

[p0diabl0]

mackenzie, the ninja was brand new, .4 miles on it (i was delievering it to a friends house who only has permit and lives 30 miles away). Maybe i just got my numbers wrong, i thought the ninja was rated at ~46 hp and the gs500e at 40 or so.  But like i said, i can barely reach 80. going 65 mph in the powerband i almost dont feel safe on the highway if i need to speed up to potentially avoid something.

I understand that this is one of the slower bikes I can get and look forward to grabbing a mid 90s 600 come the end of summer after I get the hang of riding a bit more. I would simply like a working machine in the meantime, and this bike has its fair share of other problems (idle can be at 1.5k rpms one stoplight, 5k at the next). Theres a huge difference between 80 and 108 which many people say theyve topped out at, so i was just worried =X

[TragicImage]

you might wanna check what RPM range you are operating in.


If I'm doing 80 on the freeway, I'm usually in 5th, not 6th.


Anywhere between about 5500 and 9000 is where I seem to find the perky power.

[makenzie71]

The stock EX actually dyno's between 50 and 54 rwhp.

[ajgs500]

ehhh who cares the nnnnnninja is farking ugly anyway

[TragicImage]

AJ, you're starting to sound like Tickleme....


You remember, she thought it was ugly and looked like a dirt bike....

[ajgs500]

Well it is ugly, although it doesnt look like a dirtbike, but I guess that is what smoking crack will do to you.  And.... I know how to spell and use punctuation unlike tickle.

[TragicImage]

and you probably bathe too....  damn jersey girls....

[Kasumi]

I could have sworn horse power depreciates with age. Because they did a test on it the other day, true it was on some 80's sports cars but from what they left the factory with in their day they now dyno them and read sometimes less thank half the HP they had when they came out.

Plus there is no theory to support HP increasing with age because age brings warping, slight changes in the shape of the cylinder, built up deposits (even if you clean things it will still happen to a degree) Worn out electrics, which have greater resistence so weaker sparks, piston rings will become warn, conrods can gain more play. There is nothing to say an engine could mature with age and ive yet to see research to prove it.

[domas]

Actualy power increases as the bike matures for first few years, but after that i drops as the compression decreases. It goes in a curve like in dyno runs, first up then down.

[Kasumi]

Yea i can understand an intial few years of increasion as the engine its "broken in" and properly run in. But from then on down hill . .

[corndog67]

At first, the rings will seat and the compression goes up a bit, to where it was actually designed to be.  After proper break in, things just start on the road to wearing out.

[makenzie71]

Kasumi...go back and read the post again.  Maybe you missed the explanation I supplied.

[ajgs500]

3 pages of debating shaZam! about a freaking nnnnnninja 500...... GHEY!!!